Nigel Butterley, Hovea Music Press composer
Nigel Butterley (born 1935) is probably the most universally respected living Australian composer. Integrity and personal vision are the cornerstones of his work, which has been able to absorb influences as diverse as Cage and Tippett without any apparent incongruity or loss of individuality.
His substantial output includes a Symphony; major orchestral works such as the Meditations of Thomas Traherne, Fire in the the heavens, and From Sorrowing Earth; and many chamber works, including four string quartets. The strong lyrical element that has always been a part of Butterley's music has given rise to several major vocal works, including the song-cycle Sometimes with One I Love, the dramatic scena The Owl and the opera Lawrence Hargrave Flying Alone.
Three basic convictions underlie Butterley's work as a composer. The first is based on a deeply personal (rather than institutional) religious experience already evident in his first major work, Laudes---an experience which generates the ecstatic, idealistic aspects of his music. Second is the belief that art exists to probe every cranny of emotional experience: it can elevate, it can console, but it can also provoke and disturb. Explorations and The Owl are examples of this.
The third conviction---probably the most important---is that the pursuit of one's 'true self' is ultimately more important than adoption of passing trends, whether populist or elitist. Consequently there is no 'Butterley School'. What Nigel Butterley has always offered to the many young composers and other musicians who have worked with him is an ethical model, not a ready-made style. Both the man and his music radiate belief in the capacity of art to go on saying meaningful things to those with even half an ear to hear.
These notes may be freely reproduced in concert programmes etc
providing copyright acknowledgement is given thus: © Richard Toop
Nigel Butterley (b. 1935) is probably the most universally respected of living Australian composers. Integrity and personal vision are the cornerstones of his work, which has been able to absorb influences as diverse as Cage and Tippett without any apparent incongruity or loss of individuality. [A] strong lyrical element has given rise to several major vocal works, including the song-cycle Sometimes With One I Love, the dramatic scena The Owl and the opera Lawrence Hargrave Flying Alone." (Richard Toop)
As one of Australia's most respected composers Nigel has long been a Represented Composer with the Australian Music Centre.
These notes may be freely reproduced in concert programmes etc providing copyright
acknowledgement is given thus: © Richard Toop, Nigel Butterley and Hovea Music Press 1996-1999.
Click on a title for a printable sample of the score.
The True Samaritan (major choral work):