Michael Nyman Band

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Michael Nyman Band
photograph of the band taken by Martin Elliott
Background information
Also known as	Campiello Band
Origin	London, England
Genre(s)	contemporary classical music minimalist music film scores
Years active	1976-present
Label(s)	Piano EMI/Virgin/Venture/Caroline Editions EG Jay Argo SLC Warner Bros. MN Music
Associated acts	Balanescu Quartet John Harle Band Camilli Quartet London Saxophonic Michael Nyman Orchestra
Members
Michael Nyman Alexander Balanescu Gabrielle Lester Katherine Shave Kate Musker Tony Hinnigan Martin Elliott David Roach Simon Haram Nigel Gomm David Lee Nigel Barr Steve Sidwell Bruce White Cathy Thompson
Former members
John Harle Andrew Findon Jonathan Carney Graham Ashton Clare Connors Elisabeth Perry David Rix Marjorie Dunn Ann Morfee Bill Hawkes Steve Saunders Richard Clews

The Michael Nyman Band, formerly known as the Campiello Band, is a group formed as a street band for a 1976 production of Carlo Goldoni's 1756 play, Il Campiello. The band did not wish to break up after the production ended, so its director, Michael Nyman, began composing music for the group to perform, beginning with "In Re Don Giovanni", written in 1977. Originally made up of old instruments such as rebecs and shawms alongside more modern instruments like the saxophone in order to produce as loud a sound as possible without amplification, it later switched to a fully amplified lineup of string quartet, double bass, clarinet, three saxophones, horn, trumpet, euphonium, bass trombone, bass guitar, and piano. This line up has been variously altered and augmented for some works.

The band's first recorded album on a professional label was Nyman's second, the self-titled Michael Nyman (1982; released in Japan in 1981), which mostly comprised pieces written for the early films of Peter Greenaway. This album has yet to be released on compact disc. Another self-titled album (1995) has appeared as a promotional item compiling tracks from various other albums, and should not be confused with this one.

Along with soundtracks to Greenaway's The Draughtsman's Contract, Drowning by Numbers, and The Cook The Thief His Wife & Her Lover, their 1980s output included The Kiss and Other Movements (which includes the titular art song; a song from Nyman's projected Tristram Shandy opera; a movement from the same work as "Memorial" as used in Greenaway's 26 Bathrooms; and a performance of music (not the original soundtrack) from Greenaway's Making a Splash) and the modern dance work And Do They Do. They also made a rare recording of Nyman's La Traversée de Paris in 1989; many of its individual movements were soon to be dismantled, revised, or simply transplanted whole, to serve as the soundtrack for Greenaway's Prospero's Books (1991). Conversely, Nyman composed music for another adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Tempest, the ballet-opera Noises, Sounds & Sweet Airs, soon after Prospero's Books, some of which was dervied from La Traversée de Paris.

Their 1992 album, The Essential Michael Nyman Band, may appear to be a greatest hits compilation, but is actually comprised of the concert versions of various film pieces, having undergone years of revisions and refinement, are significantly different from their soundtrack counterparts, to a far more severe extent than typical differences between classical music performances. This album also contains two cuts from the film score to A Zed & Two Noughts, which was originally performed by an orchestra of musicians who were never members of the band, with solos by band members Nyman, Balanescu, Perry, and Leonard. Similarly, The Piano was performed by members of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra with Harle, Roach, Findon, and Nyman, but is also part of the band's repertoire.

In 1993, the band joined with an orchestra for the first time in their recording history with MGV: Musique à Grand Vitesse, a piece commissioned for the opening of a TGV line, first performed on September 26, 1993, in which the band, according to Nyman's own liner notes, represents the tracks, "resisting the temptation of the concerto grosso". The album credit is to "The Michael Nyman Band and Orchestra".

The group has largely been superseded by the Michael Nyman Orchestra. Such soundtrack albums as Practical Magic, Ravenous, The End of the Affair, The Claim, and The Libertine are credited to this group, first implied on that 1994 album. While the former two titles lack detailed credits, the latter three albums show that most of the band (not to say most of those credited as full members over its history) performs in the Orchestra. The band's existence is far from over, however, as Nyman orchestrated his 2002 opera, Facing Goya, specifically for the band. His previous two opera recordings include band members but are not formally credited to the band, and one, the aforementioned Noises, Sounds & Sweet Airs, uses a full-scale orchestra, without Nyman at the baton.

