Nicola Lefanu (1947-)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2017

Studying In Oxford And London

20170424

British composer Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about being inspired by the music of Alexander Goehr

Composer Nicola LeFanu has been at the heart of British contemporary music for several decades, and at the forefront of promoting the works of her fellow women composers. In 2017 LeFanu turns seventy, and in conversation with Donald Macleod she looks back at her distinguished career including commissions from many leading artists. LeFanu also chats about some of the composers who have influenced her including her mother Elizabeth Maconchy, and also her husband David Lumsdaine.

Nicola LeFanu was born into a creative environment. Her father was the scholar and writer William LeFanu, and her mother the composer Elizabeth Maconchy. LeFanu didn't set out to be a composer and initially was more interested in the theatre. One seminal moment came when she heard music by Alexander Goehr, The Deluge. LeFanu subsequently started to compose more works, whilst her musical language changed. From this point onwards she received tuition from various composers, including Jeremy Dale Roberts and then Alexander Goehr. LeFanu didn't remain long studying with one person for as she puts it, she didn't want to be told the answers but instead find these out for herself. Her first critical success was a work for solo oboe called Soliloquy, which was published whilst she was still studying at Oxford. From there LeFanu went on to the Royal College of Music, and after this made her way in London as a freelance composer.

A Penny for a Song (Seas are Wild Tonight)

Tracey Chadwell, soprano

Pamela Lidiard, piano

But Stars Remaining

Alison Smart, soprano

Jeremy Dale Roberts: Winter Music

Lontano

Nicola LeFanu: Soliloquy

Jinny Shaw, oboe

The Same Day Dawns

Jane Manning, soprano

Kathryn Lukas, flute

Ian Mitchell, clarinet

Adrian Levine, violin

David Smith, cello

James Wood, percussion

Nicola LeFanu, conductor

Nicola LeFanu talks about how she was inspired by the music of Alexander Goehr.

2017

Inspired, By The Outback

20170425

Composer Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about her time in the Australian outback with composer David Lumsdaine

During the 1970s and 1980s Nicola LeFanu made a number of visits to Australia. With fellow composer David Lumsdaine, they spent a long period of 1976 in the Outback, living and working in a location accessible only by boat. It was here that LeFanu composed her opera 'Dawnpath'. Once back in the UK, LeFanu established the composition department at King's College London, but by 1979, the same year she married David Lumsdaine, they both returned to Australia to the New South Wales Conservatory of Music as joint Composers-in-Residence. In 1984 came another visit to Australia. It was here that working for an entire month in the Outback, LeFanu was inspired to compose 'Moon Over the Western Ridge', written for the Rascher Saxophone Quartet. It was during this same period that LeFanu also composed 'The Old Woman of Beare', this time not inspired by the Australian landscape, but instead depicting the wild country of Ireland's west coast.

Preludio 2

Foundation Philharmonic Orchestra

David Snell, conductor

Blue upon Blue

David Pereira, cello

Jane Manning, soprano

Lontano

Nicola LeFanu talks about her time in the Australian outback with composer David Lumsdaine

2017

An Impregnable Taboo

20170426

Nicola LeFanu chats with Donald Macleod about her research and publication on the neglect of women composers

By the mid-1980s Nicola LeFanu was busy working on another opera, this time a commission from BBC Radio 3. 'The Story of Mary O'Neill' is a work specifically for the radio and is about the fortunes of an Irishwoman who emigrates to South America. As LeFanu's career in the UK went from strength to strength, she researched and published an article called 'Master Musician: An Impregnable Taboo'. This article provided details and statistics demonstrating that the work of women composers were being neglected at that time. Her research received a lot of attention, and in 1987 LeFanu also became a founding member of Women in Music. One year later, LeFanu composed her 'Lament', to mark two significant anniversaries: firstly it was the year when Nelson Mandela turned seventy, but was still in prison; secondly, 1988 was also the year in which Australia celebrated its bicentennial marking the arrival of British settlers.

