John Casken
About John Casken
John Casken’s music has been described as “beautifully crafted...rich [and] emotionally complex”
(Tim Ashley, The Guardian, writing about Apollinaire’s Bird). David Fanning, writing in The Telegraph about this work found that “The control with which Casken allows tonally-founded harmonies to rise, Alban Berg-like, to the surface, is as remarkable as the fastidiousness of his orchestration, all of which serves to hold concept and craft in ideal balance.”
One of the UK’s leading composers, Casken was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on 15 July 1949 and read music at the University of Birmingham, studying Composition under John Joubert and Peter Dickinson. From 1971-72 he studied in Poland with Andrzej Dobrowolski at the Academy of Music in Warsaw on a Polish Government Scholarship. It was during this time that he began to have regular consultations with Witold Lutosławski with whom he formed a close association and friendship, and about whose music he has written and lectured. Casken returned to Birmingham as a Lecturer in 1973, and after a Fellowship at Huddersfield Polytechnic in 1980, he was appointed as Lecturer at the University of Durham in 1981. From 1992-2008 he was Professor of Music at The University of Manchester and now retains strong links with Manchester as Emeritus Professor of Music.
Casken has featured at major festivals in Europe, the USA, and in Tokyo at the invitation of Toru Takemitsu. His works range across every genre and their titles reveal that he can be inspired both by literature and legend. The libretto for Casken’s first opera, Golem (1988), based on the Jewish legend, was written by the composer in collaboration with Pierre Audi, who commissioned and directed the work for the 1989 Almeida Festival. Golem has received six further productions since 1989: Opera Omaha, 1990; Northern Stage, 1991; Theater Dortmund, 1994; Aspen Festival, 2000; Neue Operbühne Berlin 2001; Opéra de Rennes and Angers Nantes Opéra, 2006. It was also awarded the First Britten Prize for Composition in 1990 and the VirginClassics recording with the original cast won the 1991 Gramophone Award in the Contemporary Category.
Casken’s second opera, God’s Liar (2000), elaborated Tolstoy’s novella Father Sergius, the composer writing the libretto in collaboration with Emma Warner. The work was jointly co-commissioned and presented by The Almeida Festival, London, and Théâtre Royale de la Monnaie, Brussels in 2001, directed by KeithWarner, with the Almeida Ensemble conducted by Ronald Zollman. It was recorded for Belgian Radio and subsequently broadcast by BBC Radio 3, introduced by the composer. God’s Liar received a further production in 2004 in the KlangBogen Festival by Neue Oper Wien directed by Stephan Bruckmeier.
A number of Casken’s works reflect aspects of the North of England, where he lives in Coquetdale in Northumberland: Orion Over Farne (1984) for orchestra, To Fields We Do Not Know (1985), a Northumbrian Elegy for unaccompanied chorus, written for the BBC Singers, and the orchestral song-cycle Still Mine (1992), written for Thomas Allen for the 1992 BBC Proms and awarded the 1993 Prince Pierre de Monaco Prize for Musical Composition.
His long-held friendship with Royal Northern Sinfonia has resulted in a number of works: Maharal Dreaming (1989), the Cello Concerto (1991), written for Heinrich Schiff, premièred at the 1991 Schleswig-Holstein Festival,Darting the Skiff (1993) for strings, for the 1993 Cheltenham Festival, and Après un silence (1998) for violin and chamber orchestra, with Kyra Humphreys. Farness (2006), three poems of Carol Ann Duffy (2006) for soprano, solo viola and chamber orchestra, was premièred at the 2006 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival with Patricia Rozario and Ruth Killius, directed by Thomas Zehetmair.
Casken also had a long association with The Lindsays for whom he wrote three string quartets. Rest-ringing (2005) for string quartet and orchestra was commissioned by The Hallé for the quartet in the year of their retirement. He wrote Piano Trio (2002) for The Florestan Piano Trio, and his third quartet, Choses en moi (2003), was taken up by Quatuor Danel.
Casken’s Violin Concerto (1995), premiered at the 1995 Proms with Dmitri Sitkovetsky, was later taken up by Daniel Hope. His first symphony Symphony (Broken Consort) (2004)was commissioned for the BBC Philharmonic for the 2004 Proms, and Concerto for Orchestra (2007) for the Nationaltheater-Orchesters Mannheim was premiered in 2008. Further orchestral works include an oboe concerto for the Hallé and their principle oboist Stephane Rancourt, Apollinaire’s Bird (2013), premiered under Sir Mark Elder in 2014, Casken’s 65th birthday year. That Subtle Knot (2013), a double concerto for Royal Northern Sinfonia, Thomas Zehetmair and Ruth Killius, was premiered the same year at the Sage Gateshead and in London with subsequent performances by Camerata Salzburg at the Salzburg Festival, Munich Chamber Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Casken has continued his association with the Hallé Orchestra, writing Madonna of Silence (2017-18) for their principal trombone player, Katy Jones. The ‘drama for trombone and orchestra’ was premiered in February 2019.
