Biography and selected works
Chris Hutchings' works have been performed by Cappella Nova, the University of Glasgow Chapel Choir, the Viridian Quartet, the Edinburgh Quartet, Nicholas Ashton, Lauryna Sablevicuite, and a wide variety of soloists and choirs. "Crux Fidelis" and "O Vos Omnes" have been released on the Amemptos label. He is still trying unsuccessfully to make minimum wage from composing, and would very much appreciate it if you buy his music.
Notable works from the last five years include:
- Balulalow, premiered by Glasgow University Chapel Choir and James Grossmith, December 2011
- an upcoming Requiem (liturgical text in English) commissioned by Amemptos Music
- Speravi in Te, commissioned by Choir and Organ Magazine for their New Music series
- O Mare! for 4-part or 6-part choir (hopefully to be premiered in Brighton, May 2012)
- a wide variety of other works for choir: see some on the scores and previews page, full list below.
- Actaeon and Diana, for chamber ensemble (premiere in Glasgow, November 2011)
- Oliphaunt for string quartet and organ (premiered Glasgow 2009, Edinburgh Quartet and Kevin Bowyer)
- The Windhover for SATB soloists, string quartet and two pianos (premiered Glasgow 2008, Sound Thought Ensemble)
- La Belle Dame Sans Merci for four sopranos and harp (premiered Glasgow 2007 by Scottish Voices)
- Rorate Coeli De Super for double SATB choir and organ, funded by the Britten-Pears Trust
(premiered Glasgow 2007, Glasgow University Chapel Choir, James Grossmith, Kevin Bowyer) - Sleep and The Toads' Chorus for chamber choir or 4-6 solo voices
- Night Shift for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (premiered Orkney 2007, Kreisler Ensemble)
- Prometheus for solo piano (premiered Glasgow 2007, Lauryna Sableviciute)
- Wilderness for baritone, marimba and percussion
Some of those can be heard on the recordings page.
Works for instruments (some with voices) include: Actaeon and Diana for chamber ensemble (piano, horn, clarinet, violin, cello); Oliphaunt for string quartet and organ; The Dwarf and his Infanta for clarinet and horn; Reflections for solo viola, violin or cello; Prometheus for solo piano; One Far Fierce Hour And Sweet and Night Shift, both for an ensemble of flute, clarinet (doubling bass clarinet in the latter), violin, viola, cello and piano; Song of Solomon for soprano, tenor, wind quintet, string quartet, harp and percussion; and In Principio for 16-part choir and large orchestra.
Works for choir, other than those given above:
- Crux Fidelis (SATB)
- O Vos Omnes (6-part choir)
- Song of Solomon (arrangement of finale from above, for SATB and organ)
- O Sing Unto The Lord (SATB and organ, can be done without tenors if required)
- Christus Venit (SATB with divisi)
- In The Bleak Midwinter (new setting, not an arrangement - SATB)
- O Mare! (SATB or SSATBB, needs at least 4 people to a part)
- Regis Regum Rectissimi (SSAATTBB)
- Solus Ad Victimam (SATB with divisi)
View scores online (arrangements for free download, and previews of some full scores).
Chris has received funding for composition projects and tuition from Creative Scotland, the St Magnus Festival, AHRC, Dartington International Summer School, and the Bliss Trust (twice). Awards include the Temple Church Composition Prize and the John McLeod Composition Prize. He has an MMus from the University of Hull (2001) and is currently studying part-time for a PhD at the University of Glasgow (started in 2006), specialising in how composers can explore theological issues through their music. In the five years between, Chris ran his own business, Ensemble Tours, organising tours for performing arts groups.
Chris's other areas of interest include the intersection of music, the natural world and religion; singing techniques in amateur choirs; emotions in music, particularly the perceived transmission of emotion from the composer to the audience; and Christian influences on secular music and repertoire.