They are produced by David Cunningham.

[edit] Lineup

(listed chronologically)

• Michael Nyman (1981-), composer, conductor, piano, harpsichord, kurzweil
• Rory Allam (1981), clarinet
• Alexander Balanescu (1981-1993, 1999-2002), violin
• Anne Barnard (1981), french horn
• Ben Grove (1981), bass guitar
• John Harle (1981-1999), soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
• Nick Hayley (1981), rebec, violin
• Ian Mitchell (1981-1982), clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone
• Elisabeth Perry (1981-1991, 1998), violin, viola
• Steve Saunders (1981-1991), bass trombone, euphonium
• Roderick Skeaping (1981), rebec, violin
• Keith Thompson (1981-1982), flute, piccolo, recorder, tenor saxophone
• Doug Wootton (1981), banjo
• Malcolm Bennett (1982), bass guitar
• Andrew Findon (1982-1999), tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, piccolo, flute, bass flute, alto flute
• Barry Guy (1982), double bass
• David Fuest (1985, 1986, 1989), clarinet, bass clarinet
• John Greaves (1985), bass guitar
• David Roach (1985-), alto and tenor saxophones
• Rupert Bawden (1986), viola
• Ruth Phillips (1986, 1991), cello
• Jonathan "John" Carney (1987-1991), violin, viola
• Catherine "Kate" Musker (1987-1990, 1999-), viola
• Anthony "Tony" Hinnigan (1987-), cello
• Miranda Fulleylove, also spelled "Fullylove" (1988, 1999), violin
• Rosemary Furniss (1988), violin
• Briony Shaw (1988), violin
• Jackie Shave (1988, 1999), violin
• Joe Rappaport (1988), viola
• Andrew Shulman (1988, cello
• Robin McGee (1988-1989), double bass
• John Wilbraham (1988), trumpet, flugelhorn
• Michael Thompson (1988), french horn
• Christopher "Chris" Lawrence also spelled "Laurence" (1989, 1994, 1999), double bass
• Graham Ashton (1989-1992), trumpet, flugelhorn
• David Stewart (1989), trombone
• Sarah Leonard (1989), soprano
• Clare Connors (1991-1994), violin
• Justin Pearson (1991-1992), cello
• Paul Morgan (1991, 1999), double bass
• Tim Amhurst also spelled "Amherst" (1991), double bass
• Lynda Houghton (1991), double bass
• Martin Elliott (1991-1995, (live only 1996-1998) 1999-), bass guitar
• David Rix (1989, 1991-1999), clarinet, bass clarinet
• Jamie Talbot (1991, 1995, 2005), soprano and alto saxophones
• Richard Clews (1991, 1995-1996), french horn, Wagner tuba
• Marjorie Dunn (1991-1994), horn
• Nigel Barr (1991-), bass trombone, euphonium, tuba
• Michael McMenemy (1991, 1992, 1994), violin
• Madeleine Mitchell (1992), violin
• Beverley "Bev" Davison (1992, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2005), violin
• Ann Morfee (also spelled Morphy) (1992-1994, 1999), violin
• Steven "Steve" Sidwell (1992-), trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet
• Jonathan Lenahan (1992), piano
• Marshall Marcus, violin
• Katherine "Kathy" Shave (1994, 1999-2002), violin
• William Schofield (1994), cello
• William "Bill" Hawkes (1994, 1996, 1999), violin
• Claire Thompson (1995), violin
• Nicholas Ward (1995), violin
• Boguslav Kosteki (1995), violin
• Harriet Davies (1995), violin
• Bruce White (1995, 1999-), viola
• Philip D'Arcy (1995, 1999), viola
• Jim Sleigh (1995), viola
• Tony Lewis (1995), cello
• David Lee (1996-), french horn, Wagner tuba
• Simon Haram (1996-), soprano and alto saxophones
• Nigel Gomm (1996, 1998, 2002), trumpet, flugelhorn
• Nigel Black, (1996) french horn, Wagner tuba
• Paul Gargham, (1996) french horn, Wagner tuba
• Chris Davies (1996), french horn, Wagner tuba
• Gary Kettel (1996), drums
• Rachel Browne (1998), violin
• Prunella Pacey (1998), violin
• Melissa Phelps (1998), cello
• Andrew Fawbert (1998, 2002), baritone saxophone, bass trombone, tuba, euphonium
• Jonathan Rees (1999), violin
• Sophie Landon (1999), violin
• Fran Andrade (1999), violin
• Jonathan Evans-Jones (1999), violin
• Andrew Parker (musician) (1999), viola
• Sophie Harris (1999), cello
• Catherine "Cathy" Thompson (2002-) violin
• Gillian Findlay (2002), violin
• Roger Linley (2002), double bass
• Stephen Williams (2002), double bass
• James Woodrow (2002), electric guitar
• Gabrielle "Gaby" Lester (2002-), violin

