Premiering Paul Pellay’s ‘Slivers’. Wilton’s Music Hall 21 5 16
‘Peter Sheppard Skærved er en sann virtuos, formidler og historieforteller.’ – Bergens Tidende. February 2016
I am delighted to answer-just use the ‘Contact’ link. It is incredibly useful for me to be able to hear responses, ideas and suggestions, so I really appreciate them
Aspects of the Bow-Piano Gallery, Royal Academy of Music, Friday 10th February, 230pm
A wonderful bow by Arthur Bultitude (1908-1990) in the hand. Inspiration for the player
Preparing for tomorrow’s ‘aspects of the bow’. One movement of Bach on 13 bows from 1680 to today. This Arthur Bultitude is the sort of instrument that got me excited about the bow maker’s art, when I was 13 or so. It’s a fascination that has never ebbed, nor the wonder of holding a great bow in the hand. Listen here, if you are as nerdy as I. With thanks to Ben Hebbert for all the and expertise http://wp.me/pH1iH-5S2
Celebrating Composers at Deptford Town Hall. 2 2 17
Douglas Young introduces his wonderful ‘Mr Klee Visits the Botanical Gardens’ 2 2 17
Acclaim for Edward Cowie after playing his ‘Particle Partita’ with Mihailo Trandafilovski 2 2 17
With my treasured friends in the Kreutzer Quartet: Mihailo Trandafilovski, Clifton Harrison, Neil. Heyde. Deptford Town Hall 2 2 17
Just in!! David Gorton-Dowland Variations!
It’s here, Congratulations David Gorton. Very proud of his one!!! and thanks to the wonderful team involved every step of the way on this fantastic project. BUY IT HERE!!! https://toccataclassics.com/product/david-gorton-variations-on-john-dowland/
19th December-Recording day. Paul Pellay Clarinet quintet and more!
The team with Paul Pellay. Neil Heyde, Linda Merrick, Clifton Harrison, Mihailo Trandafilovski,
A great day recording Paul Pellay’s fabulous new Clarinet Quintet with Linda Merrick and the Kreutzers. More pictures and outtakes here. http://wp.me/pH1iH-5PA
Playing Michael Alec Rose ‘Diaphany’ 19 12 16
Tuesday 29th November-With Jan Groth in Oslo
Beginning my collaboration with the great Norwegian abstract artist, Jan Groth. Information and picture here: https://www.sheppardskaerved.com/2016/10/for-jan-groth-anders-beyer-2016-17/
The artist with the violin, observed. JanGroth w/ Anne Birgitte Paulsen. 29 11 16
Monday 28th November-The Ole Bull Bow in Bergen
I was delighted today to play Ole Bull’s bow, and his 1848 Vuillaume, at the event at Kode Museum in Bergen to celebrate the bow passing from Ole Bull’s descendants to the Bergen Museums. Here is a link to the even, on the NRK News network. https://www.nrk.no/hordaland/kunstmuseene-i-bergen-har-fatt-ole-bulls-svaert-spesielle-fiolinbue-1.13250495
Celebrating Ole Bull in Bergen, Norway. 28 11 16
Mozart Sonatas with Daniel-Ben Pienaar at the worlds oldest concert hall
Mozart 1778 ‘Palatine’ Sonatas in the 1748 Holywell Music Room. Oxford. with Daniel-Ben Pienaar.
Beginning of a project-workshop with the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra and Nigel Clarke, at Woolwich Barracks 22 11 16
Today marked the beginning of a new collaboration, with the British Army’s specialist string orchestra at their immaculate rehearsal room in the historic Woolwich Barracks.More here
A project begins. Working with Nigel Clarke and the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra (Photo Marius Skaerved)
Back in the USA 11-17th November
Follow the project here-http://wp.me/pH1iH-5MO
Workshop at the Hastings Art Center 12 11 16
After Saturday’s workshop in Hastings (sorry, I can’t use the word masterclass), I gave an interview to a reporter. I want to share one thing that I said.
At this moment, when, in both of our countries, it seems as if the forces of doubt, suspicion and ill-will have momentarily gained the upper hand, it is vital to remind ourselves of the essential goodness of people, of our obligation to each other. The arts have a vital role here, not to demand attention for themselves, but to offer an unalloyed good. Artists of all ages and backgrounds and all disciplinesare duty-bound to take the challenge of offering truth and beauty, and to listen and to share. Workshops, salons, , concerts, all artistic activity is two-way; it must offer an alternative to the thoughtless clamour and selfishness that it is all too easily overwhelming.
So happy to be back in my Midwestern home-crisscrossing our beloved St Croix and working with the lovely team led by Kristin Tjornehoj at University of Wisconsin River Falls. Today I played Sadie Harrison, Matteis, David Gorton, Locatelli, Haflidi Hallgrimsson, Michael Hersch, Torelli, Purcell, Bach, Ole Bull, Mylargutten in the lovely Abbot Concert Hall, to a fantastic 200plus audience for a lunchtime concert. I finished with Nigel Clarke’s ever -epic Pernambuco
Ess muss sein! 9 11 16
On a day like this, there is the comfort of friends, strangers, and family. All that I can offer is courtesy of Beethoven, – the ‘Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo’ from Op 135, with the loving playing of my friends, Neil Heyde, Clifton Harrison, Mihailo Trandafilovski. (3/11/16)More to follow, but D flat Major seems needed today.
Beethoven-Quartet Op 135
Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo
Kreutzer Quartet
Peter Sheppard Skaerved-Mihailo Trandafilovski-Clifton Harrison-Neil Heyde
Live at Robinson College Cambridge, 3/11/16
Playing Beethoven.
3rd November-Two Premieres, Beethoven, Bach and Rainier in Cambridge.
We are just about to premiere two new quartets here at Robinson College Chapel, Cambridge by our dear friends Elliott Schwartz and Jeremy Thurlow!
Hard at work with the wonderful composer Jeremy Thurlow about to premiere his ‘Memory is the Seamstress’-based on a line from Virginia Woolf’s ‘Orlando;. Concert in a couple of hours. With Mihailo Trandafilovski, Neil Heyde, Clifton Harrison.
New Quartet from Yigit Kolat
The excitement of an emerging new work. A glimpse of the new quartet which my friend Yi?it Kolat.is writing for us, and memories of his lovely 2010 solo piece. So great to meet up in Seattle this summer! Onwards! http://
Kreutzer Quartet in Tianjin 17th October-21st October
We are in residence this week at the Tianjin Conservatory of Music. This will involve two concerts of works written for us by Sadie Harrison, Michael Finnissy, Robert Saxton, David Matthews, Laurie Bamon, George Holloway and more, and (already) fascinating workshops with the composers studying at this extraordinary music college.
Poster for this week’s concerts! Tianjin 17 10 16
Collections Up Close: With the Viotti Stradivari 30 9 16
Today I curated and led a packed afternoon & evening focussing on the great 1709 ‘Viotti ex-Bruce- Stradivari, at the Royal Academy of Music. MOre info and pictures here! http://wp.me/pH1iH-5Jy
Talking about Viotti and Stradivari . David Josefowitz Recital Hall, 30 9 16 f
New Release! Michael Slayton ‘Sursum’ 26 9 16
‘Sursum’ 26 9 16
This just in: ‘Sursum’, the new Album from Michael Slayton on Navona Records, including the eponymous quartet written for the Kreutzers. With Neil Heyde, Mihailo Trandafilovski, Clifton Harrison, Congratulations Michael! More info at. http://www.navonarecords.com/catalog/nv6062/
Elliott Schwartz at Symphony Space ‘Darwin’s Dream’
Photo by Marius Skaerved. Playing Elliott Schwartz’s ‘Darwin’s Dream’ Symphony Space. New York City 21 9 16
For more pictures and information, go to LINK
Continua-USA September 11-16th 2016
Playing Torelli in the Hockett recital Hall. 15 9 16
So this week, if there is a theme, it is the fundamental unity that exist between the practice, the making, and the experience of music at any time in history. As a way of clarifying this process, I have elected to erect a wall, and to effectively CANCEL the 19th and 20th centuries from my music making, very temporarily, to explore the dialogues. Perhaps inevitably after a summer of travel in the USA, walking, on ships, ferries, planes, trains, automobiles, in mountains, fjords, deserts, glaciers, prairie, and on the ocean, the fundamental human colloquy, with the natural world, is taking centre stage. I make no apology for the fact that the struggle to find a foothold in landscape where I am just the tiniest part-by a dormant volcano, close to calving glacier, or just with my toes in the Mississippi-is moving to centre stage now. But it is taking a little time.
Where words fail; what we reach for. Hubbard Glacier August 2016
On Sunday, at the Compass Center, in Brandon Vermont, I explored this in a ‘talking concert’ setting, with an audience, the music stretched back to the Ancient Greeks, with a focus on 17th Century Northern Italy and Austria, and leapt to our time to the dialogues which my present day collaborators enjoy, with our forebears.
Beginning today, at Ithaca College, NY, I will offer this dialogue to young composers and players, in the fantastic company of my dear friend, the composer Evis Sammoutis. Let’s see what happens.
Announcement! Residency at Ithaca College (NY)
An exciting outcome of my ongoing collaboration with composer Evis Sammoutis, and our work together on his ‘Nikosia Concerto’. This announcement from Ithaca College:
‘Renowned violinist Peter Skærved will be Artist-in-Residence at Ithaca College in the fall and spring semesters. During his residency, Mr. Skærved will perform new works written specifically for him by IC faculty and students. He will also work directly with composition students, delivering lectures on contemporary string techniques in addition to workshopping and performing select student compositions. ‘
Evis Sammoutis collecting sound with Peter Sheppard Skaerved. Nicosia November 2014
American discoveries Ole Bull in St Paul 8 8 16
This violin, it seems, was presented by ‘Myllargutten’ to Ole Bull, in 1860. Today, I played it for the first time. To find out more, go to LINK
Astonishing 1860 Hardanger violin (Erik Jonson Helland)-
16 th July Premieres and Collaboration at the Michael Tippett Centre, Bath Spa University
With Composer Lauri Bamon, introducing her ‘All the Summer Seabirds’ which the Kreutzer Quartet premiered at the Michael Tippett Centre, 16th July 2016
Photo: Alice Bayley
The Kreutzer Quartet: PSS, Mihailo Trandafilovski, Clifton Harrison, Neil Heyde, with MIchael Finnissy introducing his ‘Civilisation’, which we premiered in 2013 Photo: Amanda Bayley
Ole Bull’s Amati-A review in English! 5 7 16
‘Enthusiasts of historical violins will be eagerly awaiting succeeding volumes of this most worthy and enjoyable project.’ Thanks toStephen Sutton and Roderick Chadwickhttp://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Jul/Great_violins_v2_ATH23205.htm
Talking about Bull’s Amati, on its first visit to Lysoen for over 130 years. 28 5 15
3-7-16Interview for http://www.musicvoice.it/
This just out, if you can read Italian. Link here: http://www.musicvoice.it/classical-music-time/2395/peter-sheppard-skaerved-colui-del-tu-ad-uno-stradivari-ole-bull-the-great-violins-viotti-amati-guarneri-del-gesu/
30th June-Recording David Matthews 8th Quartet with the Kreutzer Quartet
With David Matthews and my friends from the quartet. MihailoTrandafilovski, Clifton Harrison, Neil Heyde. Aldbury Parish Church 30 6 16
This is the 10th of David’s extraordinary quartets which we have recorded. This extraordinary cycle of pieces, each one a masterpiece, is one of of the greatest achievements in chamber music by a composer of our times, and I am enormously proud to have worked with David for all my professional life. For outtakes, go toLINK
21st June-Recording Henze Violin Sonatas with Roderick Chadwick
With Henze and Jan Philip Schulze, Genoa 1998
Very proud of this: as of yesterday, I have recorded all four Henze concerti and the three sonatas. I confess, happily, to a lifetime of wonder at Henze’s music, and his contribution to the voice of the violin was immense. The two violin sonatas and the Viola Sonata are incredible, and do listen to 19 year old genius-the first violin sonata is 1946-lyricism in the ruins. Words can’t express my gratitude to Roderick Chadwick’s artistry. Outtakes here!! https://www.sheppardskaerved.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=21457&action=edit
Henze Sonatas with Roderick Chadwick 21 6 16
18th June Michael Alec Rose’s ‘Il Ritorno’ on Dartmoor
Michael Alec Rose’s ‘Il Ritorno’ and works by Marini, Biber, Sadie Harrison etc Mortonhampstead Church Devon 20 6 2016 (Photo Soleil Sparks)
…and in the interval the large audience all came to leaf through them, which resulted in some rather moving discussions at the end as to which paintings people wanted to tell me about, what they identified with. The first half of the concert was mainly early music, including my version of a Pindar Ode (Pythian I) which had been an idee fixe across the week. The second half offered Michael’s extraordinary 40 minute piece, which is, and I do not use the word lightly, sublime. As the vast majority of the audience were from the area, I felt, while I played, a palpable sense of ‘taking ownership’ emanating from the audience, and the most extraordinary quality of silence that I have ever known, which the piece, in many ways frames, the silence of the moor. There was a standing ovation and people raced up to tel the composer stories, of their experiences of this precious place, relived, revived through this extraordinary work.
