Solfa Carlile

Arcomis Album Launch

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:55:03 +0000

‘Dystopia‘ has been selected for publication in the Arcomis Flute Album. The piece, originally composed in 2010 for flautist Chris Hankin, will be performed at the Elektrostatic Arcomis Flute Concert, at Colston Hall, Bristol on Wednesday 16th May. Carla Rees will perform the piece, along with other contemporary works for flute to be included in the album. Information on the concert here

West Cork Chamber Music Festival

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:43:50 +0000

Solfa has been chosen as one of the winners of this years West Cork Chamber Festival Composition Competition. Her work Saul and the Witch will be rehearsed in a workshop by the Westland Piano Trio, and will receive its premiere at a concert on the 5th of July in Bantry, Cork.

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:39:35 +0000

Dystopia for solo Flute was performed at recitals in Trondheim and Tynset, Norway, on 20th-24th March, by Flautist Chris Hankin. The piece was composed especially for Chris and received its premiere at the annual NFA Flute convention in Annaheim California, August 2010.

admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:19:48 +0000

Solfa continues her residency with the Orchestra of St. Paul’s, following a performance of ‘Fanfare: Ecce’ at St. John’s, Smith Square last Sunday, 18th March at 7.30pm. Also recently a new piece, ‘Macalla’, commissioned by the Jacquin Trio, received three performances in London between February and March. Solfa also recently produced music for a children’s web series, ‘Tommy and Eugene’s Space Adventures’, in March.

admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:11:46 +0000

Last year, my Piano miniature, ‘Elidor’s Capture’ was published by the ‘Simplified Music Notation’ initiative and the Creative Arts Research Trust. The SMN group created a simplified system of music notation, where flats/sharps are indicated by different shaped noteheads. It is particularly effective for dyslexic musicians. I attended a launch at Blackheath at which I performed this piano miniature, intended for Grade 2 Piano. Also in attendance were two other young composers, Thomas Shelbourn and Leah Holm-Mercer, who performed their pieces. I recently came across this video from the launch, which I thought I’d add to the site.

Fanfare: Ecce

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:00:33 +0000

I’ve composed a fanfare for the Orchestra of St.Paul’s to be performed for the first time soon. The piece will be performed on Sunday (19th March) at St.John’s, Smith Square, at 7.30pm. The piece is a concert-opener, and is flexibly modal (a sense of G major) with a lot of rhythmic syncopation and loud, full textures. I realised yesterday morning that I hadn’t submitted a programme note and hastily wrote one to be emailed to Ben (Palmer) immediately! I don’t think I know a composer who enjoys writing programme notes, or feels that they adequately represent what he or she is trying to achieve in the piece, but oddly enough I managed to write a few sentences under pressure. It’s pasted below (in italics). The concert also features Vox Cordis, and a performance of the stunning Duruflé Requiem and Haydn’s Nelson Mass. Book info is available here

Ecce is a short fanfare, composed especially for this concert. The title is taken from the latin word for ‘Behold’, a suitably regal and commanding title. The music features spontaneous metric patterns; the time signature changes often suddenly, along with the harmonic rhythm. The harmony is modal with a prevailing sense of tonality, alluding to the traditional fanfare idea while adding the quirk of obscure, often unexpected rhythmic patterns.

The piece was initially titled ‘Fanfare’, then I chose ‘Ecce’ – the latin word. It was Ben who suggested that I use both, and call it ‘Fanfare: Ecce’. As he knows more about snappy titles and programming than I, I took his advice and went with it! It was a very interesting project, as I hadn’t previously written for Organ and wasn’t sure about issues with balance, as we have just one desk per Violin and ‘Cello parts, and one Double Bass. I think the acoustic at St.John’s will give a sense of augmentation and it will hopefully balance well.

I encountered the organist, Richard Moore, on facebook by accident. I posted a comment on a friends’ page, and he replied, asking whether I had just written a piece for St.Paul’s. I got in touch and sent him an mp3 mock-up and a pdf of the full score, which he said was helpful. Sure enough at the rehearsal on Friday morning he had marked up the score with suggestions for pedal markings and other questions. Equally perceptive was first Trumpet, Laura Garwin, who had examined the dynamics and articulation thoroughly and had even been in touch beforehand. Everyone had questions for me about “did I mean..” and “did I want..” etc etc, which I fully appreciated. I love working with these musicians; they are so incredibly interested, accommodating and professional. Ben as usual was full of faith and encouragement. For this first rehearsal we just had a Piano, but I look forward to hearing the organ on Sunday afternoon at the next rehearsal and the subsequent concert.

Jacquin Trio

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:37:16 +0000

The Jacquin Trio will premiere Solfa’s piece: “Macalla” at The Forge, Camden, this Sunday (12th) at 11am. More about the concert below

Jessica Grimes – clarinet
Zoe Matthews – viola
Charis Cheung – piano

Programme:
Märchenerzählungen Op.132 – Schumann
i. Lebhaft, nicht zu schnell
ii. Lebhaft und zehr markiert
iii. Ruhiges tempo, mit zartem ausdruck
iv. Lebhaft, zehr markiert
Hommage a R. Sch Op 15d – Kurtag
i. (Merkwurdige Piroutten des Kappelmeisters Johannes Kreisler)
ii. (E. [Eusubius]: der begrenzte Kreis)
iii. (…und wieder zuckt es schmerzlich F. [Florestan] um die Lippen)
iv. (Felho valék, már su¨t a nap…)
v. In der Nachtvi. Abschied (Meister Raro entdeckt Guillaume de Machaut)
New Work – Solfa Carlisle
‘Kegelstatt Trio’ KV 498 – W. A. Mozart
i. Andante
ii. Menuetto
iii. Rondeaux – Allegretto

£9/7 online, £10/8 on the door (incl tea/coffee)

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:48:59 +0000

An Interview with the Irish Examiner about Solfa’s appointment as composer-in-residence for the Orchestra of St. Paul’s can be viewed here

Orchestra of St.Paul’s Residency

admin — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:04:56 +0000

Solfa has just been announced as the composer-in-residence for the Orchestra of St.Paul’s, Covent Garden. A new work, ‘Vienna Vignettes’ will be performed on 7th January at a concert in association with the Austrian Cultural Forum. Details here: http://www.orchestraofstpauls.org/new-year-concert

Solfa has also been commissioned to write a work for the Orchestra of St.Paul’s March concert. Further details to follow.

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:03:52 +0000

Solfa’s new piece, Wirewalk for Viola, ‘Cello and Double Bass, will be performed by the SoundSet Low Trio, on 23rd November at 8.30pm, Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall Dublin.