A Penny for a Song

Tracey Chadwell, soprano

Pamela Lidiard, piano

Invisible Places

Gemini

The Story of Mary O'Neill (excerpt, Scene 2)

Mary - Sarah Leonard (soprano)

BBC Singers

John Poole, conductor

Elizabeth Maconchy: Symphony for Double String Orchestra (1st mvt)

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Nicola LeFanu: Lament

Bridget Cary, viola

Kate Romano, bass clarinet

Jinny Shaw, cor anglais

Neil Heyde, cello

Nicola LeFanu discusses her research and publications about the neglect of women composers

2017

Operas And Accolades

20170427

Composer Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about writing three operas in close succession

Nicola LeFanu has worked with many celebrated artists during her career. One was the saxophonist John-Edward Kelly, for whom she composed a single-movement concerto. Kelly also recorded LeFanu's work 'Ervallagh', which was composed in 1993 and is a musical portrait looking out to sea and the Aran Islands from the west coast of Ireland. The 1990s was a hugely busy period for Nicola LeFanu, composing three operas in quick succession including, for one project, working with two hundred children. It was from her opera 'Blood Wedding' that came the inspiration for composing her work for countertenor and ensemble, 'Canci　n de la luna', setting words by Lorca. Then in 1994 came a major change for LeFanu, when she moved away from London to become Professor of Music at the University of York. Teaching has always been important for LeFanu, and her pupils have included Paul Mealor, Grainne Mulvey, Luis Tinoco and Sadie Harrison.

A Travelling Spirit (Riddle 7: Swan)

Lesley-Jane Rogers, soprano

John Turner, recorder

John-Edward Kelly, saxophone

Nicholas Clapton, countertenor

The Goldberg Ensemble

Malcolm Layfield, conductor

Sadie Harrison: ...ballare una passacaglia di ombre...

Peter Sheppard Sk怀rved, violin

Nicola LeFanu: Catena, for eleven solo strings

Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about writing three operas in close succession.

2017

05 LAST

Future Collaborations

20170428

British composer Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about her recent and future compositional projects

In 1996 Nicola LaFanu composed her String Quartet No 2. It was commissioned for the following year's London International String Quartet Competition and was dedicated to the memory of her mother, the composer Elizabeth Maconchy, and of her father, the scholar and writer William LeFanu. In this programme, Nicola LeFanu discusses with Donald her recent and future composition projects. She looks back at her career, chats about how she writes music, and also the sort of music she enjoys performing at home, often with her son Peter, to whom she dedicated her work 'Amores'.

The nightingale has flown out of the pretty cage (from 'Mira Clas Tenebras')

Sally Bradshaw, mezzo-soprano

Bridget Carey, viola

Jinny Shaw, oboe d'amore

Lucy Wakeford, harp

Goldberg Ensemble

The Bourne

Elizabeth Atherton, soprano

Gillian Whitehead: The Berries (from 'Awa Herea')

Tracey Chadwell, soprano

Pamela Lidiard, piano

Nicola LeFanu: Amores

Richard Watkins, horn

Malcolm Layfield, conductor.

Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about her recent and future compositional projects.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2017	01	Studying In Oxford And London	20170424	British composer Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about being inspired by the music of Alexander Goehr Composer Nicola LeFanu has been at the heart of British contemporary music for several decades, and at the forefront of promoting the works of her fellow women composers. In 2017 LeFanu turns seventy, and in conversation with Donald Macleod she looks back at her distinguished career including commissions from many leading artists. LeFanu also chats about some of the composers who have influenced her including her mother Elizabeth Maconchy, and also her husband David Lumsdaine. Nicola LeFanu was born into a creative environment. Her father was the scholar and writer William LeFanu, and her mother the composer Elizabeth Maconchy. LeFanu didn't set out to be a composer and initially was more interested in the theatre. One seminal moment came when she heard music by Alexander Goehr, The Deluge. LeFanu subsequently started to compose more works, whilst her musical language changed. From this point onwards she received tuition from various composers, including Jeremy Dale Roberts and then Alexander Goehr. LeFanu didn't remain long studying with one person for as she puts it, she didn't want to be told the answers but instead find these out for herself. Her first critical success was a work for solo oboe called Soliloquy, which was published whilst she was still studying at Oxford. From there LeFanu went on to the Royal College of Music, and after this made her way in London as a freelance composer. A Penny for a Song (Seas are Wild Tonight) Tracey Chadwell, soprano Pamela Lidiard, piano But Stars Remaining Alison Smart, soprano Jeremy Dale Roberts: Winter Music Lontano Nicola LeFanu: Soliloquy Jinny Shaw, oboe The Same Day Dawns Jane Manning, soprano Kathryn Lukas, flute Ian Mitchell, clarinet Adrian Levine, violin David Smith, cello James Wood, percussion Nicola LeFanu, conductor Nicola LeFanu talks about how she was inspired by the music of Alexander Goehr.
2017	02	Inspired, By The Outback	20170425	Composer Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about her time in the Australian outback with composer David Lumsdaine Composer Nicola LeFanu has been at the heart of British contemporary music for several decades, and at the forefront of promoting the works of her fellow women composers. In 2017 LeFanu turns seventy, and in conversation with Donald Macleod she looks back at her distinguished career including commissions from many leading artists. LeFanu also chats about some of the composers who have influenced her including her mother Elizabeth Maconchy, and also her husband David Lumsdaine. During the 1970s and 1980s Nicola LeFanu made a number of visits to Australia. With fellow composer David Lumsdaine, they spent a long period of 1976 in the Outback, living and working in a location accessible only by boat. It was here that LeFanu composed her opera 'Dawnpath'. Once back in the UK, LeFanu established the composition department at King's College London, but by 1979, the same year she married David Lumsdaine, they both returned to Australia to the New South Wales Conservatory of Music as joint Composers-in-Residence. In 1984 came another visit to Australia. It was here that working for an entire month in the Outback, LeFanu was inspired to compose 'Moon Over the Western Ridge', written for the Rascher Saxophone Quartet. It was during this same period that LeFanu also composed 'The Old Woman of Beare', this time not inspired by the Australian landscape, but instead depicting the wild country of Ireland's west coast. Preludio 2 Foundation Philharmonic Orchestra David Snell, conductor Blue upon Blue David Pereira, cello Jane Manning, soprano Lontano Nicola LeFanu talks about her time in the Australian outback with composer David Lumsdaine
2017	03	An Impregnable Taboo	20170426	Nicola LeFanu chats with Donald Macleod about her research and publication on the neglect of women composers Composer Nicola LeFanu has been at the heart of British contemporary music for several decades, and at the forefront of promoting the works of her fellow women composers. In 2017 LeFanu turns seventy, and in conversation with Donald Macleod she looks back at her distinguished career including commissions from many leading artists. LeFanu also chats about some of the composers who have influenced her including her mother Elizabeth Maconchy, and also her husband David Lumsdaine. By the mid-1980s Nicola LeFanu was busy working on another opera, this time a commission from BBC Radio 3. 