Dorothy Ker (born 1965) is a New Zealand-born composer of instrumental and vocal music who has lived in the UK since 1992. She is known for her inter-disciplinary collaborations and experimentation with live electronic music performances.[1]

Early life

Ker was born in Carterton, in the North Island of New Zealand in 1965.[2]

Education

Ker completed B.Mus and M.Mus degrees at the University of Auckland, where she studied composition and electronic music with John Rimmer.[3] She emigrated to the UK in 1992,[4] and completed a Ph.D in composition at the University of York in 1998.[5]

Career

Following her graduation, Ker took up a position at the University of Reading. She later moved to the position of Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield,[6] before becoming a lecturer in Composition there,[7] and most recently, a Senior Lecturer in Music.[8]

In 2008, a collaboration with the mathematician Marcus du Sautoy resulted in the creation and performance of a piece of experimental music, The 19th Step.[9] The research with du Sautoy was later the basis for a mixed-media theatre piece produced in collaboration with the sculptor Kate Allen in 2010.[10]

In July 2013, Ker began a year-long position in Wellington, New Zealand, as a Research Teaching Associate at the New Zealand School of Music.[11]

In 2015, Ker received the 2015 Composers Association of New Zealand Trust Fund Award for her contribution to music composition.[12]

Ker's music has been heard at international festivals in Auckland, Belfast, Darmstadt, Huddersfield, Perth, Taipei, Seoul, at the International Society for Contemporary Music, in London and on BBC Radio 3 and Radio New Zealand.[13][14]

Works

  • Movement for String Orchestra
  • The Structure of Memory (mixed chamber ensemble of 10 players)
  • diffracted terrains: duo i (bass clarinet and double bass)
  • diffracted terrains: duo ii (vioin, French horn and piano)
  • diffracted terrains: quintet (alto/bass flute, clarinet in A/bass clarinet, violin, viola and cello)
  • solo for cello
  • water mountain (violin, B flat clarinet and cello)
  • [...and...1] (clarinet)
  • [...and...11] (for 12 players)
  • Clepsydra (oboe)
  • On the Bridge (solo soprano)
  • Le kaleidoscope de l’obscurite (clarinet, bass clarinet, cello, double bass)
  • The Third Dream (orchestra)
  • Rare Earth (cello)
  • face (flute)
  • fantasia (solo flute and orchestra)
  • the history of rock (piano)
  • Sonatine (violin and piano)
  • a gentle infinity (orchestra)
  • The Rock, Whatipu (solo soprano)
  • Close-Up of a Daisy (a cappella choir)
  • Arise, Shine! (choir and organ)
  • If all the world were paper
  • Koru (choir and piano)
  • City (female voices and piano)
  • Darkness and Light (orchestra)
  • from States of Zero (solo violin)
  • Dances After the Haiku (soprano, viola, clarinet, cello and piano)
  • these children singing in stone a (a cappella choir)
  • Behind the Apple Cases at Mapua (a cappella choir and solo soprano)
  • Dreams from Stone Landscapes (soprano with flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet)
  • Winter Dusk (unaccompanied choir)
  • and the rain ... (choir)
  • six pieces locating the body (B flat clarinet and bass clarinet)
  • The Truth of Fire (vocal ensemble (12 voices) and unseen narrator)

Recordings

  • The Structure of Memory on New Zealand Women Composers (2003)
  • Diffracted Terrains - Chamber Music of Dorothy Ker (2008)
  • [...and...1] on A Place in the Sky
  • Clepsydra on New Music for a New Oboe Volume 2

References

  1. ↑ "Dorothy Ker - Academic Staff - Staff - Music - The University of Sheffield". www.sheffield.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  2. ↑ "SOUNZ - NZ composer - Dorothy Ker". sounz.org.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Presto Classical - Composer: Dorothy Ker (b.1965) - Buy music CDs & DVDs online". www.prestoclassical.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "LORELT: Review of 'diffracted terrains: Chamber Music of Dorothy Ker'". www.lorelt.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "SOUNZ - NZ composer - Dorothy Ker". sounz.org.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Two composers for the capital - New Zealand School of Music". www.nzsm.ac.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "21st Century Oboe". 21stcenturyoboe.com. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  8. ↑ "Dorothy Ker receives New Zealand composers award - News and Events - Music - The University of Sheffield". www.sheffield.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  9. ↑ Edemariam, Aida. "Interview: Marcus du Sautoy". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "Dorothy Ker - Academic Staff - Staff - Music - The University of Sheffield". www.sheffield.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "Two composers for the capital - New Zealand School of Music". www.nzsm.ac.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "Dorothy Ker receives New Zealand composers award - News and Events - Music - The University of Sheffield". www.sheffield.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  13. ↑ "21st Century Oboe". 21stcenturyoboe.com. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  14. ↑ "Sound Lounge". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
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