Gabriel Erkoreka

Gabriel Erkoreka is a Spanish composer born in Bilbao in 1969. He studied with Carmelo Bernaola, graduating with honours in composition, piano and chamber music. In 1995 he entered the Royal Academy of Music to study composition with Michael Finnissy where he obtained the DipRAM and a Masters degree with distinction from the University of London, and was appointed Fellow of Composition 1997-98. He has also participated in masterclasses given by Harrison Birtwistle, Donatoni, Sciarrino and Luis de Pablo.

Erkoreka's work has been performed in the Venice Biennale 2004; the Musikverein in Vienna; the South Bank Centre, ICA and Wigmore Hall in London; the ISCM World Music Days in Manchester 1998 and in Hong Kong 2007; the Symphony Space in New York and Crown Hall in Chicago; the Toru Takemitsu Festival 1999 in Tokyo; the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Festival ‘Aujourd’hui Musiques’ in Perpignan; Festival Internacional de Alicante, the Auditorio Nacional and Centro de Arte ‘Reina Sofía’ in Madrid; and in other cities including Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin and Sydney.

In October 2008 he was awarded First Prize in the XV Reina Sofía Composition Prize, held in Madrid. Previous laureates of this prestigious award include Witold Lutosławski. Other prizes for Erkoreka's works include the Premio de Roma awarded by the Spanish Academy in Rome in 2001; Premio INAEM - Colegio de España in Paris; First Prize of the Premio SGAE in Madrid, several prizes at the Royal Academy of Music including the Josiah Parker Prize, and the Prize of the Basque Government (1999). He was selected to participate in the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers in Paris, and for the International Gaudeamus Music Week.

Erkoreka's music has been recorded and broadcast by the BBC, WDR, RAI, RNE and other radio stations from various countries including Australia, Argentina and Holland; several of his works are available on CD, edited by Verso, Stradivarius, FNAC records and the Fundación Autor. He has received commissions from various institutions including the Nieuw Ensemble, the Biennale für Neue Musik-Hannover, the INAEM, Spanish Ministry of Culture, Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid, Orquesta Sinfónica de Euskadi, Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, Festival ENSEMS-Valencia, the Quincena Musical, the Guggenheim Museum and the RAM. He was appointed composer-in-residence of the JONDE (Young Spanish National Orchestra) for 2001-02.

In 2001, Gabriel Erkoreka was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. He has been invited to give lectures at the Instituto Cervantes in London, Manchester and Chicago; the CDMC-Encuentros con los Jovenes Compositores in Madrid; the Festival BBK Músicas Actuales in Bilbao, and at the Estoril Music Festival in Portugal. As a pianist, he has given solo and chamber music concerts in England and Spain. His orchestral debut was in April 1998, playing Ravel's Concerto in G with the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra. He is founder member of the Trio Bernaola and composer-in-association of the ensemble KANTAK. He currently lives in London and teaches composition at MUSIKENE-Basque Country Superior Conservatoire.

Erkoreka is published by [http://www.oup.co.uk/music/repprom/erkoreka Oxford University Press] .

Work List

Azules (1992) 2’Mezzo-soprano and PianoText: J. R. JiménezFirst Performance: 04/07/1995, Wraysbury Festival (London); Jeannette Ager, Gabriel Erkoreka

Serpiente (1993) 1’30”Solo PianoFirst Performance: 12/11/1995, Royal Academy of Music (London); Gabriel Erkoreka

Mystik I (1993) 6’Magnetic Tape

Trio (1993) 7’30”Flute, Oboe and Clarinet

Nubes I (1994) 6’Solo PianoFirst Performance: 27/05/1994, Aula Magna, Escuela de Música J. Guridi (Vitoria); G. ErkorekaPublisher: Oxford University Press

Rio Asubio (1994) 8’Magnetic Tape

Krater (1994) 8’15”Fl, Cl, Vl, Vc, Mba and PnoJosiah Parker Prize (Royal Academy of Music, London)First Performance: 23/03/1995, II Ciclo de Música del Siglo XX (Vitoria); Grupo Instrumental de la Escuela de Música J. Guridi, cond: Juanjo MenaPublisher: OUP

Nubes II (1995) 6’Solo PianoFirst Performance: 26/10/1998, Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (Madrid); Einar Henning SmebyePublisher: OUP

Dipolo (1995) 8’Violoncello and PianoCuthbert Nunn Prize (RAM, London), and shortlisted by SPNM in 1997First Performance: 18/04/1996, III Ciclo de Música del Siglo XX (Vitoria); François Manciero y Albert NietoPublisher: OUP

Canción y Danza (1995) 7’Symphony OrchestraEdward Hecht Prize (RAM)First Performance: 11/11/1999 Teatro Arriaga (Bilbao); Orquesta Sinfónica de Euskadi, cond: Jan Latham Koenig

