BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES AND LIST OF
WORKS
30 FOWLERS ROAD, GLEN OSMOND, SA 5064
AUSTRALIA
www.tristramcary.com
Updated to
September 2005
TRISTRAM CARY - Biographical Notes
TRISTRAM OGILVIE CARY, OAM, MA, D.Mus, Hon.RCM, L.Mus.TCL, I Eng, MIEE, born Oxford 14th May 1925, third child of Joyce Cary, the novelist, and Gertrude Margaret Cary (née Ogilvie). Education: Dragon School, Oxford; Westminster School, London (King's Scholar); Christ Church, Oxford (Exhibitioner); Trinity College of Music, London. Served Royal Navy, 1943-6 (interrupting education), specialising in radar and thus receiving training in electronics. During his war service Cary independently developed the idea of what was to become tape music, and began experimenting as soon as he was released from the Navy in late 1946. Took BA at Oxford, and then to London where studied composition, piano, horn, viola and conducting. While a student augmented grant by evening class teaching. 1951-54 starting a family, writing music, and teaching, while holding a part-time job in a gramophone shop and developing his first electronic music studio. From 1954 gradually able to live by score commissions, gave up most teaching and job. Since then a large variety of concert works and scores for theatre, radio, film, TV, public exhibitions etc.
Associated with various award winning productions, including Richard Williams' The Little Island (best experimental film of the year, Venice 1958, and numerous other awards); The Ballad of Peckham Rye (with Muriel Spark and Christopher Holme) - Prix Italia, Verona 1962; Sammy Going South, Royal Command Film 1963; Die Ballade von Peckham Rye (new stage version) - Salzburger Festspiele 1965. Among important concert works are Continuum for tape (1969), Peccata Mundi for chorus, orchestra and tape (1972, revised 1976), Contours and Densities at First Hill for orchestra (John Bishop Memorial Commission, 1976), The Songs Inside for Wind Quintet (1977), Nonet (1979), Trellises (1984), and other computer generated pieces, I Am Here for soprano and tape (1980), Family Conference for four clarinets (1981), Seeds for mixed ensemble (1982), String Quartet No. 2 (1985), Sevens for computerised piano and strings (1991), The Dancing Girls for orchestra (1991), Black, White & Rose for marimba and tape (1991) etc. Responsible for all sounds in the Industrial Section, British Pavilion, Montreal Expo '67. Many concerts and lecture/recitals in different parts of the world. Visiting senior lecturer, University of Melbourne, 1973. Visiting composer, University of Adelaide, 1974, then Senior Lecturer, and from 1978 Reader at the same university. Dean of music, 1982.
Cary was founder (in 1967) of the electronic music studio at the Royal College of Music, and designer/builder of own electronic music facility, one of the longest established private studios in the world. Beginning in Marylebone, it went to Earls Court, then Chelsea and eventually to Fressingfield, Suffolk. The equipment from this studio was brought to Australia, and most of it was incorporated into the expanding teaching studio at Adelaide University. Cary was also a founder Director of EMS (London) Ltd, and co-designer of the VCS3 (Putney) Synthesiser and other EMS products.
In 1986 Cary left the University to resume self-employment. Combining a specialised personal studio with the facility available to him at the University, he can call upon powerful resources for generating film, TV, theatre, radio or concert music, special dialogue treatments, or anything in the area of specialised sound. His wide experience as a composer includes all sizes of instrumental and vocal ensemble, any aspect of electronic music, or combinations of several types. Though normally resident in Australia, today's efficient communication systems allow him to undertake work from anywhere in the world, apart from being able to travel to any location within a day or so.
During 1988-90 Cary was largely occupied with writing a major book on music technology which was published in London as Illustrated Compendium of Musical Technology in May 1992 (Faber & Faber). The American version, substituting Dictionary for Compendium, is distributed by Greenwood Press, Connecticut.
In 1995 and 96 there were performances in London and Adelaide to mark his 70th birthday, and a new suite based on his music for the Ealing film The Ladykillers won The Gramophone Award for best film music CD in 1998.
