Whitebeam
1 sound
Current age: Mature
Size at maturity: 25m
Species native to: Europe (including the British Isles)
Tree identification number: 0HDN
Composer name
Arnau Brichs Ponce
About the composer:
Born in Barcelona (2000), studied jazz with Marina Albero and Chano Domínguez and classical piano with Mireia Datzira in the IEA Oriol Martorell whilst performing solo piano recitals in venues like Ateneu Barcelonès or Casa Orlandai and winning the 2nd Arjau Chamber Music Prize. He also performed at the 47th International Music Festival of Cadaqués. In 2016, he moved to the UK to attend the Purcell School for Young Musicians, studying composition with Joseph Phibbs, Deborah Pritchard and Brian Elias. His song for school patron Dame Kiri Te Kanawa later won a prize at the "WCSMS 2019 Promising Young Composers Competition" (USA). He was awarded a full ABRSM scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music, where he is currently working under Helen Grime and Rubens Askenar. He has received advice and lessons, among others, by composers like Kaija Saariaho, Georg Friedrich Haas, Hans Abrahamsen or Tansy Davies. He has worked with a wide range of artists such as the Uusinta Ensemble (Finland), Academy Manson Ensemble, Lucy Goddard or Rolf Hind, who premiered his piece "La Coïssor” at the Occupy the Pianos Festival (London) as part of a Call for Scores.
About the tree:
The fruit is usually bletted if it is going to be eaten raw. This involves storing the fruit in a cool dry place until it is almost but not quite going rotten. At this stage the fruit has a delicious taste, somewhat like a luscious tropical fruit!
About the composition:
In this tree family we encounter a sonic universe which was suggested to me by the sharpness of the leaves of this species. The sounds consist of a koto improvisation (the Japanese harp, known for the flexibility of pitch and percussive colour) by fellow composer Edward Mascall-Robson. This is a mature tree and I wanted the music to reflect its advaced age by using soft musical sounds in a very fragmented way.
