Mel (Ian D Mellish)
Photos credits: 1. Outdoor, James Poke 2. Paperwork, Lukas Binder ,3 Thinking, Lukas Binder 4.
|
Despite early violin studies Mel (Ian D Mellish) initially trained as an artist, only seriously rekindling his interest in music later, graduating with first class honours in electronic music from, the then, NELP and a doctorate in composition from York University. His music and graphic scores have been performed and exhibited throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and the USA.
Mel has been composing, principally electro-acoustic/electronic works, since the 1980s. Visual art plays a large part in his compositions, many of which are inspired by the art world such as Tinguely, Rauschenberg, Pollock, Riley and wHoIE (Warhol), and the multi-tape environmental pieces Rothko (lasting 10 weeks, 4 days plus) and Olitsky (for Jules Olitski, which lasts 1,648,171 years, 7 weeks, 6 days plus) - his idea of a ’short’ work is about thirty minutes although there is a collection of 67 four-minute pieces called Details. His few works for live instruments include Beach, for tape, amplified solo oboe, piano, percussion and ‘junk’ percussion with live electronics, Son of Cairn for amplified ensemble (Icebreaker) and tape, Rising “- -”, a piece for two or four harps, live electronics and live televisions, Vile Intentions for saxophone quartet and Illumination, a work for solo viola, tape and electronics. There were 25 CD releases on the independent record label Red Wharf - but sorry to say the label no longer exists, sadly the owner and composer Graham Bowers died in 2015. His published music and a few of his unpublished pieces have been uploaded to Soundcloud. Since 1997 he has lived in a village in Austria. He has been a member of Icebreaker, as production assistant, since its inception, and his works can be heard as introductory music to most of Icebreaker’s concerts. www.melmusic.co.uk Click this link listen to or download Mel's electro-acoustic and electronic works. |