An Interview with Derek Ball

Tue 12 Feb 2008

CMC Composer of the Month February 2008

Derek Ball talks to Michael Quinn about his life as a composer since retiring from a career in psychiatric medicine, his new-found love of opera, musical, literary and linguistic influences, and future works.

Listen to the full podcast here: 

Episode 1:

  • Leaving medicine to compose full-time
  • The large amount of work he has produced in recent years
  • What triggers an idea for a piece
  • Working with Gabriel Rosenstock on XOLOTL

Music excerpts used:
0:00 & 5:35 Shrub Replanted (Saltire Quartet) © Derek Ball
7:45 Passant de Maupassant de mauvais passant (RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gerhard Markson) © RTÉ
12:35 XOLOTL (Gabriel Rosenstock [voice]) © Derek Ball

Episode 2:

  • Compositional methods and process
  • New-found enthusiasm for writing opera
  • Psychiatric themes throughout his work
  • Working with librettists
  • Using the Irish language in composition

Music excerpts used:
0:00        Shrub Replanted (Saltire Quartet) © Derek Ball
2:45 Bad Heaviness © Derek Ball
6:57 Cuisle na Bóchna (Saltire Quartet) © Derek Ball
14:45 Eavesdrop © Derek Ball
 

Derek Ball was interviewed on video by Michael Quinn in the Contemporary Music Centre, Dublin, on 15 November 2007.

The views expressed in this interview are those of the persons concerned and are not necessarily those of the Contemporary Music Centre.