17th June-Music for Alexander the Great and ‘Sunken Cities’ at the British Museum
Playing works inspired by Alexander the Great, with Mihailo Trandafilovski. Room 22 British Museum 17th June 2016
On Friday I presented my biggest (maddest) incursion into the British Museum, linked to the ‘Sunken Cities’ exhibit. The idea was to present three simultaneous events reflecting on the idea of Alexander the Great. I invited Dr John Bailey, Veronica Doubleday,, to play Rabab, Herati etc in the Enlightment Gallery. In the Islamic Gallery, the ever-more-impressive Alice Barron, was playing with a fantastic Oud player from Lebanon, Saiel Silbak, and in the Alexander Room, working with Mihailo Trandafilovski, I played a 2-hour set of works written for me from the Balkans, and Eastern Mediterranean, incliuding 6 works especially written for the evening. The event attracted great interest – hundreds of people going between the ‘stations’.
13th June Solo Concert at the Manor House on Axiotheas Steet, Nicosia, Cyprus
On stage at the Manor House 13 6 16
Thanks to Evis Sammoutis for all of this, and to Paul Pellay, Judith Bingham,Michael Alec Rose, Paul Pellay, Iannis Xenakis, Biagio Marini, Giovanni Bassano, JJ Rousseau, Pindar and Locatelli for wondful pieces!
On Monday, I was in Cyprus, to give a concert at the wonderful performing space of the Cultural Centre of the University. This is an outside venue, in the courtyard of a wonderful galleried Venetian building in the old town, but fully equipped with raked seating,lighting, pa etc. The centre piece of the evening was the Cyprus premiere of Evis Sammoutis’ ‘Nicosia Etudes’, in the town which is inspiring them. And I also played pieces written for me by Judith Bingham, Paul Pellay (his fantastic Mozart variant-also a second performance), and works by Biber, Marini, Bassano, Locatelli, Tartini, etc. And Xenakis. In the morning, I had given the keynote for the Continuum 2016 conference at the University, which brought together architects and musicians from the Yale, Cornell, UCLA, IRCAM etc. There’s a very exciting development with the Sammoutis project, which is now bringing together the Cyprus University, (our larger project has three year EU funding), with the Archicture School at Atlanta Tech, and Ithaca College.