[edit] Discography

• "The Masterwork" Award Winning Fish-Knife (1979)
  • no musician credits
• From Brussels with Love (1980) - "A Walk Through H, Part 1"
• Miniatures (1980) - "89-90-91-92"
• Michael Nyman (1981/1982)
  • Allam, Balanescu, Barnard, Grove, Harle, Hayley, I. Mitchell, Nyman, Perry, Saunders, Skeaping, K. Thompson, Wootton, with Peter Brötzman (bass clarinet, tenor saxophone), Evan Parker, (soprano saxophone), Lucky Skeaping (soprano)
• The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
  • Nyman, Balanescu, Bennett, Findon, Guy, Harle, I. Mitchell, Perry, Saunders, K. Thompson
• The Kiss and Other Movements (1985)
  • Balanescu, Findon, Fuest, Greaves, Harle, Nyman, Perry, Roach, Saunders; with Dagmar Krause, Omar Ebrahim, Sarah Leonard (vocals), Mark Bennett (trumpet), Lowri Blake (cello), Martin Drower (trumpet), Rosemary Furniss (violin), David Purser (trombone), David Staff (trumpet), Crispian Steele-Perkins (trumpet), Theresa Ward (violin), Nigel Warren-Green (cello), Jonathan Williams (cello)
• And Do They Do (1986)
  • Balanescu, Bawden, Findon, Fuest, Nyman, Perry, Phillips, Roach
• Drowning by Numbers (1988)
  • Balanescu, Carney, Fulleylove, Furniss, Shaw, J. Shave, Musker, Carney, Rappaport, Hinningan, Shulman, McGee, Fuest, Harle, Roach, Findon, Wilbraham, M. Thompson, Saunders, Nyman
• The Cook The Thief His Wife & Her Lover (1989)
  • Balanescu, Perry, Carney, Hinnigan, Lawrence, Fuest, Harle, Roach, Findon, Ashton, Stewart, Nyman, Leonard, with London Voices directed by Terry Edwards (Paul Chapman (boy soprano), Elisabeth Harrison, Judith Rees, Sue Anderson, Sarah Leonard, Lesley Reid, Doreen Walker, Gareth Roberts, Terry Edwards, Simon Davies, Gordon Jones, Geoffrey Shaw)
• La Traversée de Paris (1989)
• Le Mari de la Coiffeuse (The Hairdresser's Husband) (1990)
  • no musician credits
• Prospero's Books (1991)
  • Balanescu, Carney, Perry, Connors, Musker, Hinnigan, Pearson, Morgan, Amhurst, Houghton, Elliott, Rix, Harle, Roach, Talbot, Findon, Ashton, Clews, Dunn, Barr, Saunders, Nyman, with Sarah Leonard, Marie Angel, Ute Lemper, Deborah Conway
• The Michael Nyman Songbook sung by Ute Lemper (1991)
  • Balanescu, Perry, Connors, McMenemy, Musker, Hinnigan, Phillips, Amherst, Elliott, Rix, Harle, Roach, Findon, Ashton, Dunn, Barr, Nyman (note: The lineup in Volker Schlöndorff's concert film of the same title (1992) is different from the studio album: Nyman, Davison, M. Mitchell, Morfee, Musker, Hinnigan, Pearson, Elliott, Rix, Harle, Roach, Findon, Sidwell, Dunn, Barr)
• The Essential Michael Nyman Band (1992)
  • Balanescu, Connors, Morphy, Musker, Hinnigan, Pearson, Elliott, Harle, Roach, Findon, Sidwell, Dunn, Barr, Lenahan, Nyman, with Sarah Leonard (soprano), Linda Hirst (mezzo-soprano)
