An Interview with Karen Power

Wed 13 Aug 2008

Composer of the Month August 2008: Karen Power

Karen Power talks to Michael Quinn about her musical background and education, her compositional style, and how she enjoys the difference in approach to composing for electro-acoustic and acoustic forms.

Listen to the podcast here:

Episode 1:

  • Finding stillness with composition
  • Compositional style
  • How her work has evolved over recent years
  • Collaboration and performer relationships
  • Working with sound samples

Music excerpts used:
0:00 & 8:15 just one girl playin' around Kate Ellis [vc]) © CMC
4:10 as happy as owlies in their hammock (De Ereprijs) © Karen Power
11:00 we're not there yet (Concorde) © Karen Power
16:00 Dan (EAR Ensemble: Lioba Petrie [vc], Antonio Cafolla [ssax], Bryan Quigley [db]) © Karen Power

Episode 2:

  • The quality of work being produced by young Irish composers
  • The use of unusual titles for works
  • Audience expectations
  • Working with large ensembles versus electronic music

Music excerpts used:
2:15           an alsation ate my dog (Deirdre O'Leary [bcl])© Karen Power
5:50 Old Fashioned Chocolate Fondue Fountain © Karen Power
9:45 just one girl playin' around Kate Ellis [vc]) © CMC
13:10 fried rice, curried chip and a diet coke © Karen Power
16:00 are you sure you're hearing what's written © Karen Power
 

Karen Power was interviewed on video by Michael Quinn in the Contemporary Music Centre, Dublin, on 29 May 2008.

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

 

Download the full interview here: