Student Work: Helmuts Feldmanis
Early in 2015 I wrote the WeAreOCA blog ‘Go on, get it played!‘ about the advantages of students gaining knowledge through collaborations; making real life projects happen and getting their music played. These experiences are often crucial in developing orchestration skills and a personal compositional voice.
It has been very pleasing since then to hear from students who have become involved in such musical projects across a wide variety of genres. Recently, OCA music student Helmuts Feldmanis got in touch about one of his recent collaborations which resulted in Crossing the Valley, a 10 minute piece for brass choir, which was performed by the talented Harlequin Brass Ensemble under the direction of Kieron Anderson.
Helmuts is a composer that enjoys the challenge of writing for different and varied ensembles and, whilst attending a concert in late 2015, he approached the Musical Director about the possibility of composing a piece for the ensemble. After finishing the piece as a Christmas gift, it was then rehearsed earlier this year, giving Helmuts invaluable access to the performers to discuss compositional matters.
The piece was also recorded and you can listen to it on the player below. OCA music would like to congratulate Helmuts on a striking and confident piece of brass writing. Many thanks also go to Keiron and Harlequin Brass for their work and recording.
More of Helmuts’ work can be found online on SoundCloud.
6 thoughts on “Student Work: Helmuts Feldmanis”
Leave a Reply
> Next Post Stroud Textiles Festival
< Previous Post From synopsis to story
Electronic Music 1 – Halim El-Dabh
1 Comments
In 2023, I ran a Listening Group session with OCA students, focused on electronic...
Read more
Drawing Department 2023 Assessment Showcase
8 Comments
As Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Drawing Degree I am really pleased to...
Read more
Introducing our Interior Design External Examiner, Marianna Velissaropoulou
3 Comments
With assessment events held regularly three times a year, many of you will be...
Read more
Student Stories: Julia McLean
2 Comments
OCA Photography Program Leader Dan Robinson caught up with Julia McLean about her experience...
Read more
It is great to see students starting to get out there with their works and ideas and getting them played. We can suggest, prod, push and write many words of feedback but there is no better place to learn the art of composition than getting the work actually played by living, live musicians who will be honest about the work and will always give feedback that is on a practical level. You learn so much more this way. Well done Helmuts, very well done.
Thank you Andy for inspiring comment. And I wanted to take an opportunity to say thanks again to Harlequin Brass and their MD Keiron Anderson for this opportunity.
Congratulations to Helmut for this vibrant and uplifting music.
Thank you Catherine. I am glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent stuff, :). Well done
Thank you Nigel. Feeling encouraged for new pieces.