Ed Wright (composer)
{{Short description|British composer}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Ed Wright
|image =
|alt =
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|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1980|08|04}}
|birth_place = Hawridge, Buckinghamshire, UK
|death_date =
|death_place =
|nationality = British
|other_names =
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|children = 1
|partner =
|occupation = Composer
}}
Edward Charles Wright (born 4 August 1980 in Hawridge, Buckinghamshire) is a British composer known largely for electronic and mixed media sound art.
Biographical information
He studied at Bangor University under the supervision of Andrew Lewis completing a doctorate in mixed electroacoustic and instrumental music in 2010{{Cite thesis |degree=PhD |title=Symbiosis: A portfolio of work focusing on the tensions between electroacoustic and instrumental music |url=http://www.symbiosisphd.org |last=Wright |first=Edward |year=2010 |publisher=Bangor University |access-date=2 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728080037/http://www.symbiosisphd.org/ |archive-date=28 July 2011 |url-status=dead }} Edward Wright is actively composing and recording. He lives in North Wales with his partner and daughter. Wright's life was hit by tragedy when his father committed suicide in 2017, deeply affecting his next major work Space to Think.{{cite web|last1=Wright|first1=Edward|title=virtual440|url=http://www.virtual440.com/welcome|website=Virtual440.com|access-date=16 March 2018}}
Performance and broadcast
Wright has performed widely thought the UK{{Cite web|url=http://www.thesoundprojector.com/2018/03/17/heat-light-and-fire/|title=Heat, Light and Fire – The Sound Projector|website=Thesoundprojector.com|access-date=22 July 2020}} and abroad including performances in SARC (Belfast), Electroacoustic Cymru (Wales),{{cite web |url=http://www.bangor.ac.uk/music/studios/eaw/composers.html |title=Electroacoustic Wales - Composers |website=www.bangor.ac.uk |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006175322/http://www.bangor.ac.uk/music/studios/eaw/composers.html |archive-date=6 October 2012 |url-status=dead}} St. James Piccadilly (London), Art Forum (Antwerp), ICMC2012{{Cite web |url=http://www.icmc2012.si/files/KinoSiska_LR.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=5 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906184820/http://www.icmc2012.si/files/KinoSiska_LR.pdf |archive-date=6 September 2012 |url-status=dead }} (Slovenia), California State University New Music Festival,{{cite web |url=http://www.pamelamadsen.com/nmf2010/9thAnnualNewMusicFestival_FullSchedule.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.pamelamadsen.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304223128/http://www.pamelamadsen.com/nmf2010/9thAnnualNewMusicFestival_FullSchedule.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}} NYCEMF{{cite web |title=NYCEMF Program |url=http://www.nycemf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2018-Program-Book-with-Cover-1.pdf |website=Nycemf.org}} (USA) & Toronto Electroacoustic Symposium{{Cite web |url=http://www.naisa.ca/soundtravels/symposium.html |title=Sound Travels | Workshops, Residency and Symposium |access-date=5 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820040542/http://www.naisa.ca/soundtravels/symposium.html |archive-date=20 August 2012 |url-status=dead }} (Canada). His work is characterised (although not exclusively) by the use of electronic resources especially surround and octophonic sound diffusion systems. Although his output remains somewhat melodic in comparison to many comparable acousmatic compositions, Wright's work has become increasingly driven by philosophical, rather than specifically musical content, as demonstrated in more recent pieces such as Thinking inside the Box and Crosswire; the emphasis is more on the multisensory experience of the music and the underlying discourse rather than a particular tune or melody.
During his time completing his thesis Wright worked on a number of broadcast projects including the tape part and realisation of Stereo Type for Guto Puw broadcast on S4C television in 2005 as part of the Bangor New Music Festival, also appearing on S4Cs Sioe Gelf with a workshop with pupils from Ysgol PendalarS4C television Sioe Gelf 15/4/08,{{Cite web|url=http://www.celfcymru.com/?p=826&language=en|title=Want your own website? | 123 Reg|website=Celfcymru.com|access-date=22 July 2020}} and work being played on BBC Radio 1 Wales Introducing BBC Radio 1 Wales Introducing 5/6/09.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bethanelfyn/tracklistingarchive.shtml?20080605|title=BBC - Radio 1 - Bethan Elfyn - Tracklisting|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=22 July 2020}} His work first achieved international recognition in the IMEB Prix Bourges 2008 for his piece 'Con-chords' IMEB Prix Bourges.{{Cite web |url=http://www.imeb.net/IMEB_v2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1107&Itemid=310 |title=Archived copy |access-date=24 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720023408/http://www.imeb.net/IMEB_v2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1107&Itemid=310 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |url-status=dead }} He has since gone on to sign to the Blipfonica record label Blipfonica {{Cite web|url=http://www.blipfonica.com/|title=BLIPFONICA|website=Blipfonica.com|access-date=22 July 2020}} and has released two CDs in the past two years, as well as contributing to the Journal of Creative Studies,Creative Industries Journal: Vol 4 issue 1 the Composers of Wales Newsletter,Composers of Wales Newsletter Spring 2013 and Electronic Music Wales.{{Cite web|url=http://www.electronicmusicwales.com/2018/03/i-make-noise-interview-with-ed-wright.html|title=I Make Noise: An interview with Ed Wright|website=Electronicmusicwales.com|access-date=22 July 2020}} He also did sound for the Conwy Food Festival, Art Video.
