I love writing music. It started with the violin (my parents both play and there were violins everywhere in my house growing up) and then at University I realised I love making my own music more than anything so I skipped to Paris and fell in love with spectral music then back to London for composition at the Royal College of Music and everything that bought, including a wonderful collective of composers in our 20s, the Camberwell Composers Collective. I’ve been fortunate to have some big opportunities over the years - writing for the likes of the BBC Singers, Manchester Collective, London Sinfonietta, LSO, LCO, BBC NOW, the Brodsky Quartet, Opera North, Mahogany Opera, Hungarian Radio Choir, Aldeburgh Music, Streetwise Opera and incredible voices like Allan Clayton, Olivea Chaney and Heloise Werner. I wrote 5 operas in my 20s and many song cycles in collaboration with writers and singers including ‘Life Cycle’ about motherhood. I’ve won some prestigious composition prizes including the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Artists, the Genesis Opera Prize and the Royal Philharmonic Society Composition Award. I currently run several choirs in Gloucestershire and work as a Music Therapist alongside my composing.
I am represented by Manners Faber.
“a composer steeped in song, her music immediately appealing”
Song
After I wrote my first opera in 2004, I became very drawn to writing songs. I love the medium so much and wrote a trilogy of song cycles with writer Toby Litt about love, motherhood and a secular requiem. I have also been commissioned to write many stand alone songs over the years. For me, collaborating with a lyricist and a singer is a perfect triangle. Have a listen to some snippets in the player below - there’s plenty of songs on there if you keep scrolling. All these tracks are available to listen to in their entirety on the usual platforms.
“The freedom with which Emily Hall writes songs, there is a disarming directness in her music”
Instrumental music
I don’t just write music with voices in it! I have written plenty of instrumental music and love to do so. I play violin so naturally have written a lot for violin and have been lucky to be commissioned a few times by violinist Rakhi Singh.
I’ve written a fair bit for solo piano, solo cello, solo harp, solo flute, guitar, viola, string quartet…..Also larger ensembles like Manchester collective, the London Sinfonietta, London Symphony Orchestra, London Contemporary Orchestra…
I love collaborating with musicians and always write with the specific performer and person in mind. Have a look at my catalogue for the range of instruments I have written for.
Opera
In my 20s I wrote five operas! I find it hard to believe now. None of them are very traditional. One is a film opera, one a concept album/opera, one a mini opera for children to learn and perform in a day and not forgetting the promenade opera which took place in a luxury five star hotel. Opera was what got me into collaborating and song writing. I’ve got a gallery of photos from the various operas below.
“a dynamic new opera worth everyone’s time and hopes”
Folie a Deux (2015) Opera commissioned by Mahogany Opera.
Folie a Deux (2015) Opera commissioned by Mahogany Opera.
Folie a Deux (2015) Opera commissioned by Mahogany Opera.
Found and Lost (2016) a promenade opera
Found and Lost (2016) a promenade opera
Found and Lost (2016) a promenade opera
The Nightingale and the Rose (2010) Film Opera commissioned by Streetwise Opera.
Sante (2006) commissioned by Aldebrugh Music
Brass music
My first foray into brass writing was not good! In my early 20s I was paired with a brass band and it was just after I had returned from living in Paris where I had been very influenced by French spectral music. I can still here the remark on the bass trombonist as he walked out in my first rehearsal with a pained look on his face saying, “I’ve only got one note and I can’t play that!”
So it’s ironic that I now write quite a lot for brass. I’ve been lucky to be commissioned by some of the best contemporary brass groups in the UK including Onyx and Slide Action
SATB choral music
I love writing for choir. I’ve written for BBC Singers, Hungarian National Choir, Glasgow madrigals and for my own choirs, Stroud Fringe Choir and The Caw. See my shop for my SATB repertoire.
Simple 3 part songs
As someone who runs several choirs, I know who valuable simple 3 part songs can be. So I have created this page to share songs of mine which work well in a community choir context or just for a bit of fun with two of your friends! All scores are available in my shop. Enjoy.
Simple rounds and warm ups
As someone who runs several music groups, I know how useful these are. I’m always trying to add to the pile…. I’ll keep adding them here as I make them….