Martin Ellerby

Martin Ellerby is an English composer educated at the Royal College of Music, London, where he was taught by Joseph Horovitz. He has written works for orchestra, chorus, concert band, brass band, ballet and various instrumental ensembles, and they have been performed widely across the world. His prominent works for concert band are Paris Sketches and Dono Nobis Pacem.

Tell us something about your early musical influences.

I took an interest in music at school mainly as a listener. I did take classes in trumpet and eventually piano but I was never particularly driven by performance and gave up both instruments at the earliest opportunity.

I was subjected to music initially so listened to the main stream of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Perhaps the Beatles were up there too as it was my early childhood!

When I could choose a bit more I tended towards Stravinsky and Britten whilst at the same time having a healthy interest in popular music, films and the musical theatre for example John Barry and Godspell were early into the frame. At college I only listened to contemporary music and lived for some four years with Penderecki, Lutoslawski, Berio and the like.

Then I woke up one day and discovered Malcolm Arnold! I have always held a healthy score and recordings collection and much of my learning in those days was self-taught. I now listen to much more Renaissance and Baroque music and my discoveries of Berlioz and Sibelius have been essential to my own development. The popular music interest has never waned.

Malcolm Arnold

Most of your music was written for Brass and Wind Band. Was there anything in particular that kept your interest ongoing?

The simple truth about brass and wind bands is that they exist in abundance and are usually very open to playing new untried music. I started out writing a substantial amount of orchestral music and was fortunate enough to have the vast majority performed – albeit often just the once!

There is the opportunity for multiple performances of brass and wind band music so I have used this availability to develop those ‘other’ orchestras. Also through publication and recordings there is the possibility to disseminate one’s work to a wider, worldwide audience.

What is your perception about music?

Music can be anything you want it to be. Like a fine wine it will go with many occasions. It can be sad, happy, sunshine or rain. It is invincible because it is intangible. It is also a trap – I can do nothing else. As a career it has no end – I can’t imagine having a retirement date!

Joshua

Joshua is a social 'freak' who enjoys music, photography and good food. He is currently based in Melbourne doing his Bachelors Program in Information Technology Systems.

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