About

This composition represents an expansion of my previous explorations into conceptual and open score works. The score employs a straightforward language that enables anyone, regardless of musical training or experience, to engage with and perform the work.

Originally composed for a Birmingham Contemporary Music Group Young Composers session, in which I worked as a composition mentor to the participating students, this piece emerged during the 2023 Spring term when the students were exploring composition and improvisation, as well as writing for the aulos, an ancient Greek instrument. Dr Kirsty Devaney, who was overseeing these sessions, invited me to write a piece that would incorporate improvisation. I chose to adopt a graphical approach, as many of the students initially assumed that composition entails notating every aspect of the score, leaving no room for open elements. The Labyrinth proved to be a resounding success, with multiple students requesting to keep copies of the score.

This work has been performed several times, with a notable performance by Stephen Maddock, principal at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, in October 2023 as part of a non-public concert during an annual meeting with the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Association.