Casken’s rich body of ensemble works include Deadly Pleasures (2009) for narrator and ensemble, which toured the UK with Johanna Lonsky and Counterpoise throughout 2009/10 and Winter Reels (2010) for ensemble Psappha. The Dream of the Rood (2008), written for The Hilliard Ensemble and Ensemble 10/10, premiered in Liverpool in October 2008 as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations. It received the 2009 BASCA Award for choral music and toured the Netherlands with The Hilliard Ensemble and Asko Ensemble in 2014. Kokoschka's Doll (2016) was premiered by Sir John Tomlinson and Counterpoise at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival, with the following tour including performances at Deal and Buxton Festivals. Further chamber works include Stolen Airs (2015) for cello and piano, and Serpents of Wisdom (2015) for horn and piano which was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society in partnership with BBC Radio 3 as part of the New Generation Artists Scheme, and the clarinet quintet Misted Land (2017) written for the Nash Ensemble.
Most recently, Casken's Madonna of Silence (2018) received its world premiere by The Hallé featuring Katy Jones on solo trombone and From this red earth (2019) had its first performance by the Choir of Lincoln's Inn under the baton of Nicholas Shaw. In 2020, he was announced the winner of the Royal Musical Association's inaugural Tippett Medal for Counterpoise's production of The Shackled King (2022) for which he was also granted an Ivors Composer Award nomination.
Casken’s music has been recorded on Collins Classics, ECM, NMC Recordings, and Metier, among others, including a disc of orchestral music, Orion Over Farne, recorded by the Hallé and Markus Stenz for NMC. In 2019 three new recordings of Casken’s music were released: The Dream of The Rood (NMC) with The Hilliard Ensemble and Asko | Schönberg conducted by Clark Rundell, Stolen Airs (Prima Facie) including a selection of chamber works, and Kokoschka's Doll (Champs Hill); and in 2023, ECM New Series released the Royal Northern Sinfonia's recording of That Subtle Knot.
Worklist
Gallery
Chronology
Kompositions-Studium bei John Joubert und Peter Dickinson
Besuch von Kursen an der Academy of Music mit Andrzej Dobrowolski und Beratung durch Witold Lutosławski
Erstaufführung von Kagura in London
Erstausstrahlung der unveröffentlichten Music for Cello and Piano auf BBC im Rahmen des BBC Young Composers’ Forum
Firewhirl für Sopran und kleines Ensemble
Orion over Farne für Orchester
Piper’s Linn für Northumbrian Pipes
Vaganza für großes Ensemble
Salamandra für zwei Klaviere
Golem, Kammeroper
Maharal Dreaming für Orchester
Gastkomponist bei Music Today in Tokio, leitet Vaganza mit der Tokyo Sinfonietta
Gewinner des Performing Arts Award bei den Northern Electric Arts Awards für seinen Beitrag zur Musikkultur im Norden Englands
Amerikanische Erstaufführung von Golem in der Opera Omaha
Ernennung zum Doctor of Music der University of Durham
Klavierquartett
Cello Concerto
Im Rahmen der Arts Council Contemporary Music Network Tour wird Golem in ganz Großbritannien aufgeführt
Still Mine für Bariton und Orchester
Sharp Thorne für Vokalensemble
Die Aufführung von Tableaux des Trois Ages durch die BBC Philharmonic und Yan Pascal Tortelier bildet den Anfang einer langjährigen Verbindung mit der BBC Philharmonic.
