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SYLVIA HALLETT Sylvia playing her sarangi photo by Francesco Martinelli

SYLVIA HALLETT: CV

violin, viola, voice, bicycle wheel, accordion, other instruments, (saw, sarangi,folk harp, klassikkemance, hurdy-gurdy,) electronics, tapes etc.



Sylvia Hallett studied music at Dartington, and then spent two years studying composition with Max Deutsch in Paris. She now works both as a composer and as an improvisor, and has had pieces performed in Britain and Europe.

She has played in many international festivals since the late 1970s, working with several well-known and respected musicians, including Lol Coxhill, Maggie Nicols, Phil Minton, Evan Parker, and the groups Accordions Go Crazy, British Summer Time Ends and The London Improvisors Orchestra. She also performs solo, and recently did a solo tour of Italy.

Projects with various theatre companies include collaborations with the dancer/choreographers Miranda Tufnell and Emilyn Claid, and the live art puppeteers DooCot. She has performed in a world tour with the Young Vic's highly accalaimed "Grimm Tales", and The Royal Shakespeare Company's productions of "Comedy of Errors" and "Tales from Ovid".

Sylvia has released two solo CDs on the MASH label, which contain songs, improvisations, and tape collage pieces derived from her compositions for theatre and dance. Her recent 3rd solo release, White Fog on the EMANEM label features the bowed bicycle wheel.

Recent commissions include incidental music for several BBC Radio Plays, most recently Antony and Cleopatra. Her work on Virginia Woolf's Kew Gardens received favorable reviews for its innovative use of voice and sound manipulation.

REVIEWS

... uses these tools with great dexterity and focus...
... There is a rustic beauty in the way she combines singing with the scraping of catgut...
... elaborate aural tapestries...
... a musique concrete whose centre hasn't yet set...
... alone with her violin, skimming with the bow and singing, buoyed up on the spray of notes like flying-fish...
... virtuosic wrangles with the fiddle...
THE WIRE

... All the pieces share a sense of adventure, a quality of playfulness, a willingness to dream a little. Unreservedly recommended.
RUBBERNECK

... Sylvia creates a focussed intensity that makes everything that isn't her fall away. She captivates by simply being open and being herself...
... simply astonishing...
LMC NEWSLETTER

... highly affecting sound patterns... with the noise of hammers, screeching metal and clamorous birdsong...
THE TIMES

