Mark-Anthony Turnage (b 1960)

Donald Macleod is joined by the composer Mark-Anthony Turnage

Mark-Anthony Turnage is a man with a reputation for shaking up the world of British classical music - a composer with a distinctive and rebellious creative voice. His work vividly fuses influences of jazz, soul and contemporary pop with music that remains boldly and defiantly avant-garde. It’s music that packs a punch, yet whose visceral impact accompanies a deep lyricism and emotion. Over four decades, Turnage’s work has tackled social commentary: domestic violence, drug abuse, and the refugee crisis. But he’s also a composer with a subversive streak, with an opera exploring the life of former Playboy model Anna-Nicole Smith, and orchestral pieces inspired by his beloved Arsenal football club and pop superstar Beyoncé.

Music Featured:

Greek, Act 1: Breakfast Quartet
On Opened Ground (1st mvt)
Night Dances (3rd mvt, Nocturne)
Greek, Act 1: Prologue and Wine Bar Music; Act 2: Journey to the Sphinx…
Three Farewells (All Will Be Well)
Blood On The Floor (Blood On The Floor)
Set To
Three Screaming Popes
Twice Through The Heart (Part Two)
Your Rockaby (excerpt)
True life stories (Tune for Toru)
The Silver Tassie, Act 1: Oh Bring To Me A Pint Of Wine
Slide Stride
The Silver Tassie, Act 2, Scene 2 (excerpt)
The Silver Tassie, Act 4 Scene 3
Scorched (Let’s Say We Did)
Remembering (4th mvt)
Hammered Out
From The Wreckage
Anna Nicole, Act 1 (excerpt)
Texan Tenebrae
Twisted Blues With Twisted Ballad (Reflections on “Stairway To Heaven” by Led Zeppelin)
Milo, for solo cello
Piano Concerto (2nd mvt, "Last Lullaby For Hans")
UNDANCE (excerpts)
Concerto for Two Violins "Shadow Walker" (2nd & 3rd mvts)
Speranza (4th mvt, Tikvah)

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Steven Rajam, for BBC Wales

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Mark-Anthony Turnage (b 1960) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00126xb

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z