Meet the ComposHer: Rhian Samuel

Rhian Samuel (b. 1944) is a Welsh composer. She has over 120 published works and her compositions were presented in several countries. She has written for all kinds of ensembles as well as for solo instruments/voices. According to her official website:

"She believes that the performer contributes creatively to the work and that the composer should always offer him/her the space to make this contribution, a particular challenge in notated music".

Learn more about her and her awesome work in the Meet the ComposHer of this week!

I wrote music from the age of about 8, but the idea of being 'a composer' didn't cross my mind for many years, probably because in my youth it was too aspirational.

My father was a musician and taught me sight-reading and ear-training from an early age, and my whole family made music together, but I had no-one to inspire me as a composer. Maybe Anton Webern when I went to university -- I found his music very refreshing and different.

As ever -- getting a constant stream of commissions and performances.

After the first heady moments of creation, long (yet pleasurable) hours of honing.

I have many pieces on YouTube and links to them can be found on my web-pages (see below); perhaps begin with Tirluniau (Landscapes) for orchestra, Mvt 4: 'Lights in the Bay':

Lights in the Bay by Rhian Samuel