Short bio Kevin Volans
Full biography Kevin Volans
Kevin Volans is a renowned South African-born Irish composer and pianist born on July 26, 1949. He is known for his innovative and experimental works, which often incorporate elements of African traditional music and minimalist techniques. Volans studied with famous composers Karlheinz Stockhausen and Mauricio Kagel in Cologne , Germany, during the 1970s.
Throughout his career, Volans has composed for a wide range of mediums and genres, including pieces for solo instruments, chamber ensembles, orchestras, and operas. He has also collaborated with numerous choreographers and dance companies, such as the Ballet Frankfurt and the Lyon Opera Ballet.
Volans' repertoire includes notable pieces like "White Man Sleeps," "String Quartet No.1," and "Piano Concerto No. 3." He has received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including the Standard Bank Young Artist Award in 1979 and the Prince Pierre Foundation Music Award in 1991.
Volans is also a respected writer and commentator on music. He has given many lectures and workshops worldwide and has written articles on various music-related topics. These include issues about the role of music in society and the intersections between music, culture, and politics.
Overall, Kevin Volans is a significant figure in the contemporary classical music scene. His creations push the boundaries of traditional music, and his contributions inspire many musicians, composers, and enthusiasts around the world.
Compositions featuring Kevin Volans
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Garden of Forking Paths, for piano | 3:45 min | Keyboard | 2014 |
| 2 | PMB Impromptu, for piano | 3:53 min | Keyboard | 2014 |
| 3 | violin : piano | 25:03 min | Chamber Music | 2009 |
| 4 | Etude for piano No. 9 ("Eight Bells for Mary") | 20:21 min | Keyboard | 2009 |
| 5 | viola : piano | 22:13 min | Chamber Music | 2009 |
| 6 | Trio Concerto, for violin, cello, piano & orchestra | 25:10 min | Concerto | 2005 |
| 7 | Passi leggieri, for violin (or Handanger fiddle) | 7:46 min | Chamber Music | 2003 |
| 8 | Piano Trio | 23:31 min | Chamber Music | 2001 |
| 9 | String Quartet No. 6 | 24:31 min | Chamber Music | 2000 |
| 10 | Piano Concerto No. 1, for piano, wind instruments & orchestra | 22:25 min | Concerto | 1995 |
| 11 | Dancers on A Plane | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1993 | |
| 12 | This is how it is, for wind ensemble | 9:31 min | Orchestral | 1993 |
| 13 | The Ramanujan Notebooks (String Quartet No. 4) | Chamber Music | 1990 | |
| 14 | String Quartet No 3 "The Songlines" | 32:54 min | Chamber Music | 1988 |
| 15 | Movement for string quartet | 6:20 min | Chamber Music | 1987 |
| 16 | String Quartet No. 2 ("Hunting: Gathering") | 22:49 min | Chamber Music | 1987 |
| 17 | She Who Sleeps With A Small Blanket, for percussion | 15:19 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1985 |
| 18 | Leaping dance, for 2 pianos | 8:52 min | Keyboard | 1984 |
| 19 | Walking song, for flute, harpsichord & 4 handclappers/fingerclickers | 6:02 min | Chamber Music | 1984 |
| 20 | String Quartet No. 1 ("White Man Sleeps") | 20:00 min | Chamber Music | 1982 |
| 21 | Mbira | 10:47 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1980 |
| 22 | String Quartet No 5 "Dancers on a Plane" | Chamber Music | - | |
| 23 | Symphony: Daar Kom die Alibama, for orchestra | 24:14 min | Orchestral | - |
| 24 | The Man with the Footsoles of Wind, chamber opera | Opera | - | |
| 25 | Kneeling Dance, for piano ensemble | 8:37 min | Keyboard | - |
| 26 | Into Darkness for clarinet, trumpet, violin, cello, percussion & piano | 12:39 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 27 | Umzi Watsha (The House Is Burning), song | 3:28 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 28 | Untitled (In memoriam G.H.V.), for piano solo & offstage wind ensemble | 13:45 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 29 | First Dance, for string quartet | 4:35 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 30 | Desert Steps, for 2 guitars, viola & cello | 19:06 min | Chamber Music | - |
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