Darting the Skiff für Streichorchester
2. Streichquartett
World premiere of Infanta Marina für Englisch Horn und kleines Ensemble
Dirigiert die Northern Sinfonia bei Einspielung der Erstaufnahmen von Dartking the Skiff, Maharal Dreaming und Vaganza (Collins Classics, wiedererschienen bei NMC in 2003)
Distant Variations für Saxophonquartett und Blasorchester
Erhält ein FRNCM (Fellowship of the Royal Northern College of Music)
Künstlerischer Berater beim „Breaking Chains“-Festival der Musik Lutosławskis und an der Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London Vorsitzender des Wettbewerbs BBC Young Composers in Manchester
To the lovers' well für Vokalensemble
Berliner Erstaufführung von Golem an der Neuen Opernbühne Berlin
Der Artikel „The visionary and the dramatic in the music of Witold Lutosławski” erscheint in Lutosławski Studies (Hg. Zbigniew Skowron, Oxford University Press)
Blue Medusa für Fagott und Klavier
Symphony (Broken Consort) für Orchester
Österreichische Erstaufführung von God's Liar an der Neuen Oper Wien während des KlangBogen-Festivals
Featured Composer bei den Park Lane Young Artists Series im Purcell Room in London
Rest-Ringing für Streichquartett und Orchester
Juror beim Wettbewerb Witold Lutosławski Composers in Warschau
Farness für Sopran, Viola und Kammerorchester
Chansons de Verlaine für Sopran und Klavier
Juror beim Aberdeen Music Prize
Concerto for Orchestra
The Dream of the Rood für Vokal- und Kammerensemble
Deadly Pleasures für Narrator und Ensemble
Sacrificium für Orgel
Inevitable Rifts für Streichtquintett
Redner an der Polish Music Since 1945 Conference der Canterbury Christ Church University
öffentliches Interview mit Krzystof Penderecki
Composer Director an der Lake District Summer Music School for Composers in Sedbergh mit Orlando Consort
Juror beim Wettbewerb International Composers in Stresa, Italien
Featured Composer beim International Organ Festival in St. Albans; Sacrificium ist Bewertungsstückstück der Viertelfinalisten
The Dream of the Rood gewinnt einen BASCA Award in der Kategorie Vokalwerke
Gründung des Coquetdale Chamber Choirs
Ehrendoktor der University of King's College, Halifax, Nova Scotia (Kanada) und der University of Birmingham
World premiere of "Apollinaire's Bird" for oboe and orchestra with Stéphane Rancourt, oboe and the Hallé conducted by Mark Elder
"Apollinaire's Bird" shortlisted for the 2014 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards and BASCA Awards
World premiere of "Misted Land" by the Nash Ensemble at Wigmore Hall
World premiere of "From this red earth" by the Choir of Lincoln's Inn
World premiere of "Madonna of Silence" by The Hallé and Katy Jones
NCM album release of John Casken: The Dream of the Rood featuring The Hilliard Ensemble and Asko | Schönberg Ensemble
Royal Musical Association awards Tippett Medal for "The Shackled King*
"Shackled King" receives Ivors Composer Award nomation
ECM New Series album release of the Royal Northern Sinfonia's recording of "That Subtle Knot"
Products
-
for SATB choir and organComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Choral scoreBrand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: mixed choir (SATB) and organLanguage: EnglishProduct number: ED 13175£5.99In preparation, not yet available -
for celloComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicBrand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: celloProduct number: ED 12490£11.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
for chamber orchestraComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: PartiturSeries: Amarantos
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: chamber orchestraProduct number: ED 11483£25.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
for solo oboeComposer: John CaskenSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: oboeProduct number: ED 13287Product TypeAs low as £9.50 -
for violin and pianoComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicSeries: Après un silence
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: violin and pianoProduct number: ED 12650£20.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
for bassoon and pianoComposer: John CaskenSeries: Edition Schott
Bassoon Library
Blue Medusa
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: bassoon and pianoProduct number: FAG 1001Product TypeAs low as £9.50 -
Composer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Cello Concerto
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: cello and orchestraProduct number: ED 12394£24.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
for soprano and pianoComposer: John CaskenSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: soprano and pianoProduct number: ED 13182Product TypeAs low as £14.50 -
Hymn and Variation on "The race that long in darkness pined"Composer: John CaskenEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Choral Music of Our Time
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: mixed choir (SATB)Product number: ED 14034Product TypeAs low as £2.99 -
for string quartetComposer: John CaskenEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: string quartetProduct number: ED 12868Product TypeAs low as £11.99 -
Composer: John CaskenEdition: Study scoreBrand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: orchestraProduct number: ED 13617Product TypeAs low as £25.50 -
A collection of new pieces for pianoMedia Type: Sheet musicBrand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: pianoLanguage: EnglishProduct number: ED 21470£12.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
for narrator and instrumental ensembleComposer: John CaskenEdition: Set of partsSeries: Edition Schott
Deadly Pleasures
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: saxophone, trumpet, piano, violin and amplified narratorProduct number: ED 13530-10Product TypeAs low as £33.50 -
for narrator and instrumental ensembleComposer: John CaskenEdition: PartiturSeries: Edition Schott
Deadly Pleasures
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: saxophone, trumpet, piano, violin and amplified narratorProduct number: ED 13530Product TypeAs low as £18.99 -
Composer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Distant Variations
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: saxophone-Quartett and wind bandProduct number: ED 12646£29.99In stock - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 1 working day -
£32.99No longer available
-
A setting of words by George MacBethComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Firewhirl
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: soprano and 7 playerLanguage: EnglishProduct number: ED 11491£17.99In stock - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 1 working day -
for chamber choirComposer: John CaskenEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Choral Music of Our Time
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: chamber choir (SSAATTBB, minimum 8 voices)Product number: ED 14035Product TypeAs low as £3.50 -
