The Department of Music Studies, at the School of Performing Arts, University of Malta, is pleased to announce a lecture and a workshop by Dr Geoffrey Álvarez.
Memento Amare: Angelic Symmetry in Abos’ Dixit Dominus
Tuesday, 2 April 2019 (09:00-10:30)
Venue: Rm OH124, Department of Music Studies, University of Malta, Msida Campus
This lecture investigates three interrelated features of this work: the symmetry between movements in B flat major and D major, the association of the priest/king Melchisedech with the Bourbon dynasty and the significance of 5, 8 and 13.
Workshop on Abos’ Dixit Dominus
Wednesday, 3 April 2019 (12:00-13:30)
Venue: Rm OH124, Department of Music Studies, University of Malta, Msida Campus
Workshop on a new performing edition of Abos’ Dixit Dominus to be directed by the editor, Dr Geoffrey Álvarez. The new edition includes the realisation of a new harpsichord part and added cadenzas accentuating the operatic nature of the work.
Dr Geoffrey Álvarez is a British/Nicaraguan composer, conductor and writer. In 1984, he attained his D.Phil. from the University of York, subsequently invited by Berio to a private consultation in Florence. Dr Álvarez was the prize-winner of the Tansman Composersʼ Competiton (2006), Poland, himself subsequently part of the adjudication panel for similar competitions in both England and Malta. His St Paul’s Shipwreck for organ was premiered by Kevin Bowyer during the 2015 Glasgow University Contemporary Organ Music Platform and recently (2018) given a second performance by Tom Bell at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. A version of this work conducted by the composer himself was premiered in 2016 with the Malta Symphony Orchestra Brass Ensemble at St Paul’s Cathedral, Malta.
Dr Álvarez’s ʻGravesian Analysisʼ, applies Robert Graves technique of ʻanaleptic thoughtʼ to music. This has appeared in publications such as Gravesiana: The Journal of the Robert Graves Society and Tempo. His review of Joseph Vella Bondin’s book The Great Maltese Composers appeared in the Musical Times (Winter 2016).
His current projects include a radio opera (Dawk li fuq l-Iġfna Jbaħħru) with Maltese playwright Joseph Vella Bondin, a Unesco recording in Granada, Spain, of his Draco for wind ensemble and Hammond organ by Bóreas Ventus, a CD launch and a series of performances in association with the University of Tübingen, Germany, of his hundred minute song-cycle Hölderlinfester with soprano April Frederick and pianist Alessandro Viale, and a film of his ninth ‘Nicaraguan’ symphony directed by Tony Palmer (director of Wagner and All You Need is Love).
