sit.PLAY.orchestra - a new sound installation from the Philharmonia Orchestra


	Paul Isaac Franks Mercurial Litany From September 16 to September 22 Initially Mercurial litany is fast, aggressive and monolithic. Violent stabs, background flurrying, and ascending-descending lines accompany the trumpets and oboes in their obsessive dance motif. In a central calmer section the trumpet chants a plaintive chorus against sensuous wind chords and an emerging violin melody. The tranquillity cannot last, however. The stabs and flurries reassert themselves as the piece careens to its final conclusion.
	Paul-Isaac Franks was born in 1983 and is currently a fourth year student at the Royal Northern College of Music where he studies with David Horne. He graduated from the prestigious Joint Course between Manchester University and the RNCM with first-class honours. Whilst at the RNCM he has won the Manchester Cathedral Composition Prize (2003) been short-listed for the Barclays Private Banking Competition (2003) received internal RNCM awards and also Manchester University's Hargreaves Prize for Composition (2005). Recent commissions and performances include Jazz Concerto for Trumpet and orchestra (2006 Nottingham Youth Orchestra), Missa (2005 RNCM New Ensemble), Splinters of Life (2005 Marcus Farnsworth and David Horne), Redesigns (2003 Wolstenholme quartet, for Davenport's cabinet makers, Nottingham). His work has been discussed in master class with Steve Martland, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Robin Holloway, Chen Yi, Magnus Lindberg, John McCabe, Diana Burrell, James MacMillan, Stephen Montegue, Judith Bingham and Michael Finnissy. Aside from his interest in contemporary music he is also involved in folk music playing guitar, writing, arranging and calling dances for New Roots finalists The Maerlock folk-roots band and is a founder member on the committee of Manchester Ceilidh, Manchester’s only regular student ceilidh night. His song cycle on Emily Dickinson for the Philharmonia Orchestra's Music of Today series was performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in June to huge acclaim.

PLAY.orchestra / Music / Paul-Isaac Franks