Denis Smalley
Denis Arthur Smalley is a composer of electroacoustic music, with a special interest in acousmatic music.
Biography
Denis Smalley studied at the University of Canterbury and Victoria University in his native New Zealand, and later at the Paris Conservatoire with Olivier Messiaen, with the Groupe de Recherches Musicales, and at the University of York.He initially composed onto tape, but as early as the 1980s realised his works using computer software. His composition Pentes is regarded as one of the classics of electroacoustic music. Source sounds for his works may come from the environment—and are often the starting point for his pieces—but he may also develop highly sophisticated timbres from scratch using computer software. He describes his approach as "spectromorphological", featuring the development of sounds in time.
A lecturer at the University of East Anglia, England, from 1976 to 1994, he was professor of music at City University, London from 1994 until his retirement.
His music has been performed around the world and most of his major works appear on commercially released CDs.
Recordings
Impacts intérieurs Sources/scènes Névé Tides- ''Impacts intérieurs''
List of works
Base Metals Berne Mobiles, installationClarinet Threads, clarinet, and tape, received a Golden Nica in 1988Darkness After Time's Colours, received a Euphonie d'Or in 1992Empty Vessels Gradual, amplified clarinets, and tapeNévé Ouroboros O Vos Omnes, eight-part choir, and tapePentes Piano Nets, piano, and tapePneuma, amplified voices, and percussionThe Pulses of Time Resounding, 6-track tapeRinging Down the Sun, 6-track tapeSpectral Lands for electroacoustic sounds in six channelsTides Valley Flow Vortex- ''Wind Chimes''