Alastair Stout

Member

Composer/Lyricist:	Composer
Genre:	Concert

Biography

Born in 1975 and living on the Shetland Islands off the north coast of Scotland, Alastair began playing the organ at the age of 10 and composing at the age of 12. His first work (for organ) was published in 1990 and was first performed by the author in Ely Cathedral. Since 1990, Alastair has had over 20 organ works published and performed in cathedrals throughout the UK; most notably Symphony in 3 movements (1997) in St Paul's Cathedral, Elegy (1998) in Westminster Abbey and Pentecostal Suite (1995) in Westminster Cathedral.

Alastair held the Loretto School Organ Scholarship from 1991 to 1993 in Edinburgh. He then studied composition and organ with Joseph Horowitz at the Royal College of Music (1993-97), followed by a Masters degree in composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under the guidance of Robert Saxton (1997-98). He has recently completed a PhD in Composition at Royal Holloway, University of London (1998 - 2001) supervised by Simon Holt. Alastair has participated in various summer schools including the final Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Summer School on Hoy (1996), the Dartington International Summer School with Judith Weir (1999) and an ECAT workshop with James Macmillan (1996).

His portfolio comprises a range of works from solo to orchestral including vocal, ensemble and theatrical, as well as collaborating with choreographers at the London Contemporary Dance School and writing for the Internet (www.longtales.com). His music has been performed in venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, Sir Henry Wood Hall, Reid Concert Hall, Wigmore Hall and the Purcell Room, as well as being broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Radio Shetland.

His works have been featured in the 1998 Spitalfields Festival, the 1998 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the 1998 Norfolk and Norwich Festival and the 1999 Gregynog Festival where he was awarded the Gregynog Composer of Wales award for his String Quartet (1997-99). The music is strongly influenced by Shetland traditions and other composers who use folk music such as Ligeti and Bartok.

As an organist, performances specialise in 20th century repertoire and venues include St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Ely Cathedral and many other major churches in England and Scotland. Organ works have been written for him by composers such as Arthur Wills, Stephen Wilcox (USA) and Gordon Lawson.


Contact details:
UK:
Edina, Vidlin, Shetland, ZE2 9QB
Tel: 01806 577257 Pager: 07625 631757
E-mail: alastair@stout.ndo.co.uk

USA:
1439 1/2 Ridge Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108
Tel: 412 269 3431
E-mail: stout@icubed.com

Important Works		Performances
Pange Lingua (2003) Viola and piano - 7 mins Aquarium (2002-03) Recorder quartet (descant dbl. bass, treble dbl. bass, tenor dbl. treble, bass dbl. Come Heavenly Rain (2002) 2 treble choruses and organ or strings (3.2.1.1) - 3? mins Given Days (2002) Amateur ensemble: SATB, folk band (guitar, fiddle, bodhran) Professional ensemble: baritone, violin, violoncello, horn, clarinet (doubling bass) - 30 mins All Isles Excelling (2001) Celesta, Bass Clarinet, Violin, Violoncello - 5 mins Te Lucis Ante Terminum (2001) Piano, Flute (piccolo, alto flute) and Violoncello (sleighbells) - 7.5 mins The Darkling Heave (2001) Bass Oboe, Bass Clarinet (Clarinet), Bassoon, Horn, Percussion (1 player), Piano, Viola, Violoncello and Double Bass - 12 mins In Downstairs Darkness (2001) Soprano, Bass Clarinet, Piano, Small Tom-tom - 12 mins Releasing the Sky (2000-2001) Chamber Opera in 2 Acts for 5 singers and 13-piece ensemble - 80 mins Deep in Your Coral Caves (2000) Flute (Piccolo), Bass Clarinet, Percussion (1 player), Piano, Violin, Viola, Violoncello - 5 mins Amaranthine Voices (2000) String Quartet No. 2 - 26 mins Empty Fathoms (1999) Fl, Cl, Hp + String Quartet - 4? mins Elegy (1998) Organ - 6 mins Between Blue Mirrors (1998) SATB, Piano, Violin*, Ocean Drum* (*optional) - 20 mins Songs (1997-98) Mezzo Soprano and Violin - 16 mins Darkening Skies (1998) SATB, Organ - 8 mins		None added