7th June 2016 Recording Hans Werner Henze-Sonata for Viola and Piano
With Roderick Chadwick, one of the most virtuoso colourists among pianists. Henze 7 6 16
Henze-Sonata for Viola & Piano (1979)
Peter Sheppard Skaerved-Viola (Matthew Hardie/Richard Meares)
Roderick Chadwick-Piano
Engineer-Jonathan Haskell (Astounding Sounds)
Outtakes. Recording session 7/6/16
First Concert Day-Bergen Festival Residency 1 6 16
View from above. Playing Jorg Widmann-Etude 1 St Joergens Church. Bergen 1 6 16 (Photo Malene Skaerved)
After a day of preparation and walking yesterday, I gave a 4hour non stop performance of Tartini and more in the fantastic church of Lepramuseet Bergen. For more info, go to :LINK
Preparing for Bergen Lepramuseet Residency 29 5 16
It strikes me, that the works that I have chosen to accompany the 30 Tartini Sonatas, and Sammoutis’s Etudes this week at the Lepramuseet in Bergen, by Xenakis, Widmann, Lachenmann, Glass, Finnissy and Henze, have all been in my hands and imagination for 20 years. This week’s event, which is far from being concerts, is about reflection, about time, about silence, inspired by this extraordinary space, and the other spaces in which it has been my privilege to practise (in the broadest sense) this music over the years. LINK
Tree in Lepramuseet Kloster and architectural detail 30 5 15 Bergen
Happiness in the Studio 23 May
Today, the Kreutzer Quartet had the joy of recording Michael Slayton’s exquisite ‘Sursum’, which will be released on Parma this summer. This lovely piece was written for us four years ago, and will be the first of a number of small pieces resulting fro this collaboration.
Kreutzer Quartet recording Michael Slayton-Sursum 23 5 16
Michael Slayton-Sursum
Outtakes (Kreutzer Quartet-Peter Sheppard Skaerved, Mihailo Trandafilovski, Clifton Harrison, Neil Heyde) 23 5 16
St John the Baptist, Aldbury, Engineer Jonathan Haskel
Two days of wonder
Two days, four world premieres, 8 Mozart Sonatas, two fabulous Victorian venues, wonderful collaborators, two pre-concert talks, lots of poetry, and at last, candlelight and friends back home. Concerts in Dover and London 20th/21st May
Deepin conversation with my wonderful Longbow friends, Rehearsing Ireland, Clarke, Gorton. Maison Dieu, Dover 20 May
Three Exciting Days 19/20/21st May
SOUNDBOX May 19th 1pm. Piano Gallery, Royal Academy of Music, London
With composers David Gorton & Nigel Clarke exploring writing for string ensemble, NOT string orchestra!LINK
11th October 2013, Longbow in Dover
Maison Dieu/Town Hall, Dover 20th May 8pm Inspiration Dover
New works by Nigel Clarke, David Gorton, and my transcription of Tallis. Plus exhibition of my ‘Channel Firing Sketches’
Mozart Sonatas with Daniel-Ben Pienaar, New works by Paul Pellay, David Matthews. 21st May 4pm, 8pm Wilton’s Music Hall LINK
On stage with the Fabulous Daniel-Ben Pienaar. Celebrating Mozart at Wilton’s Music Hall 14 2 16
Out today-Interview on ‘The Cross-eyed Pianist’ 12 5 16
Pianist Frances Wilson runs a fascinating website, with a great series of interviews (which include a healthy injection from the ‘Proust Questionnaire’). Here’s my contribution!
Preparing for Mozart-Wilton’s Music Hall-May 21st
A lifetime’s work, and then you realise you have to begin again. My copy of Mozart K378, hopefully obliterating the muddle of the past-after a happy overnight of technical work. Let’s face it, I just love violin practice. For Mozart Sonatas with Daniel Ben Pienaar-May 21st at Wiltons Music HallLINK
Hard at work in Munich
Back in one of my homes, Munich, rehearsing with the gang at the akademie für schöne künste (hence the view, and the snow) – Yves Savary, Kelvin Hawthorne, Jan Philip Schulze, Stefan Blum, Bettina Fass, and composer Pablo Quass. Great to back-it’s been too long.
From where I sit-chamber music with Kelvin Hawthorne, Yves Savary, Stefan Blum, Pablo Quass. 26 4 16 Munich
25th April ‘Channel Firing’ for Dover Museum goes Live
As of today: my ‘Channel Firing’ live on the Dover Museum Homepage. With thanks to Joanna Jones, Clare Smith, Jayne Miles, Jon Iveson, Malene Sheppard Skaerved, Marius Skaerved and all the collaborating Artists on the ‘WW1 Joined Up’ adventure! LINK HERE
24th April-For Rose-Choreography for Tartini
Last night, the California based choreographer Bettina Bike sent me the film of her ‘For Rose’ set to a movement of the Tartini ‘Sonata Piccole’ . it is really lovely, and I am so proud to be a small part of this!