'The Story of Mary O'Neill' is a work specifically for the radio and is about the fortunes of an Irishwoman who emigrates to South America. As LeFanu's career in the UK went from strength to strength, she researched and published an article called 'Master Musician: An Impregnable Taboo'. This article provided details and statistics demonstrating that the work of women composers were being neglected at that time. Her research received a lot of attention, and in 1987 LeFanu also became a founding member of Women in Music. One year later, LeFanu composed her 'Lament', to mark two significant anniversaries: firstly it was the year when Nelson Mandela turned seventy, but was still in prison; secondly, 1988 was also the year in which Australia celebrated its bicentennial marking the arrival of British settlers. A Penny for a Song Tracey Chadwell, soprano Pamela Lidiard, piano Invisible Places Gemini The Story of Mary O'Neill (excerpt, Scene 2) Mary - Sarah Leonard (soprano) BBC Singers John Poole, conductor Elizabeth Maconchy: Symphony for Double String Orchestra (1st mvt) BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Nicola LeFanu: Lament Bridget Cary, viola Kate Romano, bass clarinet Jinny Shaw, cor anglais Neil Heyde, cello Nicola LeFanu discusses her research and publications about the neglect of women composers
2017	04	Operas And Accolades	20170427	Composer Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about writing three operas in close succession Composer Nicola LeFanu has been at the heart of British contemporary music for several decades, and at the forefront of promoting the works of her fellow women composers. In 2017 LeFanu turns seventy, and in conversation with Donald Macleod she looks back at her distinguished career including commissions from many leading artists. LeFanu also chats about some of the composers who have influenced her including her mother Elizabeth Maconchy, and also her husband David Lumsdaine. Nicola LeFanu has worked with many celebrated artists during her career. One was the saxophonist John-Edward Kelly, for whom she composed a single-movement concerto. Kelly also recorded LeFanu's work 'Ervallagh', which was composed in 1993 and is a musical portrait looking out to sea and the Aran Islands from the west coast of Ireland. The 1990s was a hugely busy period for Nicola LeFanu, composing three operas in quick succession including, for one project, working with two hundred children. It was from her opera 'Blood Wedding' that came the inspiration for composing her work for countertenor and ensemble, 'Canci　n de la luna', setting words by Lorca. Then in 1994 came a major change for LeFanu, when she moved away from London to become Professor of Music at the University of York. Teaching has always been important for LeFanu, and her pupils have included Paul Mealor, Grainne Mulvey, Luis Tinoco and Sadie Harrison. A Travelling Spirit (Riddle 7: Swan) Lesley-Jane Rogers, soprano John Turner, recorder John-Edward Kelly, saxophone Nicholas Clapton, countertenor The Goldberg Ensemble Malcolm Layfield, conductor Sadie Harrison: ...ballare una passacaglia di ombre... Peter Sheppard Sk怀rved, violin Nicola LeFanu: Catena, for eleven solo strings Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about writing three operas in close succession.
2017	05 LAST	Future Collaborations	20170428	British composer Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about her recent and future compositional projects Composer Nicola LeFanu has been at the heart of British contemporary music for several decades, and at the forefront of promoting the works of her fellow women composers. In 2017 LeFanu turns seventy, and in conversation with Donald Macleod she looks back at her distinguished career including commissions from many leading artists. LeFanu also chats about some of the composers who have influenced her including her mother Elizabeth Maconchy, and also her husband David Lumsdaine. In 1996 Nicola LaFanu composed her String Quartet No 2. It was commissioned for the following year's London International String Quartet Competition and was dedicated to the memory of her mother, the composer Elizabeth Maconchy, and of her father, the scholar and writer William LeFanu. In this programme, Nicola LeFanu discusses with Donald her recent and future composition projects. She looks back at her career, chats about how she writes music, and also the sort of music she enjoys performing at home, often with her son Peter, to whom she dedicated her work 'Amores'. The nightingale has flown out of the pretty cage (from 'Mira Clas Tenebras') Sally Bradshaw, mezzo-soprano Bridget Carey, viola Jinny Shaw, oboe d'amore Lucy Wakeford, harp Goldberg Ensemble The Bourne Elizabeth Atherton, soprano Gillian Whitehead: The Berries (from 'Awa Herea') Tracey Chadwell, soprano Pamela Lidiard, piano Nicola LeFanu: Amores Richard Watkins, horn Malcolm Layfield, conductor. Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about her recent and future compositional projects.