“...this composer has a manic obsessive streak that is almost unsettling it is so genuine.”
Classical Music Magazine
Welcome to the website of composer Ed Bennett. Here you can find out what he's been up to or more importantly listen to some of his music....Click here to listen.
Ed Bennett
is a composer working in the fields of notated, improvised and
electronic contemporary musics. His work, which has been described in
the press as “anarchic” (Irish Times), “manic” (Classical Music),
“brutal” (The Guardian) and “beautiful” (Gramophone) often combines
acoustic, electronic and multimedia elements. He has been commissioned
and performed internationally by many diverse artists and organizations
and has been featured at major festivals including Gaudeamus, Bath
International, Huddersfield, City of London, Homecoming, Crash,
Sonorities, Sonic Circuits, Bang Festival, the BMIC Cutting Edge Series
and New Music-New Ireland at Carnegie Hall, New York. Recordings of his
work have been released on the Lorelt, Quartz and NMC labels.
He has collaborated extensively with artists working in different
disciplines including choreographers and video artists and performs
with and directs his own ensemble, decibel, which is dedicated to the
performance of new and experimental cross-discipline work involving
live instruments, electronics and video.
Recent projects and commissions include a new work for Garth Knox, a
new work for ensemble, electronics, video and improvising saxophonist
for the Ars Nova Ensemble (Sweden) and saxophonist Paul Dunmall
(Integra/NGA Commission) and an orchestral work for BBC Radio 3. Future
projects include several large ensemble commissions for Ensemble Profil
(Bucharest), Orkest de ereprijs (Netherlands) and the Crash Ensemble
(Dublin).
"Immediately Expressive. Sound that veers between the meditative and aggressive." Gramaphone Magazine
“Ed
Bennett’s Reaching was remarkable not only for thematic or harmonic
invention, or even its use of the orchestra, some striking sonorities
notwithstanding, but for its rhythmic energy and sheer determination to
express itself.” Irish Times
"Descending figures of real beauty hang in a still, fragile setting." Fanfare (USA)