21st April 2016-Ole Bull is here!!!
it’s here! The Great Violins Volume 2: The Ole Bull Amati, with the wonderful Roderick Chadwick. It’s not released yet, so horses wil have to be held. With thanks to Valentine Saarmaa, who inspired this project, and Stephen Sutton at Divine Art for the vision and hard work. And a big shout out to Anders Beyer, who started my Ole Bull project (after a Messiaen concert in DK!) Here’s a link to the violin in Norway, last year! Link
The beautifully produced album from Athene (divine Art)
16th April 2016. Bach, Biber, Matteis, Tartini with Julian Perkins
Playing Purcell’s ‘Sefauchi’s Farewell’ as an encore. Riverhouse Barn. Photo Malene Skaerved
15th April 2016-with composer Douglas Young
The fascination of the score. Conversation with Douglas Young, making plans to record his fantastic string quartet and trio – and much talk of Paul Klee Link
Preparation for Tartini in Bergen 10 4 16
Some of the scores for the Tartini Cycle on my floor 10 4 16
Facing the mountain (again!). Returning to the 30 Tartini ‘piccole’ (and my handwriting) Sonatas for my cyclic performances at the Bergen Festival in June. With some Evis Sammoutis, Michael Finnissy, Xenakis, Glass, Lachenmann & Widmann too.Link to Festival Programme
Back to Reicha!
Rehearsing the ASTONISHING Adagio the Op 58 with Neil Heyde, Clifton Harrison, Mihailo Trandafilovski in preparation to record Volume 4 of our complete cycle for Toccata Classics. Here’s the Duo Concertant (with Aaron Shorr) http://wp.me/pH1iH-1RK
Wonderful Cello writing in Reicha 8 4 16
Composer at my table: Conversation & inspiration with Gloria Coates 4 4 16
Gloria Coates, discussing her 10th Quartet at my table, 4 4 16
I have been lucky enough to have been close friends with the wonderful American composer Gloria Coates for all my adult life. If you need convincing how fantastic she is, listen to this:
Gloria Coates – Berceuse from the Solo Sonata
Peter Sheppard Skaerved-Violin (Recorded live in Cologne)
Filming and improvising at Wilton’s Music Hall with Mihailo Trandafilovski, directed by Malene Skaerved 1 4 16
-a joyful day, with Mihailo Trandafilovski, filmed bvy Malene Sheppard Skaerved and Anna Megan McNutt at Wilton’s Music Hall. Here’s a link to some of the music which resulted, from some subterranean viola music and (the second on the post, some extraordinarily rhapsodic improvising from MT, while I just play a few drones)LISTEN HERE
The trouble is, that Mihailo Trandafilovski and I have never been able to lose the fun from our collaboration!
Mozart Sonatas at Wilton’s Music Hall
Absolute pleasure. Mozart Sonatas with Daniel-Ben Pienaar-rehearsing for Mozart Salons 3/4 at Wilton’s Music Hall in May.LINK
rehearsing with Daniel-Ben Pienaar 29 3 16 Photo Malene Skaerved
Recording Thomas Simaku-in York 16 3 16
Playing Thomas Simaku-Jack Lyons Concert Hall, York 20 3 16
Thomas Simaku sessions in full flood and flight, here in York, with the fabulous Roderick Chadwick.for outtake to to www.peter-sheppard-skaerved.com
Outtake from Sessions happening right now!