Los Tres Arcángeles (1996) 10’Harp, Guitar and MarimbaBattison Haynes Prize (RAM) and shortlisted by SPNM in 1998Estreno: 04/10/1997 Bachzaal (Amsterdam); Idske Bakker, Reinhold Westerheide y Ulrich Pohl

Kantak (1996) 9’ 30”Solo Piccolo, Fl, Ob(+c.ang), Cl (+bcl), Perc, Pno(cel), Vl, Vc and DbFirst Prize at the Premio SGAE 1996, selected for the International Gaudeamus Music Week 1998, the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers (París) and for the ISCM World Music Days 1998 (Manchester)First Performance: 16/12/1996, Auditorio Nacional de Música (Madrid); Tomoka Mukai, Grupo Cámara XXI, cond: Pedro Halffter CaroPublisher: EMEC

Cuatro Diferencias (1996) 10’OrganPublisher: OUP

Romance-Pavana (1996) 6’15”Flute, Viola and GuitarFirst Performance: 06/05/1998, Fundación Juan March (Madrid); Synaulia Trío

Eresi (1997) 5’30”Piccolo and TapeFirst Performance: 25/02 /1997, Casa del Cordón (Vitoria); Pedro Basterra

Ilargi (1997) 7’Solo Viola

Saturno (1997) 9’Clarinet (+bcl) and VioloncelloShortlisted by SPNM in 1999First Performance: 03/02/1998, St Cyprian's, Clarence Gate (London); Members of the Trio BernaolaPublisher: OUP

Famara (1997,rev.2000) 13’4233-4331-4perc, timp, Hp, Cel, Strings: 12,10,10,8,6Commissioned by INAEM and the Royal Academy of MusicFirst Performance: 13/02/1998 Donatoni Festival at the Royal Academy of Music (London); RAM Symphony Orchestra, cond: André de RidderPublisher: OUP

Bizitza (1998) 16’Mezzo-soprano, Fl(+picc), Cl, Bssn, Perc, Vl, Vc and DbText: Bernardo AtxagaFirst Performance: 21/05/1998 Musikaste (Rentería); Irina Shikina, Grupo Ostots, cond: Ramon LazkanoPublisher: OUP

Cuatro Diferencias (1998) 10’Solo AccordionPrize of the Basque Government 1999First Performance: 19/05/1999, Musikaste (Rentería); Iñaki AlberdiPublisher: OUP

Akorda (1998-99) 16’Solo Accordion, 2222-0221-2Perc,Hp, Strings:10,8,8,6,4Commissioned by the BOS, financed by the Dpto. de Cultura del Gobierno VascoFirst Performance: 13/05/1999, Teatro Ayala (Bilbao); Iñaki Alberdi, Orquesta Sinfónica de Bilbao, cond: Juanjo MenaPublisher: OUP

Biribilketa (1999) 6’30”Clarinet, Violoncello and PianoCommissioned by Quincena Musical Donostiarra for Carmelo Bernaola’s 70th BirthdayFirst Performance: 27/08/1999 Auditorio Kursaal (San Sebastián); Trío BernaolaPublisher: OUP

Jukal (1999-2000) 12’Solo Guitar, Ob(+c.ang), Cl(+bcl), Bssn, Perc, Hp, Hpsd, Vla, Vc and DbCommissioned by the Nieuw Ensemble, AmsterdamFirst Performance: 11/04/2000 Proms Paradiso (Amsterdam); Alan Thomas, Nieuw Ensemble, cond: Jurjen HempelPublisher: OUP

Duduk I (2000) 8’30”Solo Soprano SaxophoneFinanced by the Dpto. de Cultura del Gobierno VascoFirst Performance: 20/11/2000 Festival de Música del Siglo XX (Bilbao); Josetxo SilgueroPublisher: OUP

Jaia (2000) 7’30”Solo PianoCommissioned by the Quincena Musical DonostiarraFirst Performance: 23/08/2000 Salas del Kursaal (San Sebastián); Jean François HeisserPublisher: OUP

Duduk II (2000) 8’Saxophone QuartetFirst Performance: 08/10/2002 Auditorio Nacional de Música; Sax-Ensemble de MadridPublisher: OUP

Fantasía (2000) 7’30”Solo GuitarFirst Performance: 16/01/2001 Dartington College of Arts; Alan ThomasPublisher: OUP

Duduk III (2000) 7’2 Oboes and Cor-AnglaisCommissioned by CDMC for QuodlibetPublisher: Revista Quodlibet, Universidad de Alcalá

Dos Zortzikos (2000) 10’20”Solo PianoFirst Performance: 21/11/2001, Jornadas de Música Contemporánea (Vigo); Ananda SukarlanPublisher: OUP

Izaro (2001) 12’Fl(+picc), Cl, Vl, Vc, PnoCommissioned by the Hannover Biennale für Neue MusikFirst Performance: 09/06/2001, Markuskirche (Hannover); Das Neue EnsemblePublisher: OUP

