NATHAN WILLIAMSON

Composer and pianist Nathan Williamson was in residence at the Museum of Beyond at the Aldeburgh Beach Lookout in July 2014. Working in the tower of the Aldeburgh Beach Lookout, Nathan composed new work inspired by the underlying themes of the Museum of Beyond. Nathan premiered his new work (as yet untitled) at the exhibition.

The piece was based on the idea of a dissonant chord which remained unresolved throughout the piece, representing the 'immovable' nature of the plastic items in Fran's exhibition. The chord featured music in very different styles, suggested by Fran's idea of understanding the objects in the museum from different viewpoints and with different attitudes.

The piece was interrupted by various 'fantasia' sections which reflected the movement of the sea and water around the 'immovable plastic' chord, which sadly always returned and remained unresolved through to the end.

Nathan blogged about his thought process in composing the work, which can be seen on his website www.nathanwilliamson.co.uk.

During the residency week the piece was only sketched as a 'work in progress', and Nathan expects to perform the completed work in concerts in 2015.

About Nathan Nathan in the Aldeburgh Beach Lookout

Nathan leads a diverse career as pianist and composer. Alongside recent appearances at most of London’s major venues, Nathan has collaborated with a wide range of artists across Europe as well as in Korea, Canada, and the USA. Brought up in Southwold, where he now lives, Nathan studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Yale and Oxford Universities. Nathan founded the Southwold Concert Series in 2008, which continues to thrive on its strong links to the local community and commitment to developing audiences through outreach and bold programming. Nathan’s website is www.nathanwilliamson.co.uk

Reviews:
There are few recordings of these works that equal this. The artist's technique and pianistic command allows him an ideal musical freedom. The effect is of intense commitment and an ultimate sense of poetry.
Bryce Morrison – on debut CD, ‘Schubert and Brahms: Late Piano Works’

The unabashed romanticism of … the music proved rather thrilling. People don't write opera like this any more, and perhaps they should.
Rupert Christiansen, Daily Telegraph – on Nathan’s opera ‘A Fountain Sealed’