Biography
Pete M Wyer
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 has written scores for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (‘May Peace Prevail On Earth’ premiered at the Barbican in 2003), the Juilliard Academy in New York (Discoveries Uncovered, 2002, Chelsea-Chelsea, 2005 and Senbazuru, 2006) and original work for television and the BBC. His hour-long piece ‘Insomnia Poems’ was chosen as one of the ‘Best of 2009’ by BBC Radio Three. Pete, who is based in London, is currently on attachment to the National Theatre creating a new opera based on the Moscow theatre siege of 2003, working with director Phyllida Lloyd, painter John Keane and playwright Bryony Lavery. He is also writing a new ballet score for English National Ballet with the London Symphony Orchestra for premiere at the Shanghai Expo 2010.
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 ‘The Drapchi Songs’ 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.
Matthew Sharp in ‘Adam’s Apple’, 2004.
Pete has conceived, written and composed a number of 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).
Matthew Sharp in ‘Adam’s Apple’, 2004.
“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. A video excerpt of the work can be found on Jessica’s site http://www.jesslang.com/video.htm :
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).
Concerts
‘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.
If I Had Known I Was Dreaming…
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). [mp3 Canto de Luna Nueva]. Pete also worked as a music teacher (1992-7) and remains passionate about music in education. He continues to mentor some young musicians.
Opera/Music Theatre:
Pete has created a great deal of work for voice, ranging from songs and settings of Lorca, Simic, Ungaretti through to writing both libretti and score for Cremenville (Opera North, Resonance, 2006), Johnny’s Midnight Goggles, You Must Have This, Finkelstein’s Castle (UK tours, as SharpWire, Pete’s music theatre company with cellist, singer, actor Matthew Sharp) and the multi-media song cycle Adam’s Apple.
He is currently developing an opera based on the Moscow theatre siege with playwright Bryony Lavery, director Phyllida Lloyd, painter John Keane and a further new opera is in development for the Royal Opera House ROH2.
Ballet/Modern Dance:
Pete’s work as a composer has been influenced by ideas from modern dance and he has participated in many collaborations, these include Carol Brown’s large scale installation in 2000 with Esther Rolinson: Machine For Living and Flap for solo dancer with solo guitar at Queen Elizabeth Hall, 2003.
Senbazuru, commissioned for the centenary of Juilliard in 2006, featuring the Juilliard orchestra, conducted by Andrea Quinn and choreographed by Jessica Lang, Spooky Action, a one-hour multimedia work by Miro choregraphed by Amanda Miller with film by Tobin Rothlein in 2009,
Pete is currently creating a new score for English National Ballet/Shanghai Ballet to be performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, which receives its World Premiere performance on September 8th as part of ‘Britain day’ at Shanghai World Expo 2010 in front of the prime ministers of Great Britain and China.
Concert and performance works:
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’..
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).