(b. 1968)
Kenneth Hesketh began composing whilst a chorister at Liverpool Cathedral, later studying at the Royal College of Music. He attended Tanglewood in 1995 where he studied with Henri Dutilleux and was subsequently awarded a scholarship from the Toepfer Foundation at the behest of Sir Simon Rattle. He has received many commissions from major performing organisations in Europe, Canada and the US. Susanna Malkki chose his work for her opening concert as Music Director of Ensemble intercontemporain and his music has been featured in concerts by Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, the SWR Orchester Baden-Baden, Psappha, the ASKO ensemble and BBC NOW. A new commission from The Royal Philharmonic Society Drummond Fund has resulted in new work for dance; Kenneth Hesketh will write a new piece for ensemble Psappha and Phoenix Dance Theatre, that will be toured nationally in 2013. Future performances include Diatoms I-IV (the four horsemen) for the Francoise-Green piano duo, a series of twelve short pieces for piano titled Horae (pro Clara) for the British pianist Clare Hammond and a work for the Seattle Symphony Orchestra titled Knotted Tongues. In 2011 Notte Oscura for piano solo (Peter O'Hagan) was released on the UHR label, Point Forms (after Kandinsky) for Basset clarinet was released on the NMC label (Mark Simpson and Ian Buckle), and Three Japanese Miniatures was released on the Prima Facie label (Clare Hammond).
Kenneth Hesketh Composition Timpani and Percussion Requirements
At God Speeded Summer's end
No Timpani + 3 percussion + celeste
Glockenspiel, xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, 2 octave crotales, suspended cymbal, clash cymbals, tam tam, snare drum, tenor drum, orchestral bass drum + celeste
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Danceries
Timpani + 3 percussion + 1 celeste
Glockenspiel, triangle, sleighbells, snare drum, suspended cymbal, tambourine, clash cymbals, tam tam, orchestral bass drum, celeste
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Dei Destini Incrociati
No Timpani + 1 percussion
Glockenspiel, vibraphone, marimba, 2 octaves crotales, tubular bells, 8 hand bells, triangle, suspended cymbal, Chinese cymbal, splash cymbal, tam tam, bell tree, tom tom, orchestral bass drum, 2 vibraslaps, 2 wood blocks
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Ein Lichtspiel
No Timpani + 3 percussion + celeste
Xylophone, vibraphone, 2 octaves crotales, tubular bells, triangle, 6 suspended cymbals, splash cymbal, Chinese cymbal, antique cymbals, 4 tam tams, Thai gong, cow bell, bell tree, mark tree, snare drum, tenor drum, orchestral bass drum, vibraslap, 2 metal tubing, waterphone, wood block + celeste
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Fra Duri Scogli
No Timpani + 1 percussion
Glockenspiel, vibraphone, triangle, suspended cymbal, tam tam, bell tree, roto tom, 4 handbells
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Graven Image
Timpani + 4 percussion + celeste
Glockenspiel, vibraphone, 2 octaves crotales, tubular bells, triangle, suspended cymbal, tam tam, orchestral bass drum + celeste
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Now Springes the Spray!
No Timpani + 4 percussion + celeste
Glockenspiel, xylophone, 2 octaves crotales, vibraphone, tubular bells, triangle, suspended cymbal, tam tam, bell tree, whip + celeste
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Of a Rose Sing We
Timpani + 3 percussion + celeste
Suspended cymbal, vibraphone, triangle, glockenspiel, finger cymbals, tam-tam, tubular bells + celeste
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Pattersongs
Timpani + 4 percussion + celeste
Glockenspiel, vibraphone, 2 triangles, hi hat, 3 suspended cymbals, ride cymbal, 2 splash cymbals, 2 tambourines, snare drum, 2 tom toms, orchestral bass drum, 2 wood blocks, flexatone + celeste
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Polygon Window
No Timpani + 5 percussion
1) 2 sizzle cymbals, hi hat, suspended cymbal, small snare drum, medium snare drum, police whistle - 2) claves, orchestral bass drum, triangle, vibraslap - 3) low conga, bongos, thunder sheet, suspended cymbal - 4) bongos, kit bass drum, guiro, mark tree - 5) hi hat, tam tam, vibraslap - vibraphone, 5 octave marimba (3 tam tams)
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Recit and Aria
No Timpani + 2 percussion
Glockenspiel, vibraphone, tubular bells, triangle, suspended cymbal, tam-tam, tenor drum, bass drum, claves
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The Circling Canopy of Night
No Timpani + 3 percussion + 1 celeste
Vibrahone, 2 suspended cymbals, 2 congas, bongos, djembe, orchestral bass drum, 2 wood blocks, 2 triangles, tam tam, marimba, clash cymbals, maracas, 2 timpani, glockenspiel, 2 octaves crotales, tubular bells, celeste
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The Cloud Of Unknowing
Timpani + 4 percussion + celeste
Glockenspiel, xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, 2 octaves crotales, tubular bells, triangle, suspended cymbal, tam tam, orchestral bass drum + celeste
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Theatre of Attractions
No Timpani + 1 percussion
Triangle, suspended cymbal, ride cymbal, ride bell, mark tree, metal tube, orchestral bass drum, pedal bass drum, 2 wood blocks, mouth siren (piano - mounted wood block, violin - maracas, horn - fishing reel)
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Theatrum
No Timpani + 3 percussion + celeste
Glockenspiel, 2 octaves crotales, vibraphone, marimba, tubular bells, triangle, clash cymbals, suspended cymbal, sizzle cymbal, finger cymbals, bell tree, 3 gongs, tam tam, 3 log drums, orchestral bass drum + celeste
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Torturous Instruments
No Timpani + 3 percussion + celeste
Vibraphone, xylorimba, tubular bells, 2 triangles, suspended cymbal, sizzle cymbal, clash cymbals, Chinese cymbal, tam tam, Thai gong, 4 wood drums, orchestral bass drum, vibraslap, 3 woodblocks, police whistle + celeste (synthesizer, 2 temple bells, desk bell), (violin, claves)
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Two Lapels and a Pocket
No Timpani + 2 percussion + celeste
Glockenspiel, vibraphone, 2 octaves crotales, triangle, suspended cymbal, ride cymbal, tam tam, mark tree, tambourine, snare drum, 3 tom toms, orchestral bass drum, 4 timpani, wood block + celeste
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