Roger Smalley

Roger Smalley (born 1943 in Manchester, UK) is a British-Australian composer, pianist and conductor.

He studied at the Royal College of Music in London with Antony Hopkins (piano), Peter Racine Fricker and John White (both composition). In addition, he studied privately with Alexander Goehr and attended Stockhausen's Cologne Course for New Music.

He co-founded the ensemble Intermodulation with Tim Souster in 1969. The group specialised in works involving improvisation and live electronics.

Works by Roger Smalley include Echo II for cello and digital delays (1978), Pulses for 5x4 players, a Symphony (1979-81), a Piano Concerto (1984-85), Variations on a Theme of Chopin for piano (1988-9), a Piano Trio (1990-1), Poles Apart (1992), a Trio for clarinet, viola and piano (1992-9), an Oboe Concerto (1995-96), the piano quartet Crepuscule (1998-9) and a Piano Quintet (2003).

In addition to his work as a composer, Smalley is recognised as a distinguished pianist who specialises in performances of contemporary music. His recordings include a CD of piano music by Australian composers and another of song cycles by Schumann.

Bibliography

• Poles Apart: The Music of Roger Smalley, edited by Judy Thönell (1994, ISBN 0-86422-352-8)