Music Sales composer Hans Abrahamsen has been shortlisted for the RPS Music Award for Large-Scale Composition for his work Wald.Designed to honour musicians, composers, writers, broadcasters and inspirational arts organisations, the awards are considered to be the highest recognition for live classical music within the UK.
Abrahamsen notes that the Wald is essentially a series of variations of an earlier composition of his (Walden 1978), with this composition revolving around the horn and exploiting its harmonics within a diverse and slightly unconventional ensemble.
Presented in association with BBC Radio 3, this year’s RPS Music Awards winners will be decided by independent panels consisting of some of the music industry’s most distinguished practitioners.
John Gilhooly, chairman of the Royal Philharmonic Society, commented: “This year they (the panel) have put their fingers on the country’s musical pulse and found a rich vein of talent and invention.
“In the current difficult climate, it is vitally important that we stand up and celebrate the excellence of both our great cultural institutions and of those who are making a profound difference on a smaller stage.”
Following the completion of his studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, Abrahamsen became a key figure in the Danish New Simplicity movement.
And despite the small scale and succinct nature of the majority of his works, his music often has a grand quality – creating the impression that behind the scarceness of material there are expansive thoughts and concepts.
The RPS Music ceremony, which is due to be held at the Dorchester Hotel, London, on May 10th, will be presented by international pianist Imogen Cooper.