• Contini/Interzone (1993) - The Final Score, Part I (complete recording released on After Extra Time in 1996)
  • Nyman, Balanescu, Connors, Morfee, Musker, Hinnigan, Pearson, Elliott, Harle, Roach, Findon, Sidwell
• MGV (Musique à Grande Vitesse) (1994)
  • Nyman, Balanescu, Connors, Hinnigan, Harle, Roach, Findon, Barr, Elliott, with Orchestra
• Anohito no Waltz (1994)
  • Nyman, Balanescu, Connors, Musker, Hinnigan, Harle, Roach, Findon, Barr, Elliott, with Hihiri Kuwano (violin), Tatsunobu Getoh (violin), Hiroshi Yamagishi (French horn), Akihiko Ikawa (trumpet)
• À la folie (Six Days, Six Nights) (1994)
  • Davison, Morfee, Marcus, K. Shave, Musker, Hinningan, Scofield, Laurence, Amhurst, Harle, Roach, Findon, Barr, Sidwell, Dunn, Elliott, Nyman
• Live (1994)
  • Nyman, Carney, Hawkes, Musker, Hinnigan, Harle, Roach, Findon, Barr, Elliott with Guergui Stoianov Boiadjev (violin), Nanko Mikov Dimitrov (violin), Evelina Nedeva Arabadjieva (violin), Kantcho Stefanov Kantchev (violin), Nediltcho Suilianov Hristov (viola), Stefan Todorov Jilkov (viola), Marieta Mihaylova Ivanova (cello), Emilia Hrostova Radilova (cello); musicians from Orquestra Andaluzi de Tetouan: Abdessadak Ckara (violin), Abdella Chekara (laud), Jelloul Najidi (kanoun), Ahmed Taoud (violin), Driss Aaufi (saxophone), Ahmet Mrabet (clarinet), Abdesslam Beniisa (cello), Mohamed Acgaalh (banderita (tambourine)), Jalla Chekara (violin), Nour-Din Aghbal (violin), Abdelouahid El Bazi (derboliga (drum)), Mohammed Chkara (cello)
• Carrington (1995)
  • Nyman, Davison, Morfee, Claire Thompson, Ward, Kosteki, H. Davies, Musker, White, D'Arcy, Sleigh, Hinnigan, Pearson, Lewis, Elliott, Roach, Talbot, Clews
• The Diary of Anne Frank (1995)
  • with Hilary Summers, contralto
• After Extra Time (1996)
  • Nyman, Hawkes, Morfee, Musker, Hinnigan, Harle, Roach, Findon, Barr, Sidwell, Lee, Elliott (b/w The Final Score (1993); and "Memorial" as recorded on The Essential Michael Nyman Band in 1992)
• The Ogre (1996)
  • Harle, Roach, Haram, Findon, Sidwell, Gomm, Lee, Black, Gargham, Clews, C. Davies, Barr, Kettel, Nyman, edited by Elliott
• The Suit and the Photograph (1998) - "3 Quartets"
  • Perry, Browne, Phelps, Harle, Roach, Haram, Findon, Gomm, Lee, Fawbert, Nyman
• Wonderland (1999)
  • J. Shave, Davison, Rees, K. Shave, Landon, Andrade, Fullylove, Evans-Jones, Hawkes, Parker, Musker, Hinnigan, Harris, Morgan, Roach, Haram, Findon, Elliott, Lee, Sidwell, Barr, Nyman
• Facing Goya (2002)
  • Balanescu, Lester, Catherine Thompson, Findlay, K. Shave, Musker, White, Hinnigan, Linley, Williams, Elliott, Roach, Haram, Dindin, Sidwell, Gomm, Lee, Barr, Fawbert, Woodrow, Nyman, with Winnie Böwe (soprano), Marie Angel (soprano), Hilary Summers (contralto), Harry Nicoll (tenor), Omar Ebrahim (baritone)