Apart from
composition activity, Cary lectures
and broadcasts
regularly and undertakes
some higher degree
supervision. The University of
Adelaide awarded him the position of Honorary Visiting Research Fellow, in
which capacity he is continuing his computer music research. Cary is a citizen of both Australia and
Britain, and in 1991 was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for
services to Australian music. In
1999 he received the SA Great Music Award for the year, and in 2001 he gained
the degree of Doctor of Music at Adelaide University.
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians Macmillan 1980
The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music Macmillan 1988
The New Oxford Companion to Music Oxford University Press 1983
The Oxford Companion to Australian Music Oxford University Press 1997
Dictionary of 20th Century Music Thames & Hudson 1974
Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies Harper Collins (freq. reprinted)
Contact addresses
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Office and Home: Dr. Tristram Cary 30 Fowlers Road Glen Osmond SA 5064 Australia Phone/Fax: Aus: (08) 8338 1094. Int: +618 8338 1094 email: trisc@senet.com.au web: www.tristramcary.com |
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University Contact: (Honorary Visiting Research Fellow) The Elder School of Music The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia Phone:
(08) 8303 5995 (Music Office) Fax:
(08) 8303 4414 or 4423 |
Sydney Contact: Sounds Australian PO Box N690 Grosvenor Place Sydney NSW 1220 Australia Phone:
(02) 9247 4677
(free) 1800 651 834 Fax:
(02) 9241 2873 web: www.amcoz.com.au |
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London Contact: British Academy of Composers and Songwriters British Music house, 26 Berners St, London W1T 3LR Phone:
(020) 7636 2929. Fax: (020) 7636 2212 email: info@britishacademy.com web: www.britishacademy.com |
USA Contact: Electronic Music Foundation, 116 North Lake Ave, Albany, New York 12206–2710 Phone: (518) 434 4110 Fax: (518) 434 0308 web: www.emf.org |
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List of works etc.
Page
PART I Concert Works 4
PART II Films 7
PART III Radio and Television 11
PART IV Theatre and Miscellaneous 15
PART V Publications 16
PART VI Other Activities 21
APPENDIX Concert Works (expanded listing) 22
Note: In the following lists, scores are instrumental and/or vocal unless preceded by (E),
in which case
they are partly or wholly electronic.
PART I: Concert Works
Quick reference list, starting with the first publicly performed piece. Prefix (E) indicates wholly or partly electronic. For fuller listing, with notes, see Appendix.
Partita for Piano (1947, revised 1949)
Sonata for Viola and Piano (1948)
Sonata for Cello and Piano (1950)
Concerto for Two Horns and Strings (1952)
Four Fugues for Piano (1952)
Sonatina for Piano (1953)
String Quartet No. 1 (1953)
Landscapes (T.S.Eliot) - five songs for contralto and piano (1953)
Arrangement of the 6-part Ricercar from Bach's Musical Offering for piano
four hands (1953) (Peters Edition)
Te Deum for choir and organ (1954)
Eclogue for brass orchestra (1957)
Songs for Children (in Plays from Far and Near) (1958) (ULP)
Sonata for Violin and Piano (1959)
Sonata for Guitar Alone (1959) (Novello)
(E) Solfeggio for tape (1959)
Three Threes and One Make Ten , concerto grosso for five wind and five string
instruments (1961) (Novello hire library)
Points of View for violin and strings (1962)
Miniature Movement for six clarinets (1962)
(E) The Rhyme of the Flying Bomb (Mervyn Peake) for two actors, five
instruments and tape (1964)
Die Ballade von Peckham Rye (Muriel Spark), a musical (1965)
Lyric Conversation for flute and viola (1966)
(E) Birth is Life is Power is Death is God is... for tape (1967) (Galliard)
(E) 3 4 5 - a Study in Limited Resources for tape (1967) (Galliard)
(E) Narcissus for flute and two tape recorders (1968) (Galliard)
(E) January Piece for tape (1969)
(E) Continuum for tape (1969) (Cheltenham Festival Commission)
(E) Sog for tape (1970)
(E) Trios for VCS3 Synthesiser and two turntables (1970) (EMS)
