| Name:
| Clement Jewitt
| | Skills:
| Composer
| | Phone:
| +44 (0)1235 553637
| | Address:
| 30 East St Helen Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 5EB, United Kingdom
| |
| | Clement, now aged 58, began composing in his mid-forties following the collapse, owing to redundancies, of his previous career in Information Science. Previous amateur musical involvement included singing in choirs (Goldsmith's among them) teaching classical guitar privately, directing recorder groups, playing in brass bands, directing concerts of baroque music. He gained his music degree at Birmingham Conservatoire, where he also joined the Gamelan Kyai Pranaja and attended options in Indian Classical music. Both those musics have affected his composing style. Currently he is pursuing a doctorate in composition.
He has won two composition prizes: The Lennox Berkeley Cup for a brass quartet, 1994; and Woodwind Composition Prize at Birmingham Conservatoire 1996 for a piece for 11 bassoons and a contra-bassoon. Other competition entries have been sparse owing to age restrictions and a decision to seek commissions rather than write specifically for competitions. Commissions have been received for an unaccompanied choral piece (Come with me), a 'Bass Trombone Concerto' (nearing completion), various songs, and a piece for viola and percussion. He has written for various instrumental combinations, some theatre music, and a number of songs with different accompanying forces. He is planning for 1999 an extended song cycle (for mezzo Wendy Nieper) with mixed septet: 'Aspects of the Night Sea Crossing'. George Caird has performed his oboe and percussion 'With Your Own Light', and Corrado Canonici recently premiered his 'Intersections' for solo double bass.
Press comments on his music include: "... substantial and darkly atmospheric ..." (on 'Knit up the Ravell'd Sleeve of Care' - bassoons); "... Jewitt's sensitive expressions ... the intensity of the beautifully unfolding music ... an overwhelming statement of compassion ..." and "A powerful thought provoking epic dramatic score" (on 'Chechnya Story', theatre music with two actresses and ensemble).
Personal details: born in London, England; four grown children; supporter of Greenpeace, the Holy Island Project, the Medical Foundation for Victims of Torture; lover of trees; Sagittarius with Sagittarius rising; Metal Dragon.
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