... the shimmer of sound... THE TELEGRAPH

... Sylvia Hallett's haunting music... THE GUARDIAN

... A major anarchic force... FOLK ROOTS

... spirited violin abuse...
... shamanistic leanings... MIXING IT

...the most exquisite sound... THE SCOTSMAN

Compositions and commissioned scores 2004 Body Stories film for Tufnell/Rubidge dance associates. 2004 From the Air that we Breathe collaboration with Miranda Tufnell and Simon Hyde 2003 Golem by DOO-COT 2003 Inside Australia film for Channel 5 about Anthony Gormley dir. Hugh Brody 2003 Yerma's Eggs dir. Anna Furse 2003 Dad and the Afghan for BBC Radio drama dir. Jeremy Mortimer 2002 Antony and Cleopatra for BBC Radio 3 drama dir. Mary Peate 2002 The Mind of the Meeting BBC Radio 3 drama dir. Mary Peate 2002 Spirit Level for Tufnell/Rubidge Dance Associates 2002 Kings Radio 4 drama dir. Jeremy Mortimer and David Hunter 2001 Tess of the D'Urbervilles BBC Radio 4 drama dir. Mary Peate 2001 Kew Gardens by Virginia Woolf BBC Radio 4 drama dir. Kate Valentine 2001 Mami Papi Mial and Me BBC Radio 4 drama dir Jeremy Mortimer 2001 Everything will be Fine musically directed for BBC Radio 3 2001 Seven Days that shook Britain Sharpshooter Films Channel 4 documentary 2000 Static Radio 4 drama prod. Mary Peate 2000 2000 Tales Radio 4 and 3 producers Jeremy Mortimer, Mary Peate and Tracey Neale 2000 Wing Film of dance in the landscape by Miranda Tufnell and Caroline Lee 1999 Achilles narrative drama by Elizabeth Cook for RSC fringe 1999 Richard 2 Radio 3 Shakespeare for the millennium series producer Jeremy Mortimer 1998 Body of Land film with Miranda Tufnell and Caroline Lee 1998 As I crossed a Bridge of Dreams Radio 4 play by Sally Pomme Clayton 1997 Ultraviolet DooCot 1996 Did I Speak? Emilyn Claid 1995 Take a Peek Bobby Baker 1995 Le Flesh chor. Emilyn Claid 1995 Fifi chor. Nigel Charnock 1995 Odd (if you dare) DooCot 1994 Invisible Forces of Silver Miranda Tufnell 1994 A Little Skinny Man Attacked Daddy film by Vivienne Dick 1994 Peacock DooCot 1993 Shoot No. 526 Phoenix Dance Co.- chor.Emilyn Claid 1993 Sweet Side Show Emilyn Claid 1993 House DooCot 1993 Still Life DooCot 1993 Low in the Dark dir. Anna Birch 1993 Virginia Minx at Play Emilyn Claid 1992 Cages DooCot 1992 In the Grain of the Body Miranda Tufnell 1992 The Harrowing of Hell DooCot Puppet Theatre for the Chester Mystery Plays 1992 Castle of Slow Death Emilyn Claid 1992 Passages Miranda Tufnell 1991 Maps and Assignments commissioned by Projects U.K. for percussionist Paul Burwell 1991 Rules of Engagement Jacky Lansley 1991 Other Shadows DooCot Puppet Theatre 1990 Mortal Women's Theatre Group dir. Clair Grove 1990 Soft Shell Miranda Tufnell 1990 Habitat for Fabulous Beasts RaRaZoo circus 1989 Moonrise video installation by Kate Meynell 1989 Landlight chor. Miranda Tufnell 1989 Iron Mistress Resisters Theatre Co. 1989 Iron Mistress Blood and Honey Productions 1989 Fishing up the Moon Half Moon Y.P.T. 1989 How Rooh Became a Stranger no Longer Nenagh Watson puppet co. 1988 Women-in Law Resisters Theatre Co. 1988 Pheasant China Extemporary Dance Co.- chor. Emilyn Claid 1988 Lonely Atoms piano and tape piece commissioned by Ursula Kneihs 1988 Medusa video by Kate Meynell 1987 At the Last Count for 5 percussionists (Air Gallery commission) 1987 Kurt Schwitters Tribute Action Space Mobile 1987 Grace and Glitter Extemporary Dance Co.- chor. Emilyn Claid and Maggie Semple 1986 Idiosynchronicity Gwylan Dance Co.- chor. Sue Maclennan 1986 Firestorm Action Space Mobile 1985 Point of Convergence Monstrous Regiment 1983 Cold Wars Bloodgroup dir. Anna Furse 1983 Child's Eyes Extemporary Dance Company choreographed by Emilyn Claid 1982 Dirt Bloodgroup dir. Anna Furse 1982 The Impersonators director Jacky Lansley 1981 Mirror Mirror on the Wall for London School of Contemporary Dance- director Jacky Lansley 1979 Within the Core for fl.,cl.,vl.,vlc.,pno.,sop. 1978 In Memoriam Shahida for fl.,ob.,cl.,bsn.,hn.,sop. 1977 String Breath for solo cello 1976 This Sometime Silence for orchestra 1976 Dawn the White Wake for fl.,cl.,perc.,pno.,vlc. 1975 Ritual Unease Journeys for baritone voice and instrumental ensemble Look at my NEW Web Site where you can contact me www.sylviahallett.co.uk www.sylviahallett.5u.com