Chamber Opera: Prelude - LegendComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: BookEdition: LibrettoSeries: Golem
Brand: Schott Music
Language: EnglishProduct number: ED 12379-01£6.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
Chamber Opera: Prelude - LegendComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicSeries: Golem
Brand: Schott Music
Language: EnglishProduct number: ED 12379£49.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
for SATB choir and organComposer: John CaskenEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Choral Music of Our Time
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: mixed choir (SATB) and organProduct number: ED 13285Product TypeAs low as £5.50 -
for string quintetComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: E-score PDFEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: string quintetProduct number: ED 13321 Q20011£28.99available for download immediately -
for small ensembleComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Infanta Marina
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: cor anglais and small ensembleProduct number: ED 12604£16.99In stock - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 1 working day -
for soprano and pianoComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicBrand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: soprano and pianoLanguage: English, FrenchProduct number: ED 11460£16.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
for baritone and pianoComposer: John CaskenSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: baritone and pianoProduct number: ED 13535Product TypeAs low as £11.50 -
a drama for trombone and orchestraComposer: John CaskenEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: trombone and orchestraProduct number: ED 14044Product TypeAs low as £20.50 -
for mixed choir and organComposer: John CaskenEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Choral Music of Our Time
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: mixed choir (SATB or TrATB) and organProduct number: ED 13536Product TypeAs low as £5.99 -
from the opera "Golem"Composer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Maharal Dreaming
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: orchestraProduct number: ED 12374£19.99In stock - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 1 working day -
for oboe and chamber orchestraComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Masque
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: oboe and chamber orchestraProduct number: ED 12156£29.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
for clarinet quintetComposer: John CaskenEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: clarinet, 2 violins, viola, celloProduct number: ED 13990Product TypeAs low as £16.99 -
for viola, alto saxophone, bass clarinet and pianoComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreBrand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: viola, alto saxophone, bass clarinet and pianoProduct number: ED 11401£8.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
for flute, oboe, cello and harpsichordComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music for the Crabbing Sun
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: flute, oboe, cello and harpsichordProduct number: ED 11400£8.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
for saxophone quartetComposer: John CaskenEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: saxophone quartetProduct number: ED 12831Product TypeAs low as £13.99 -
for orchestraComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Orion over Farne
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: orchestraProduct number: ED 12335£25.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
Composer: John CaskenEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: piano quartetProduct number: ED 12414Product TypeAs low as £29.99 -
Composer: John CaskenEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: violin, cello and pianoProduct number: ED 12775Product TypeAs low as £27.50 -
Composer: John CaskenMedia Type: E-score PDFEdition: Separate editionSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 13510 Q11141£2.99available for download immediately -
for choir (SATB)Composer: John CaskenEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Choral Music of Our Time
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: mixed choir (SATB)Product number: ED 13640Product TypeAs low as £3.50 -
for organComposer: John CaskenSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: organProduct number: ED 13260Product TypeAs low as £14.50 -
Fire-haunt for two pianosComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: 2 PianosProduct number: ED 12375£11.99In stock - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 1 working day -
for horn in F and pianoComposer: John CaskenSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: horn and pianoProduct number: ED 13796Product TypeAs low as £11.99 -
for violin and pianoComposer: John CaskenEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: violin and pianoProduct number: ED 13084Product TypeAs low as £14.50 -
for four male voicesComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Performing scoreSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: 4 solo voicesLanguage: EnglishProduct number: ED 13010£11.50In preparation, not yet available -
for solo pianoComposer: John CaskenSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 14023Product TypeAs low as £10.50 -
for orchestraComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Sortilège
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: orchestraProduct number: ED 12568£24.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
for marimba and CDComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet music with CDEdition: score and performance CDSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: marimbaProduct number: ED 13364£25.50In stock - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 1 working day -
for baritone and orchestraComposer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Still mine
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: baritone and orchestraProduct number: ED 12419£28.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days -
for cello and pianoComposer: John CaskenEdition: Score and partSeries: Edition Schott
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: cello and pianoProduct number: ED 13864Product TypeAs low as £9.50 -
Composer: John CaskenEdition: Set of partsSeries: String Quartet
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: string quartetProduct number: ED 12071-01Product TypeAs low as £35.99 -
Composer: John CaskenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
String Quartet
Brand: Schott Music
Instrumentation: string quartetProduct number: ED 12071£16.99Not in stock, but can be ordered - usually despatched (or ready for collection) within 7 days