Biography

Pete M Wyer is an acclaimed and versatile composer, writer and performer whose compositions range from opera and ballet through to innovative jazz, music theatre and scores for TV.

Pete M. Wyer is a leading British composer who is known  for his orchestral scores, opera, choral, ballet and jazz works. Pete’s diverse portfolio includes scores for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Juilliard Academy, Royal Opera House, English National Ballet and the London Symphony Orchestra, as well as original work for television and BBC Radio Three. He is the Associate Composer to the Orchestra Of The Swan.

Operatic Works

“…not only truly original but fantastically entertaining…spellbinding and often hilarious…the beguiling mix of spoken word and opera, with live cello accompaniment is a real triumph. It shouldn’t work, but it does. Brilliantly, too.” MetroLife on Pete M Wyer’s Johnny’s Midnight Goggles.

Pete is currently developing a new opera under the working title of ‘Numinous City’ commissioned by Royal Opera House 2 (ROH2). Pete’s works for voice include songs and settings of Lorca, Dante, Simic, Ungaretti and long time collaborator, post-beat poet Steve Dalachinsky. He is also developing an opera based on the Moscow theatre siege with playwright Bryony Lavery, director Phyllida Lloyd, painter John Keane.

He is also creating a new work for musicians from the orchestra of Welsh National Opera, to be performed in conjunction with music students, to co-incide with the WNO Autumn tour of 2010

Pete has conceived, written and composed a number of operatic works: Cremenville (Opera North, Resonance, 2006), Johnny’s Midnight Goggles, You Must Have This, Finkelstein’s Castle (Originally performed by Pete’s music theatre company with cellist, singer, actor Matthew Sharp, SharpWire) and the multi-media song cycle Adam’s Apple (developed for theatre in collaboration with Matthew Sharp).

“This is a totally engaging way of experiencing music….not just the visual and special elements of the work but the way in which the performers are treating music as a form of theatre, an expression of their own emotion………The lush romantic melancholy of Wyer’s score is ravishing and the two musicians perform it responding to each other like lovers”

Rogues and Vagabonds, London on SharpWire’s ‘Adam’s Apple’

Ballet/Modern Dance

“Modern dance and ballet have been great teachers for me, pushing me to take new paths and try different approaches.” Pete M Wyer

Pete is currently creating a new score for English National Ballet/Shanghai Ballet to be performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, which premieres on September 8th 2010 in the presence of the Chinese and British Prime Ministers in Shanghai as part of ‘Great Britain day’ for Shanghai World Expo 2010.

Pete has collaborated with many choreographers, including Jessica Lang for the large-scale work Senbazuru, a ballet score with opera singers, commissioned for the centenary of Juilliard in 2006, which featured the dance division of Juilliard, the Juilliard orchestra, conducted by Andrea Quinn and four opera singers.

Spooky Action, a one-hour multimedia work by Miro Dance Theater (Philadelphia) choreographed by Amanda Miller with film by Tobin Rothlein (2009). Carol Brown’s large-scale installation in 2000 with Esther Rolinson Machine For Living (Corn Exchange, Brighton) and Flap for solo dancer with solo guitar (choreographed and performed by Sarah Warsop) at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London (2003).

Concert and performance works:

‘One of the most extraordinary sessions we have ever had ’ Jez Nelson of the one hour Insomnia Poems for Jazz on 3, BBC Radio 3, March 2009 (performed as a live set at Pinewood studios).

Insomnia Poems, commissioned by BBC Radio Three, broadcast March, 2009 and in December, 2009, as part of Radio Three’s ‘Best of Jazz on Three 2009’

Chelsea-Chelsea, commissioned by Juilliard Academy, New York, premiered 2005. Live concert work (25 minutes), performed simultaneously in Chelsea, London, Chelsea, New York, 606 Club, London and Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York.

Pete’s one hour work for BBC Radio 3, inspired by the poems of Steve Dalachinsky ‘Insomnia Poems’ was recorded and broadcast for BBC Radio 3’s ‘Jazz On 3’ in March 2009 and subsequently rebroadcast for Jazz On 3’s ‘Best of 2009’ in December 2009 – it featured Steve Dalachinsky (Reader) Evelyne Beech (soprano) Chris Cundy (clarinets, saxes, stuffed loon) Michael Cross (laptop manipulations and vibes) Robert Perry (bass) and Pete M Wyer (guitar, piano, field recordings and manipulations) playing and improvising  from a ‘time-structured score’..

Pete M Wyer and Steve Dalachinsky while performing in Paris, 2007.

The Simultaneity Project- The word ‘Simultaneity’ refers to events occurring at the same time in different places – the project entails creating a multiple-speaker installation suitable for galleries and public spaces.
Multiple locations are recorded simultaneously and played back across a multiple-speaker system, which is placed in a circle, giving a ‘God’s ear perspective’ of the world.
The first Simultaneity recording was made in New York City, with the help of Caryn Havlik and a team of volunteers from WNYC radio in November 2004 when sites around the southern end of Central Park were mapped and recorded simultaneously in 6 locations each with stereo microphones
A second, world-wide simultaneous recording was made on December 16th 2004 from 6.50 – 7.10 pm GMT which included more than 40 people in 23 countries – participants were asked to record bells, clocks, wristwatches, striking the hour – results included huskies in the Yukon, clock shops in San Francisco, church bells in London, France, Germany, train announcements in Northern Ireland, dawn choruses from New Zealand, motorbikes and Ragas from Mumbai and many more.

Chelsea-Chelsea for 2 saxophones, string quartet, guitar, electronics and 2 readers was commissioned by the Juilliard School in New York and performed simultaneously live in New York and London in April 2005. The premiere performance was given at the Chelsea Gallery, New York, with a second performance at Jazz at Lincoln Centre – with a live London link coming from the 606 Club, Cheslea, London.

Other Concert Works include Somehow The Miracle for string orchestra (World Premiere, APAC Orchestra Festival, Beijing, October 2009) If I Had Known I Was Dreaming (Purcell Room, 2002, Evelyne Beech, soprano, Tippett String Quartet) An African Elegy (Purcell Room, 2003, Matthew Sharp, baritone, cello, Viv McLean, piano) May Peace Prevail On Earth (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Barbican, 2003) Songs From A Blazing City (Lawton String Trio, Warwick Arts Festival, 1996) Sospira (Alfar Duo, Cheltenham Festival 1998) and Two Bridges (Bath International Guitar Festival, 2003, Abigail James).

Beginnings

Pete M. Wyer is a self-taught musician and composer who plays classical guitar and piano and is an occasional singer. He began musical life playing and touring internationally with rock and jazz bands in the 1980s and later giving solo classical guitar recitals. Many of his early works were songs or solos written for guitar (he is currently compiling a CD of his classical guitar pieces). Pete also worked as a music teacher (1992-7) and remains passionate about music in education. He continues to mentor some young musicians.

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