MATTHEW HOLMES MUSIC
COMPOSER, MUSICOLOGIST, TRUMPETER, CHORAL BASS, & PIANIST
SAMPLE RECORDINGS
Matthew's music is post-tonal, engaging with traditional forms such as sonata and fugue whilst always engaging with his deep interest in symphonic organicism. His oeuvre includes works for a range of chamber ensembles, string quartets, orchestras, solo, choral, and brass ensemble.
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About
Composition/Academic
Matthew Holmes (b. 1997) is a British composer from Oxford. He is currently pursuing a PhD on the late music of Robert Simpson at the RNCM with supervision from Dr. Annika Forkert and Prof. Nicholas Reyland. He holds a MMus in Composition and Musicology from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM, 2021) where he studied composition with Prof. Adam Gorb, Gary Carpenter and Paul Patterson and musicology with Simon Clarke; and a BMus (Hons) degree in Composition from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS, 2019), where he studied composition under Dr. Oliver Searle, and trumpet with Peter Franks.
Matthew has had works played by the RedNote Ensemble, players from the London Sinfonietta, RNCM Brand New Orchestra, The Llinyn Quartet, Spires Quartet, St. Anne’s Camerata, various ensembles from RCS, RNCM and Cambridge University, and the Oxfordshire Festival Orchestra – of which Matthew was a founding member with friend and conductor Edward Liebrecht in 2014. More recently, Matthew held the post of composer-in-residence with the RCS Brass Dectet in 2018/19, and was a finalist in RNCM’s Gold Medal Competition, 2021.
Matthew is also an avid promoter of the music of Robert Simpson (1921-97) and is a committee member of the Robert Simpson Society.
Copyright © Matthew Holmes. 2024
List of Works
Get in touch for enquiries, hire, and commissions. Selected works can be purchased in digital format here.
Orchestral
Symphonies
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Symphony No. 1 – “Sinfonia in Memoriam” (2014) – 26′
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A Chamber Symphony (2015) – 20′
Orchestra with Soloist
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Eclipse (2016) for solo tuba and orchestra – 14′
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The Pied Piper of Hamelin (2017) for narrator and chamber orchestra – 8′
String Orchestra
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Aurora (2015) – 5′
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Fallen in the Cause of the Free (2016) – 25′
Other
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Symphonic Movement (2018) – 8′
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Introduction and Allegro on a Theme by Bruckner (2021) – 8′
Brass
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Sinfonietta in G minor (2014) for brass ensemble – 11′
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Character Pieces (2015) for brass quartet – 9′
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Sabachthani (2015) for brass ensemble and organ – 35′
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Passacaglia Metamorphosis (2019) for brass dectet – 10′
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Fanfare 1969 (2019) for brass dectet – 2′
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Victoria Fanfare (2019) for brass dectet – 2′
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‘reunite’ Fanfare (2021) for brass ensemble – 6′
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Collaboration with composers: Adam Webster and Chris Cook
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Chamber
String Quartets
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String Quartet No. 1 (2017) – 6′
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String Quartet No. 2 (2019) – 11′
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String Quartet No. 3 (2021) – 15′
Wind
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Flux (2016 rev. 2017) for wind quintet – 6′
Mixed Ensemble
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Attempted Anarchy (2016) for flute, violin, viola, trombone and bassoon – 5′
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Piano Quartet (2018) for violin, viola, cello and piano – 10′
Duo/Trio
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Light Dances (2015) for clarinet and cello – 9′
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According to my Pet Cello (2015) for accordion, cello and trumpet – 4′
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Parsec (2016) for clarinet, cello and piano – 10′
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Piano Duo (2017) for two pianos – 2′
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Fragment (2019) for piccolo, cello and trumpet – 4′
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Trio (2021) for horn, tuba and piano – 10′
Vocal
Choral
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Mass for Choir and Brass Quintet (2019) – 16′
Song
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Tyger Tyger, Burning Bright (2019) for countertenor and piano – 6′
Solo
Keyboard
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Three Pieces (2014 rev. 2020) for piano – 5′
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Three Pieces (2017) for piano – 12′
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Sonata No. 1 (2020) for piano – 8′
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Prelude (2020) for organ – 3′
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10 Preludes & Fugues (2020) for piano – 30′
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Sonata No. 2 (2022) for piano – 11′
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Three Short Pieces (2023) for piano - 4'
Wind/Brass
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Three Palindromes (2019) for trumpet – 8′
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Variations (2020) for flute – 5′
Strings
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Variation on Bourée No. 2 from Bach’s E-flat Major Cello Suite (2020) for cello – 1′
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Intonation and Fugue (2021) for cello – 7′
[Last updated: 24/4/2024]