Short bio John Casken
Full biography John Casken
John Arthur Casken is an English composer born on July 15, 1949, in Barnsley. Over the years, he has made a name for himself in the music industry, having won several awards and recognition for his work. He began his music education at the University of Birmingham, studying with composers Peter Dickinson and John Joubert. He later went on to continue his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Casken has a diverse range of compositions to his name, including operas, choral music, orchestral works, and solo instrumental pieces. His most famous opera is "Golem," created in collaboration with French-Lebanese theatre director Pierre Audi. Another notable work of his is "God's Liar," a collaboration with Emma Warner based on Tolstoy's novella Father Sergius.
Casken has won numerous awards and accolades for his compositions. In 1985, he received the Elise L Stoeger Prize for his work "Phoenix Songs." He was also awarded the British Composer Award in 2008 for his choral work "Uncertain Sea."
In addition to his award-winning compositions, Casken has also had an impressive teaching career. He has taught at the University of Manchester, the Royal Northern College of Music, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Overall, John Casken is a highly respected and accomplished composer in the music industry. His diverse range of compositions showcases his talent, and his contributions to music education have made a lasting impact on many aspiring musicians.
Compositions featuring John Casken
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | That Subtle Knot, concerto for violin, viola & chamber orchestra | 26:36 min | Concerto | 2013 |
| 2 | Amethyst Deceiver, for oboe | 7:16 min | Chamber Music | 2009 |
| 3 | The Dream of the Rood, for 4 voices & chamber ensemble | 26:33 min | Vocal Music | 2008 |
| 4 | Concerto for orchestra | 19:49 min | Concerto | 2007 |
| 5 | Shadowed Pieces, for violin & piano | 15:46 min | Chamber Music | 2005 |
| 6 | Piano Trio | 20:32 min | Chamber Music | 2002 |
| 7 | Après un Silence, for violin & chamber orchestra | 18:02 min | Concerto | 1998 |
| 8 | Après un silence, for violin & piano | 17:22 min | Chamber Music | 1998 |
| 9 | Distant Variations, for saxophone quartet & wind orchestra | 16:27 min | Concerto | 1996 |
| 10 | Violin Concerto | 31:10 min | Concerto | 1995 |
| 11 | Infanta Marina, for English horn & small ensemble | 14:26 min | Chamber Music | 1994 |
| 12 | Darting the Skiff, for string orchestra | 18:19 min | Orchestral | 1992 |
| 13 | Concerto for cello & orchestra | 20:17 min | Concerto | 1991 |
| 14 | A Gathering, for chorus | 5:35 min | Choral | 1991 |
| 15 | Piano Quartet | 16:26 min | Chamber Music | 1990 |
| 16 | Golem, opera | 98:25 min | Opera | 1989 |
| 17 | Maharal Dreaming, for orchestra | 12:30 min | Orchestral | 1989 |
| 18 | Salamandra - Fire-Haunt, for 2 pianos | 17:52 min | Keyboard | 1986 |
| 19 | Vaganza, for organ & ensemble | 27:03 min | Concerto | 1985 |
| 20 | Orion over Farne, for orchestra | 23:35 min | Orchestral | 1984 |
| 21 | Firewhirl, for soprano & ensemble | 16:16 min | Chamber Music | 1980 |
| 22 | Amarantos, for ensemble | 14:55 min | Chamber Music | 1978 |
| 23 | Serpents of Wisdom, for horn & piano | 11:08 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 24 | Night and Morning, for voice & piano | 3:17 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 25 | Sharp Thorne | 7:00 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 26 | Six Wooded Pieces, for piano | 15:33 min | Keyboard | - |
| 27 | Stolen Airs, for cello & piano | 16:22 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 28 | String Quartet No. 2 in D major | 21:27 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 29 | Sunrising | 5:32 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 30 | Colloque Sentimental ("Dans le vieux parc solitaire et glacé"), for voice & piano | 6:17 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 31 | The Haunting Bough, for piano | 4:51 min | Keyboard | - |
| 32 | Chosen en moi, for string quartet | 7:34 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 33 | Variations on a Jacobite air, for string quartet | 3:39 min | Chamber Music | - |
Albums featuring John Casken
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Bartók / Casken / Beethoven, Ruth Killius / Thomas Zehetmair / Royal Northern Sinfonia – Bartók / Casken / Beethoven(CD, Album) | 2023 | ECM Records |
| 2 |  |
The Dream of the Rood(CD, Album) | 2019 | NMC (3) |
| 3 |  |
Stolen Airs(CD, Album) | 2019 | Prima Facie (2) |
| 4 |  |
Alma Mahler-Werfel, Alexander Von Zemlinsky, Gustav Mahler, Anton Webern, David Matthews (9), Richard Wagner, Franz Liszt, John Casken, John Tomlinson (2), Rosanna Madylus, Counterpoise (3), Colin Matthews – Kokoschka's Doll(CD, Stereo) | 2019 | Champs Hill Records |
| 5 |  |
Quatuor Danel, John Casken, Philip Grange, Camden Reeves, Richard Whalley – New Sounds From Manchester(CD, Album) | 2015 | Metier |
| 6 |  |
Orion over Farne(CD, Album) | 2014 | NMC (3) |
| 7 |  |
Apollinaire's Bird(File, FLAC, Single) | 2014 | NMC (3) |
| 8 |  |
Kreutzer Quartet, John Casken, Judith Weir, Robert Saxton – Northern Lights(CD, Album) | 2009 | Metier |
| 9 |  |
Heinrich Schiff, Northern Sinfonia, John Casken – Darting The Skiff : Maharal Dreaming : Concerto Pour Violoncelle : Vaganza(CD, Album) | 2006 | NMC (3) |
| 10 |  |
Night Fire Sun Silence(2×CD, Album) | 2004 | Metier |
| 11 |  |
Darting The Skiff / Maharal Dreaming / Vaganza(CD, Album) | 1995 | Collins Classics |
| 12 |  |
Shinohara · Hirose · Du Bois · Michel · Masuch · Rühling · Casken – Kasseler Avantgarde-Reihe(CD, ) | 1994 | Mieroprint |
| 13 |  |
Cello Concerto(CD, EP) | 1993 | Collins Classics |
| 14 |  |
John Casken, Music Projects/London, Richard Bernas, Adrian Clarke (4), John Hall, Patricia Rozario, Christopher Robson – Golem | 1991 | Virgin Classics |
| 15 |  |
The Moving Fires Of Evening(LP, Album) | 1984 | WERGO |
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