18 Facts About Gavin Bryars

Richard Gavin Bryars is an English composer and double bassist.

Gavin Bryars has worked in jazz, free improvisation, minimalism, historicism, avant-garde, and experimental music.

Gavin Bryars studied philosophy at Sheffield University but became a jazz bassist during his three years as a philosophy student.

Gavin Bryars became dissatisfied with this when he saw a young bassist play in a manner that seemed to him to be artificial, and he abandoned improvisation, becoming interested in composition instead.

In 2012, the centenary of the Titanic's sinking, Gavin Bryars made a new extended version, with film projections by Bill Morrison and Laurie Olinder, that included his four children as a low-string ensemble and turntablist Philip Jeck, subsequently released on GB records.

In one of the label's first three releases, Eno's album Discreet Music, Gavin Bryars conducted and co-arranged Three Variations on the Canon in D Major by Johann Pachelbel, which constitutes the second half of the album.

Gavin Bryars has written many other works, including five operas, and many instrumental pieces, among them four string quartets and several concertos.

Gavin Bryars has written several pieces for dance, including Biped for Merce Cunningham, as well as works for William Forsythe, Carolyn Carlson, Edouard Lock and David Dawson.

Gavin Bryars has written a large body of vocal and choral music for groups such as the Hilliard Ensemble, the Latvian Radio Choir, the Estonian National Men's Choir, Red Byrd, Trio Mediaeval, Singer Pur, Nordic Voices and The Crossing, whose recording of "The Fifth Century" won a Grammy in 2019.

Gavin Bryars has written a great deal for early music performers including six books of madrigals, several works for viol consort and a collection of 54 "laude" based on a 12th century manuscript.

Gavin Bryars founded the music department at Leicester Polytechnic, and was Professor of Music there for several years.

Gavin Bryars left in 1994 to concentrate on composition and performance.

Since 1974 Gavin Bryars has been a member of the College de 'Pataphysique and was elected Regent in 2001.

In 2020, Gavin Bryars composed Altissima Luce for Sound World's Coronavirus Fund for Freelance Musicians, a project supporting struggling musicians during the UK's Covid 19 lockdown.

In 2023, Gavin Bryars collaborated with Goole band Sandra's Wedding on their new EP, "Another Rugby League Town".

Also in 2023, Gavin Bryars provided a special guest vocal for experimental composer Bill Vine's work, "Norwich Under the Water".

In November 2024, Gavin Bryars received the Ivor Novello Award for Innovation, presented in association with the Musicians' Union, at The Ivors Classical Awards.

Gavin Bryars is married to Anna Tchernakova, a Russian filmmaker, and has a stepdaughter and son.