
Professor Neal Farwell
BA (Cantab.), MMus, PhD, MA (Cantab)
Current positions
Professor of Composition
Department of Music
Contact
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Research interests
Neal Farwell composes music for instruments and voices, for the “acousmatic” fixed medium, and for the meeting points of human players and live electronics. His work is commissioned by notable performers and performed internationally. Current projects include a co-commission by Trio Sonore and the Brigstow Institute of the University of Bristol, Gravity's Horizon for flute, cello, piano and live electronics; a two-part work for choir and for ensemble, which meet through electronic intervention; and a large-scale work for multi-channel fixed media. Recent key works include Solaire (2016) for Ensemble Variances, Paris; Rain From Other Seasons (2014), for Trio Aporia (baroque trio and electronics); Photographs of Water (2013), a composition for multi-channel fixed media; and Songs and Shards (2012) for piano and electronics. Neal's research is particularly concerned with discovering a compositional practice to meld the sonic richness of electroacoustic music with the multiple resonances of our older musical heritage, and he explores these questions both through the creative language and through innovating means of technological support. As director of the Bristol University Loudspeaker Orchestra, Neal curates the concert series Sonic Voyages, an international forum for performance of electroacoustic music.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Difficult duets – musicians, machines, and performance on the edge
Principal Investigator
Description
This project is about the experience of humans interacting with new technology. More particularly, it investigates the experience of complex, real-time, intellectually and emotionally demanding interactions, where the technology seems…Managing organisational unit
Department of MusicDates
11/03/2019 to 31/07/2021
Bone Conducting Lollipop: An exploration of flavour, sound and experience
Principal Investigator
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
The project aims to finalising the design of a Bone Conducting Lollipop, which will be used with children and young people, including, but not limited to, those experiencing hearing loss.…Managing organisational unit
Department of History of Art (Historical Studies)Dates
01/02/2017 to 31/07/2017
Integrating Turkish: Beyond East and West: Developing and Documenting an Evolving Transcultural Musical Practice
Principal Investigator
Role
Researcher
Description
Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Opera #1 involving integration of Turkish and Western Instruments and Voices, June 11, 2016, IstanbulManaging organisational unit
Department of MusicDates
01/09/2015 to 31/07/2022
Thesis supervisions
Cross-Cultural Composition
Supervisors
Aspects of Traditional Japanese Aesthetics and their Influence in Contemporary Compositional Practice
Supervisors
Portfolio of Compositions
Supervisors
Malay sound arts:
Supervisors
Timbre-based composition
Supervisors