Thomas Simaku-My Beautiful Morea
Recording Michael Alec Rose-Mornington Caprice 17 3 16
A great end to the day of recording-here are three outtakes of Michael Alec Rose’s wonderful Frank Auerbach duo (dedicated to Lee Hallman) recorded with Diana Mathews today. LINK
Peter Maxwell Davies (15 3 16)
I was lucky enough to work with Peter Maxwell Davies a number of times. Here is his wonderfully mad, early quartet (and here I am, after a happy day of recording his solo violin music) . Every time we met up, there was the twinkle in the eye, the big hug, and the razor-sharp questions about what I was up to. ‘There’s a great spirit gone’ LINK
With Peter Maxwell Davies 2006, break in recording session for solo violin works
10-3-16 Playing at Tate Britain, for Frank Auerbach
With composer Michael Alec Rose, and Violist Diana Mathews (and Auerbach’s ‘Summer Morning 1991’)
Michael Alec Rose’s ‘Mornington Caprice’, premiered in the wonderful Frank Auerbach Show at Tate Britain-with huge thanks to Lee Hallman and Diana Mathews. (oh, and a little Locatelli).
Playing the Locatelli ‘Laberinto…’ to Frank Auerbach’s’Summer Morning’ (1991) Tate Brita n10 3 16
Locatelli-Il Laberinto Armonico, facilius adius, difficilis exius
Peter Sheppard Skaerved-Violin (LO FI mobile phone recording, 10-3-16)
9-3-16 Peter Dickinson Premiere
A real honour, this evening to premiere the violin version of Peter Dickinson’s exquisite Air & Metamorphosis, to a tightly packed audience (alarmingly) filled with musical heroes.(thanks to Malene Sheppard Skaerved for the photo) And then Peter gave an imaginary interview with Satie (using only Satie’s words!) Here’s a link to my ‘at the desk’ version of ‘Air’.LINK
8-3-16 Prokofiev and Stravinsky with Roderick Chadwick
Stravinsky & Prokofiev with the fabulous Roderick Chadwick at Clothworkers Hall – here with the Guild mascot, Cedric the Ram. 8 3 16
7-3-16 Quintets with Michael Finnissy
On stage with Michael Finnissy, Mihailo Trandafilovski, Clifton Harrison, Neil Heyde at Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton University! Great photo by Ramakrishnan Kumaran
4-3-16 Menuhin and his composers-the Hunt for Sound
Afternoon of quiet wonder. Talking about collaboration, with MSS by Bartok, Frank Martin, Kurtag, Bloch, Frank Martin (illustrated). 4 2 16
If you would like to read the text of this talk, and links to performances by Menuhin, Busch, Szigeti, Elman, Heifetz, Powell, Enesco, and PSS, go to LINK
29th February Peter Dickinson-Air
I am going to be talking a lot about Peter Dickinson a lot this week. To start with, his lovely ‘Air’, at the desk with the world getting going outside. Nested palindromes, like a symmetrical prime number – but nothing cold about this music
Peter Dickinson-Air (ca.1959)
Peter Sheppard Skaerved-Violin (Girolamo Amati 1629)
Workshop Recording Wapping 29 02 16
Peter Dickinson ‘Air’ on the desk with a section of fossil seafloor from Nashville TN 29 2 16
25-2-16. Hard at work with the master: Michael Finnissy
A joyful afternoon, working with Michael Finnissy on his life-enhancing completion and reflection of/on Grieg’s Piano Quintet. Thanks to Marius Skaerved for his keen eye (he has been listening to Finnissy quite literally, all of his life) . With Neil Heyde, Mihailo Trandafilovski, Clifton Harrison Link
Composer/pianist Michael Finnissy, Peter Sheppard Skaerved, and Mihailo Trandafilovski
David Matthews-Complete Quartets Volume 4 in the Guardian
22 2 16. Pleased to get a second review in the Guardian in 4 days. This time for our recording of David Matthews quartets on Toccata Classics. Buy it now. LINK
Read the review LINK
David Lancaster-Rough Cut (Live at Wilton’s Music Hall)
Below, saluting the composer! With David Lancaster 14 2 16
It was a week of David premieres. David Lancaster’s ‘Rough Cut’ at one end, and David Gorton’s ‘Lachrymae’ Etude at the other. Here’s the Lancaster, live at Wilton’s Music Hall.
David Lancaster-Rough Cut (Live at Wilton’s Music Hall)
On February 19th, I will be playing a concert of works linked to the Waddesdon Room at the British Museum, with the wonderful harpsichordist, Julian Perkins. Here’s a link Link
14th January-Amati meets Thomas Urquhart
Today, in conversation, Benjamin Hebbert, who is always fascinating, pointed out the similar arching in the ‘Ole Bull’ Nicolo Amati (1647) and a London-made violin by Thomas Urquhart (1663). We took this photo, which really makes the point.
