James Clapperton
Encyclopedia
James Clapperton is a Scottish composer and pianist.
in 1968. In 1984 he performed an arrangement of Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring
' made by himself and David Horne
for piano duet at the Dartington Summer School. Witold Lutoslawski, Michael Tippett and Harrison Birtwistle were in attendance. In 1988 he was awarded the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis at the Darmstadt Ferienkurse fur Neue Musik. Since then he has worked with many of the world's leading composers. In 1991 he gave the world premiere of Europera 3 by John Cage
and toured in London, Strasbourg, Berlin and Paris with the composer. At this time he performed regularly as a piano duo with his former tutor Yvar Mikhashoff
.
Clapperton has given recitals at major festivals throughout Europe and in North America. In 2003 he gave the Russian premiere of the complete Ligeti
Etudes at the St. Petersburg Soundways festival. From 1998 to 2002 he was the artistic director of the Music Factory Festival in Bergen, Norway. He featured the music of Sciarrino, Lachenmann and Radulescu among others. James Clapperton enjoyed a collaboration with the Romanian master Horaţiu Rădulescu
which lasted twenty years until he died in 2008. He has also worked closely with composers such as Brian Ferneyhough, Alexander Radvilovitch, Salvatore Sciarrino, Howard Skempton and many others.
Biography
James Clapperton was born in AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
in 1968. In 1984 he performed an arrangement of Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring, original French title Le sacre du printemps , is a ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky; choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky; and concept, set design and costumes by Nicholas Roerich...
' made by himself and David Horne
David Horne (composer)
David Horne is a Scottish composer, pianist, and teacher.A resident composer with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic for four years, he has been awarded several commissions...
for piano duet at the Dartington Summer School. Witold Lutoslawski, Michael Tippett and Harrison Birtwistle were in attendance. In 1988 he was awarded the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis at the Darmstadt Ferienkurse fur Neue Musik. Since then he has worked with many of the world's leading composers. In 1991 he gave the world premiere of Europera 3 by John Cage
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
and toured in London, Strasbourg, Berlin and Paris with the composer. At this time he performed regularly as a piano duo with his former tutor Yvar Mikhashoff
Yvar Mikhashoff
Yvar Emilian Mikhashoff was an American virtuoso pianist and composer...
.
Clapperton has given recitals at major festivals throughout Europe and in North America. In 2003 he gave the Russian premiere of the complete Ligeti
György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he briefly lived in Hungary before becoming an Austrian citizen.-Early life:...
Etudes at the St. Petersburg Soundways festival. From 1998 to 2002 he was the artistic director of the Music Factory Festival in Bergen, Norway. He featured the music of Sciarrino, Lachenmann and Radulescu among others. James Clapperton enjoyed a collaboration with the Romanian master Horaţiu Rădulescu
Horatiu Radulescu
Horaţiu Rădulescu was a Romanian-French composer, best known for the spectral technique of composition.-Biography:Rădulescu was born in Bucharest, where he studied the violin privately with Nina Alexandrescu, a pupil of Enescu, and later studied composition at the Bucharest Academy of Music ,...
which lasted twenty years until he died in 2008. He has also worked closely with composers such as Brian Ferneyhough, Alexander Radvilovitch, Salvatore Sciarrino, Howard Skempton and many others.