Soinua (2001) 8’Accordion and PianoFinanced by the Dpto. de Cultura del Gobierno VascoFirst Performance: 28/02/2002, International Accordion Festival (Viena); AnakiPublisher: OUP

Afrika (2002, rev.2004) 16’Solo Marimba, 2222-4000-2Perc, Hp, Strings: 12,10,8,6,4Commissioned by the Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid y SGAEFirst Performance: 25/06/2002, Auditorio Nacional de Música (Madrid); Pedro Carneiro, Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid, cond: Juanjo MenaPublisher: OUP

Tenebrae (2002) 10’2Ob(II+c.ang), 2Bssn(II+cbn), 2Perc, Hp, 3Vl, 3Vc, DbCommissioned by JONDE (Joven Orquesta Nacional de España)First Performance: 08/07/2003, Auditorio de la Junta de Castilla y León, León; Members of the JONDEPublisher: OUP

Duduk IV (2002) 10’String QuartetFinanced by the Dpto. de Cultura del Gobierno VascoPublisher: OUP

Rabel (2003) 12’Fl, Cl, Vl, VcCommissioned by the Ministerio de CulturaFirst Performance: 03/04/2003, Crown Hall, Chicago (USA); Perspectives EnsemblePublisher: OUP

Aldakiak (2003) 13’Violin, Cello and PianoPrize of the INAEM and Colegio de España en ParísFirst Performance: 02/10/2003, Festival Internacional de Alicante; Trio ArbósPublisher: OUP

Kin (2003) 10’Violoncello and AccordionFirst Performance: 05/11/2003, Festival de Música Contemporánea de Bilbao, Museo Guggenheim; David Apellániz (cello) and Iñaki AlberdiPublisher: OUP

Fauve (2003) 10’Percussion QuartetFirst Performance: 21/11/2003, Festival “Aujourd’hui Musiques”, Perpignan; NeopercusiónPublisher: OUP

Kaila Kantuz (2004) 1’ Piano Solo

Océano (2004) 14’3333-4331-4Perc,Timp, Hp, Strings: 16,14,12,10,8Commissioned by Orquesta Sinfónica de EuskadiFirst Performance: 4/10/04; Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao, OSE, Cond: Gilbert VargaPublisher: OUP

Noche Serena (2005) 15’Solo Soprano and Cello OctetCommissioned by Cello Octet “Conjunto Ibérico”-AmsterdamFirst Performance: Quincena Musical de San SebastiánPublisher: OUP

Veni Creator (2005) 25’SATB , Organ y 2 percussionCommissioned by the Diputación Foral de BizkaiaFirst Performance: 02/04/06; Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao; KUP Taldea, Kevin Bowyer, BOS Percusión, cond: Gabriel Baltes

Rondó (2006) 10’Bass Cl, String Trio and PianoCommissioned by the Fundación BBK – “Birth Bicentenary of J.C. de Arriaga”First Performance: 21/11/06; Museo Guggenheim, Bilbao; LIM, Dir: Jesús Villa-RojoPublisher: OUP

Cielo Nocturno (2006) 6’Baritone and PianoText: Fray Luis de LeónCommissioned by the Festival ENSEMS 2006Estreno: 19/05/06; Teatro Talía, Valencia; José Antonio López, Bertomeu Jaume.Publisher: Piles (Valencia)

Yidaki (2006) 10’Solo Baritone SaxophoneCommissioned by Pablo Coello, Financed by the Dpto. de Cultura del Gobierno VascoFirst Performance: 14/02/07; Salón-Teatro, Santiago de Compostela.Publisher: OUP

Fuegos (2006-07) 13’3333-4331-4Perc,Timp, Hp, Cel, Strings: 16,14,12,10,8Finalist at the "Premio de Composición Reina Sofía 2007"First Performance: 23/10/08 Teatro Monumental, Madrid. Orquesta de RTVE, cond: Adrian Leaper

Mistral (2007) 9’Shakuhachi FluteCommissioned by Kiku Day, Financed by the Dpto. de Cultura del Gobierno VascoFirst Performance: 08/03/2007; SOAS-School Of Oriental and African Studies, London

Haize-Orratz (2007) 8’Txistu y AcordeónCommissioned by BerziztuFirst performance: 07/12/07; Feria del Libro, Durango. Aitor Amilibia, José Antonio HontoriaPublisher: Berziztu

Hamar (2007) 30’Fl.(picc), Bass-Cl, Trpt, Tbn, 1 Perc, Vl, Vcl.Commissioned by the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao.First performance: 15/10/07; Gala of the 10th Anniversary of the Museum's opening. Ensemble Kuraia

Links

* [http://uk.geocities.com/[e-mail]/] (Composer's webpage)
* [http://www.oup.co.uk/music/repprom/erkoreka/] (Publisher: OUP)