Portrait of Alex Paxton, 22 June at 7.30pm in the University for Music & the Peforming Arts Frankfurt
The British trombonist and composer Alex Paxton, born in 1990, has made a name for himself as an entertainment artist, Enfant terrible and his passion for exploring the worlds of classical and improvised music - jass and electronic music in particular. He enjoys fiddling about with and exploring sounds and is well known for his rainbows of sound. He studied at the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy in London, has made music with all kinds of ensembles and was commissioned to write works for large scale orchestra and smaller groups, by renowned orchestras including the London Symphony, London Philharmonic and Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the WDR Sinfonieorchester, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Klangforum Wien, London Sinfonietta, ASKO Schönberg, Riot Ensemble, Explore Ensemble, Ensemble Klang and Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain. He's already written six operas (for companies including English National Opera) and is a popular guest at festivals and concert venues including the BBC Proms, Bang on a Can Long Play, the Festival d'Automne Paris, MaerzMusik Berlin, Gaudeamus Utrecht, ECLAT Stuttgart, impuls Graz, Klangspuren Schwaz, the Wigmore Hall in London and the Aldeburgh Festival. He's also won many prizes, including the Hindemith Prize, the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung Förder Prize and Royal Philharmonic Society's "Composers" prize – and released many recordings.
The last Happy New Ears evening this season is dedicated to this amazing person and his work ilolli-pop, which was commissioned by the Ensemble Modern. The score is meticulously notated and could be called »maximalist« but is full of detail and variety. Its soloist is a freely improvisational trombone, played by Alex Paxton. This exuberant piece moves between precisely balanced orchestral colours and sophisticated textures including electronics and anarchic outbursts. Some of it could be a crazy soundtrack for a bizarrely funny animated film. One reviewer said: ‘Harrison Birtwistle came to mind, but with a big grin on his face instead of a grumpy frown ...' - not to be missed!
PORTRÄT ALEX PAXTON
iLolli-Pop for ensemble and improvising musicians (2019/20)