Violins by Nicolo Amati (1647) and Thomas Urquhart (1663)
He observes:
‘The most amazing thing is that a maker in Westminster, connected to the Royal Court would have been making highly observed copies of Amatis that belonged to the royal musical establishment. Fascinating evidence of what Royal musicians at the time of Purcell would have been familiar with.'(14/1/16)
Go to Violins and violinists, for a chance to read his insightful writing on Urquhart, Charles II, and Purcell
17th January-Online release of Edward Cowie ‘In Flight Music’
Now you can go to the NMC website to listen to/buy Edward Cowie’s fantastic 3rd, 4th
http://www.nmcrec.co.uk/recording/flight-music
9th January 2016 Michael Alec Rose’s ‘Il Ritorno’ on Dartmoor
Peter rehearsing ‘Il Ritorno’ at Mortonhampstead Church on Dartmoor 9 1 16
After the Mozart concert, composer Michael Alec Rose and I caught the early train to Dartmoor to spend an inspiring, weatherbeaten day, walking, and rehearsing his ‘Il Ritorno’ on the Moor. The world premiere of this piece there, in June, will be presented by the National Park Authority – a truly enlightened gesture towards the music of our time. More here LINK
Mozart Sonatas at Wilton’s Music Hall:
Mozart at Wilton’s Music Hall. With Daniel-Ben Pienaar. 8 1 16
A great day:Mozart, Michael Alec Rose, at the BBC and Soundbox
An absolute joy Mozart with Daniel-Ben Pienaar. BBC Broadcasting House 7 1 16
Two roses: Michael Alec Rose and Gregory Rose at Soundbox, then with Daniel Ben Pienaar at BBC Broadcasting house. Listen here, from about 10′ in Mozart K 304, and the world premiere of Michael Alec Rose’s ‘Song’ inspired by Mozart.http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06tlxvw
Premiering Michael Alec Rose ‘Song’ on BBC Radio 3 7 1 16
The Challenge of ‘what is a violin’?
Rehearsing on Paganini’s del Gesu ‘the Cannon’. Genoa 2007. Photo Richard Bram
Thinking about the amazing things that I have learnt from so many extraordinary instruments, new and old, and I realise, that in many ways, the most liberating challenge, the instrument that made me realise, that I needed to always be open to new possibilities of what a violin is, was this one. (there’s a bit from me in this article) Rehearsing in Genoa, 2007. Photo Richard Bram http://tarisio.com/…/cozio-cart…/the-paganini-cannon-violin/
A New Year! posted 6 1 16
This week starts my year off with three wonderful projects, in as many days. The pace is only likely to hot up, so it will be exciting. Tomorrow at 1230 pm I will present the first installment of Soundbox LINK. This week I am delighted to welcome back my dear friend and colleague Michael Alec Rose, talking about our walking/composing/playing/painting/writing project on Dartmoor. LINK
Working with Michael Alec Rose in Nashville 2014
After Soundbox, we will meet up with the wonderful pianist Daniel-Ben Pienaar, and go over to Broadcasting House, where, at 430pm, we will play Mozart and Rose live, and talk about the first of the Wilton’s Music Hall ‘Mozart Salons’
Rehearsing Mozart with the fantastic Daniel Ben Pienaar. December 2015
Then it’s back to the Royal Academy of Music, and the same evening, the opening of my exhibition (co-curated with Johanna Tapp ‘Yehudi Menuhin-Journeys with a Violin’ LINK
Peter Sheppard Skaerved, with his exhibition.’Yehudi Menuhin’Journeys with a Violin’ 15 12 15
On Friday 8th, the first of our Mozart Sonata series at Wilton’s Music Hall. This is absolutely my artistic home, so I am very excited to launch this fantastic new series. LINK
19th century neo-classicism at Wiltons Music Hall. Photo Male ne Skaerved 3 12 15
Posted on February 28th, 2017 by Peter Sheppard Skaerved