(E) All Soft Limbs (in collaboration with Richard Arnell) (1971)
(E) Peccata Mundi for chorus, orchestra, speaking voice and four tracks of tape (text
by self) (1972, rev. 1976)
(E) Suite - Leviathan '99 for tape (1972)
(E) Divertimento for Olivetti machines (computer processed and on tape), 16 singers and jazz drummer (1973) (commissioned by Olivetti)
(E) Romantic Interiors for 4-track tape, violin and cello (1973, rev. 1975 as Rom. Ints. II)
Sub Cruce Lumen et Sonitus MDCCCLXXIV - MCMLXXIV for trumpets,
trombones and percussion (1974) (for the centenary of Adelaide University)
Probe for twelve performers on any instruments (1974)
Contours and Densities at First Hill for orchestra (1976) (John Bishop Memorial
Commission)
The Songs Inside for wind quintet (1977)
(E) Steam Music I for 4-track tape (1978)
Angelus Emittitur for SATB chorus (Nativity song from the Piae Cantiones (1582))
(1978) (OUP)
(E) Nonet - computer music (1979)
Verbum Caro Factum Est for SATB chorus (Piae Cantiones) (1979) (OUP)
(E) Strands for two pianos and four tracks of computer-generated sound (1980)
(Albert H. Maggs Commission)
(E) Sine Study – computer music (1979)
Resonet in Laudibus for SATB chorus (Piae Cantiones) (1980)
(E) Soft Walls - computer music (1979, rev. 1980)
(E) I Am Here for soprano and tape (text by Peter Zinovieff) (1980)
(E) Window - computer music (1981)
(E) Birthday Music - computer music (1981)
(E) Eight Chorales for One - computer music (1981)
Family Conference - a quartet for six clarinets (1981)
(commissioned by the Clarinet Society of South Australia)
Seeds - for flute, violin,clarinet, cello and percussion (1982)
(commissioned by the Seymour Group, Sydney)
(E) Timepieces - computer music (1983)
Monologue for solo violin (1984)
(E) Trellises - computer music (1984)
String Quartet No. 2 (1985)
Ring the Space for variable ensemble (1985)
(E) Rivers for 4 percussionists and 2 tape recorders (1986 -7)
(commissioned by the Adelaide Percussions)
Polly Fillers for piano (1989)(alternative title Seven Miniatures for Piano)
Moves (A and B) for piano (1990)
(E) Sevens, concertino in five movements for Yamaha Disklavier and seventeen
strings (1991) (commissioned by the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra)
The Dancing Girls: Four Mobiles for Orchestra (1991)
(commissioned by the ABC)
(E) Black, White and Rose for marimba, gongs, woodblocks and tape (1991)
(commissioned by Ryszard Pusz)
Arrangement of the traditional carol God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
for Symphony Orchestra (1992) (see p.16 for CD reference)
Strange Places - An Exploration for Piano (incorporating Moves A and B)(1992)
Earth Hold Songs (Jennifer Rankin). five songs for soprano and piano (1992-3)
(commissioned by Felicity Horgan)
Messages for solo cello (1993)
(E) Inside Stories for chamber orchestra and tape (1993)
(John Bishop Memorial Commission)
(E) The Impossible Piano for sequencer and sampled piano (1994)
(E) Sevens (see above, 1991), string parts re–arranged for 2 electronic keyboards (1995)
Angelus Emittitur (see above, 1978), new version for boys' voices and organ (1995)
(E) Suite – The Japanese Fishermen for tape (1955/1996) (see Radio & TV, p.10)
(E) Suite – The Children or Lir for tape (1959/96) (see Radio & TV, p.10)
(E) Sine City I & II (developed from Sine Study, see above, 1979) (1996)
(E) Three Clockpieces (developed from Timepieces, see above, 1983) (1996)
The Ladykillers – A Suite for Orchestra (1955/96) (see Films, p.7)
Voix dans la Foule for orchestra (unperformed at time of printing) (1997)
(E) Through Glass for piano and prerecorded playback (1998)
(commissioned by Gabriella Smart)
Songs for Maid Marian for soprano and piano (1959/98)
(adapted from radio score of 1959 - see p.10)
Scenes from a Life for orchestra (2000)
(commissioned by Symphony Australia)
Tread Softly Stranger (film) Suite for orchestra (1958/2000) (see Films, p.7)
A Twist of Sand (film) Title music adapted for concert performance (1967/2000)
(see Films, p.8)
Three Songs for the Adelaide Baroque (2004)
See Appendix – p.21 and following for detailed listing of concert works
PART II: Films
Director/Prod.Co.