Software development
Wright initially developed software within the Max/Msp/Jitter and Csound environments as a way of creating methods to perform otherwise impossible music, as in the case of the 8 channel audio/video mixer devised for 'Harp Set', and the sample/processing/difussion system of 'Polarities'. These have quickly become outmoded as live/electronic mixed music has become more mainstream.
Wright's approach to software design as a method of interfacing with the digital world during live performance brings software design (as in the case of 'Crosswire' and 'Sound games') closer to instrument building, focusing on methods of physical interaction e.g. mouse, Wii Remote and motion tracking controls which provide a wide range of expression yet demand the precision of physical control expected by an instrumental performer.
As well as his performance software Wright has also released a number of composition tools Virtual440 Audio Machine VAM 1 which are available to download in the Max (software) environment.
Collaborations
Wright has worked collaboratively with a number of artists, most especially the photographer and poet Morlo Bach under the title of Virtual Poetry for: 'Passage, In memory of Thomas/Celtic Cross' and 'Broken Glass', and with the author Graeme Harper on 'Seasons'. He also worked on Stereo Type for Guto Puw see above. As part of the Conwy Blinc digital arts festival he also worked with Tim Pugh & Wendy Dawson, Helen Booth and Dominic McGill.{{Cite web |url=http://blincdigital.com/?page_id=1445 |title=2011 Exhibitors @ blinc |access-date=5 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101024150/http://blincdigital.com/?page_id=1445 |archive-date=1 November 2012 |url-status=dead }} Wright is part of the electronic improvisation trio Accretion Entropy{{Cite web|url=http://www.accretionentropy.co.uk/|title=Accretion Entropy – Home of Improvised Electronic Noises|website=Accretionentropy.co.uk|access-date=22 July 2020}} notably performing on BBC Radio 3.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07xf2tw|title=BBC Radio 3 - Exposure|website=BBC|access-date=22 July 2020}}
Works to October 2019
- 'Newborough Bluesky', electronic (2001)
- 'In Pace', harp, violin, cello and flute (2002)
- 'Triangulations', small orchestra (2002)
- 'Stereo Type' with Guto Puw (2005)
- 'Passage', music and image installation (2005)
- 'The Way I Saw It', violin and tape (2005)
- 'Enough~?', clarinet and live electronics (2006)
- 'Botany', chorus (2006)
- 'En Masse', electronic (2006)
- 'In memory of Thomas/Celtic Cross', multi-media (2006)
- 'Postcards From Home', electronic (2007)
- 'Broken Glass', music with image installation (2007)
- 'Harp Set', 8 channel surround sound and moving image (2007)
- 'Seasons', chorus and live 4-channel electroacoustics (2008)
- 'Con-chords', 8-channel electroacoustics (2008)
- 'Castell' (with Ysgol Pendalar)
- 'Y Twr', multi-channel installation (2009)
- 'Polarities', orchestra and 8-channel surround live electronics (2009)
- 'Starlight Snowfall', String Ensemble and 4 channel electronics (2010)
- 'Thinking Inside the Box', Stereo fixed media installation (2010)
- 'Crosswire', for electric violin and live processing (2010)
- 'Anatomy of a Mountain Stream', 4 channel fixed media (2011)
- 'Sound Games', electronics and live controllers (2011)
- 'Jackdaws', 4 channel fixed media poetry collaboration with Rhys Trimble (2011)
- 'Who can hear the Sea', Octophonic evolving installation (2012)
- 'DROP!', Marble run sound game installation (2013)
- 'Sonic Wavelab' Sound art and sculpture installation with Charles Gershom (2014)
- 'Xmas-o-lophone' Sound sculpture (2015)
- 'Ricecar' for electric violin and stochastic step sequencer (2016)
- 'Like Shooting-stars Over Petrol Pools' for electric violin, FX and modular synthesis (2017)
- 'Space To Think' acousmatic concert music (2018)
- '1 Mile 365 Days: Stories from running a mile daily for a year' paperback and eBook (2018){{Cite book|title=1 Mile 365 Days: Stories from running a mile daily for a year|last=Wright|first=Edward|publisher=Amazon|year=2018|isbn=978-1790902064}}
- 'Turbo' stereo acousmatic music (2019){{Cite web|title=Turbo|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/7xS8av6jGFFNpvzwwOXkFC|website=Open.spotify.com|date=15 October 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-10-22}}{{cite web|last1=Wright|first1=Edward|title=List of Works|url=http://www.virtual440.com/works|website=Virtual440.com|access-date=26 April 2018}}
Fundraising activities
Wright ran at least 1 mile everyday in 2017 to raise money for the Cleft Lip & Palate Association.{{Cite web|url=https://www.clapa.com/news-item/clapa-news-2017/|title=CLAPA News 2017|access-date=22 July 2020}} He completed the challenge running over 500 miles, raising in excess of £2500.{{Cite web|url=https://1mile365days.wordpress.com/|title=1 mile 365 days|website=1mile365days.wordpress.com|access-date=22 July 2020}} It may be relevant to this to note that Edward was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.bangor.ac.uk/music/studios/eaw/concerts.html Electroacoustic Wales] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321015709/https://www.bangor.ac.uk/music/studios/eaw/concerts.html |date=21 March 2016 }}
- [http://www.virtual440.com composers website]
- [http://www.bnmf.co.uk/ Bangor New Music Festival]
- [https://www.clapa.com/news-item/clapa-news-2017/ CLAPA News 2017]
- [https://1mile365days.wordpress.com/ Wright's 2017 Running Blog]
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