I sent off for one of the puzzle trays, and discovered the challenges of writing a piece where the individual units are interchangeable, but where there is no 'solution', and where the ordering and musical interpretation can be left to the performers discretion. I subsequently wrote 3 sets of 6 pieces - for a variety of ensembles. Set one is in traditional notation, set two has additional educational possibilities, whilst the pieces in the third set use graphic symbols, words and numbers as the notated units.
Set Four was written later, and unlike the previous sets, it is possible to find a 'solution' to each of the popular tunes presented in each piece. To add to the fun, the titles in Set four have been presented as anagrams.
In October 1999 Set Three appeared as the centre page music in the COMA Newsletter (Contemporary Music Making for Amateurs). The Musical Squares have since been tried out by COMA ensembles in Southampton and Nottingham.
In May 2000 the French New Music Ensemble Decadanse performed 'Gliding (My) Fingers' and 'Tarry' at a concert of musical miniatures in Lunel, France.
October 2000 - used as part of an education workshop concert in Hampshire involving young performers and the adult members of the audience.
March 2001 - A version of several Musical Squares recorded for the CD album 'Leaving the Party on Pluto'.
April 2001 - Set Five: 'Making Scenes' completed. This set of six is designed for multi-media presentations.
May 2001 - Musical Squares reviewed in 'Music Teacher' magazine.
October 2001 - Various Musical Squares used at COMA South/Corsham Festival workshop
January 2002 - More Musical Squares used at COMA South workshop in Bradford-on-Avon
October 2002 - Tarry performed in two versions in concert by P Burnell, St Cyprian's London.
If you wish to receive a small leaflet giving information about musical squares, please send a stamped address envelope to:
Musical Squares, 12 Fossil Road, Lewisham, London, SE13 7DE, United Kingdom
Paul Burnell was born in 1960 in Ystrad, Rhondda, South Wales. It was in South Wales that his interest in music began when, aged 13, he asked his school music teacher for an instrument so that he could play with his friends in the school brass band. But he went to the wrong teacher and the only two instruments left in the music cupboard were an oboe and a bassoon (definately not brass band instruments!). Nevertheless, Paul persevered with the oboe and soon was playing with local youth orchestras. A year later he moved with his family to Axminster in East Devon, still playing the oboe and taking music at A level. When he left school he hoped to play oboe professionally and spent a year at Dartington College of Arts. He went onto study music at degree level at Exeter University and then at Royal Holloway College. After further education Paul worked in various music administration jobs in London for 10 years but in 1993 decided to quit employment to concentrate on writing music. In 1994 Paul became a member of COMA (Contemporary Music Making for Amateurs). This organisation provides unique opportunities for playing, composing and improvising at the forefront of contemporary music-making. Paul has written several pieces for ensembles in this organisation - the one most performed has been the vocal/instrumental piece 'From Blake's 'Milton'' - an alternative setting of the words to 'Jerusalem'. In July 2000 Paul became a finalist in the BBC Talent 'New Composers' Competition with his piece 'Leaving the Party on Pluto'. In 2001 he was a finalist in the Craig Hultgren Cello Composition competition in the US. In January 2002, Chris Brannick (from Ensemble Bash) premiered 'Open Wide' for gyil and tape and the Durham 'Musicon' Festival. In Feb 2002 Luca Miti performed 'Just Before Dawn' in Rome. In 2003 Frances Lynch performed 'Ophelia's Last Song' in several venues in the UK. Click here for a list of other performed compositions. Paul now lives in London, and has a small home studio there.