1955 The Ladykillers Alexander Mackendrick
(Suite (1996) on CD Silva Film CD177) Ealing
1956 Time Without Pity Joseph Losey
Harlequin
Town on Trial John Guillermin
Columbia
1957 The Flesh is Weak Don Chaffey
(Selection on CD CNS5009 – see p.17) Raystro
1958 Tread Softly Stranger Gordon Parry
(Selection on CD CNS5009 – see p.17) George Minter
She Didn't Say No Cyril Frankel
ABPC
(E) The Little Island Richard Williams
Richard Willliams Films
Best
Experimental Film of the Year,
Venice
1958. Best Animated Film of the Year,
British
Film Academy 1959. Many other
awards.
The Horse's Mouth Ronald Neame
(Score rejected by Director. One day's Bryanston
recording, which I have on file)
1959 Pearl of the Gulf (docu.) Greenpark Productions
Port of London (docu.) Greenpark Productions
King of the Vikings (TV series pilot) ?
1960 (E) Power Train (instruc.) Jimmy Murakami
TVC/Ford Motor
Gateway to the Future (docu.) Rank Screen Services
Tumut Pond (docu.) Shell International
The Boy who Stole a Million Charles Crichton
(Suite of music available on tape) Paramount
1961 The Wonder of Wool (docu.) Halas and Batchelor
1962 The Prince and the Pauper Don Chaffey
Disney
1963 Sammy Going South Alexander Mackendrick
Royal Command Film Performance Michael Balcon
(Selection on CD CNS5009 – see p.17)
(E) The Sure Thing (advt) Larkins Studio
1963 (E) Warm Comfort (advt) Larkins Studio
(cont)
(E) The Silent Playground Stanley Goulder
Focus
1964 (E) I.vor Pittfalks, The
Universal Confidence Richard Williams
Man (music recorded, film not made)
(E) Daylight Robbery Michael Truman
Viewfinder Films
1965 The Dermis Probe Richard Williams
The Bargain (docu.) Beryl Stevens
Larkins Studio
1966 (E) Visible Manifestations (docu.) TVC
Shell International
(E) Opus (part of shared score)(EXPO '67 – 1) James Archibald
(Cultural Britain in 1966) Central Office of Information
(E) Special sound for Casino Royale United Artists
The Search (advt docu.) Tom Stobart
Fisons Ltd
In Search of Opportunity (docu.) James Archibald
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
1967 (E) Expo '67, Montreal. All sound for Central Office of Information
the Industrial Section, British
Pavilion, comprising stereo electronic
music, 16 film loops (EXPO '67 – 2)
and the multi-screen film Sources of Power
(EXPO '67 – 5)(Dir: Don Levy)
(Concert version of the latter - see p.25)
(E) A la Mesure de l'Homme George Dunning, John Arnold
(Shaped for Living)(EXPO '67 – 6) Canadian Corporation for the 1967
World Exhibition
(E) Quatermass and the Pit Hammer Films
(Music published on CD CNS5009 Roy Ward Baker
(Cloud Nine Records) and GDICD
008 (GDI Records) – see p.18
(E) Special sound for Sebastian David Greene
Maccius Productions
(E) Special sound for Here We Go Round Clive Donner
the Mulberry Bush Giant Productions
A Twist of Sand Don Chaffey
(Title music on CD CNS5009 – see p.18) United Artists
1967 (E) Refining (docu.) Larkins Studio
(cont) BP
1968 (E) Who is Vasarely? (docu.) Dick Fontaine
Allan King productions
(E) La Paz Richard
Williams
Committee of Mexican Olympics
1969 (E) The Curious History of Money Larkins Studio