Steve Martland

[jazzy_dave]

The late great post-punk minimalist -

Steve Martland - Danceworks (1993)

A student of Louis Andriessen, the late Steve Martland was known for his energetic postminimalist compositional style which blended elements of popular and classical music together. This series of four ensemble pieces were written for the London Contemporary Dance Theatre and choreographer Aletta Collins in 1993.

0:00 Dance 1
5:43 Dance 2
10:47 Dance 3
15:46 Dance 4

Performed by the Steve Martland Band.

Steve Martland - Crossing The Border (1990)

From the post-punk label Factory Records - that had Joy Division on their roster - and now out of print.

Incredible composition in which you can hear Martland's three biggest influences, Igor Stravinsky, Louis Andriessen, and Michael Tippett. You can also hear the influence of Scottish Folk fiddle music, rather like Tippett's double concerto in fact.

Oh yeah, this is such a powerful recording that it demands to be played LOUD!!!!

Martland was born in Liverpool and studied composition at Liverpool University and in the Netherlands with Louis Andriessen. He worked almost exclusively with artists outside classical institutions — Dutch and American groups, freelance musicians, and especially his own Steve Martland Band which tours his music internationally. He also worked with the King’s Singers and Evelyn Glennie for whom he wrote Street Songs. Martland was composer in residence at the ETNA Music Festival in Sicily in 2006 and 2007. His music was published by Schott Music.

Usually amplified, muscular and powerfully rhythmic, his music was extensively choreographed: Dance Works commissioned and premièred by London Contemporary Dance Theatre has received many new productions around the world, and Remix was awarded the SACD Prize for Video Dance Choreography Music after being choreographed for BBC TV by Aletta Collins.

Martland died in Reading after suffering a heart attack in his sleep, during the night of 6 May 2013, at the age of 58

ENJOY