Steve Martland

Steve Martland
Name	Steve Martland
Birth date	26 November 1959
Death date	7 July 2013
Birth place	Liverpool, England
Occupation	Composer, conductor
Notable works	"Horses", "Requiem", "Berserker"
Instruments	Percussion, piano
Alma mater	Royal Northern College of Music

Steve Martland was an English composer and conductor known for high-energy contemporary classical works that bridged concert hall, dance, and popular music contexts. He composed orchestral pieces, chamber music, and scores for dance and film while founding ensembles and educational initiatives that promoted new music across the United Kingdom and internationally. Martland’s output combined rhythmic drive, accessible melodic elements, and an advocacy for composers’ rights and outreach.

Early life and education

Born in Liverpool, Martland studied percussion and composition at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he encountered teachers and performers from institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and conservatoires across Europe. During his formative years he engaged with contemporary scenes that included contacts with artists associated with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and ensembles tied to the Hamburg Hochschule für Musik. He attended masterclasses and workshops involving figures from the Royal Opera House and participated in festivals like the Aldeburgh Festival and the Cheltenham Music Festival, which exposed him to leading composers, conductors, and performers.

Career and compositions

Martland’s professional career encompassed commissions and premieres by ensembles including the London Sinfonietta, the BBC Philharmonic, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and international groups such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic—through collaborative projects and cross-genre presentations. Notable works include percussion-driven pieces, solo works, and larger scores like "Horses", "Berserker", and "Requiem", which were performed in venues ranging from the Royal Albert Hall to contemporary stages curated by the Bath International Music Festival and the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. Martland composed for dance companies including Rambert Dance Company, Royal Ballet, and Siobhan Davies Dance Company, and his music featured in film and television productions associated with broadcasters like the BBC and producers linked to the Independent Television (ITV) network. His catalogue also contains collaborations with soloists affiliated with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and chamber groups that performed at the Wigmore Hall.

Musical style and influences

Martland’s style synthesized rhythmic propulsion and repetitive motifs with an emphasis on visceral impact, drawing aesthetic parallels to artists and movements connected to the Minimalism scene represented by figures who worked with ensembles such as the Ensemble Modern and the Bang on a Can collective. His music showed affinities with composers whose names appear in programming at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and institutions like the Biennale di Venezia and the Gaudeamus Music Week. Influences ranged across a spectrum that included composers promoted at the Southbank Centre and by the Ircam community, and performers from the Percussive Arts Society circuit and European contemporary music networks. Martland also absorbed elements associated with popular music performers who appeared on bills at the Glastonbury Festival and in crossover projects with artists linked to the BBC Proms.

Collaborations and ensembles

Martland founded and directed ensembles that combined professional and community musicians, often premiering works with players connected to the London Sinfonietta, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He collaborated with choreographers and companies such as Shobana Jeyasingh, Richard Alston, and Siobhan Davies, and worked with conductors and soloists with affiliations to the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden and the Staatskapelle Berlin. His collaborative projects included recordings with labels that release contemporary repertoire alongside catalogs featuring the ECM Records and NMC Recordings rosters. Martland maintained partnerships with arts organizations including the Arts Council England, the British Council, and festival directors at events like the Edinburgh International Festival and the Manchester International Festival.

Teaching and outreach

Active in music education, Martland ran workshops and residency projects in schools, universities, and community venues tied to institutions such as the Royal Northern College of Music, the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and county music services across England. He established participatory initiatives that brought contemporary composition to young performers who later joined ensembles appearing at the Walthamstow Garden Party and community programs linked with the National Theatre. Martland championed composer development through mentorships and collaborations with organizations like the PRS for Music Foundation, the Help Musicians UK charity, and youth engagement schemes administered by local arts councils and cultural trusts.

Awards and recognition

Martland received commissions and accolades from bodies including the Arts Council England, the PRS for Music Foundation, and festival prizes awarded at events such as the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and the Cheltenham Music Festival. His works attracted coverage and programming from broadcasters and orchestras including the BBC Symphony Orchestra and international presenters at the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) festivals. Posthumous programming and recordings continue to be presented by ensembles and institutions that preserve contemporary British repertoire, and his contributions are acknowledged by organizations involved with composer rights and contemporary music promotion.

Category:British composers Category:20th-century composers Category:21st-century composers Category:People from Liverpool