The majority of my music is developed without scores, with minimal sketches or aurally and collaboratively with bands/performers – there is more work available on the videos page.
I’m currently developing the following pieces/projects:
– New material for Practically Married and USINE supported by Musikfonds – Vinyl/digital releases in 2022
– TEXTS with Stephanie Lamprea, Nick Dunston, Michaël Attias, Liz Kosack, Anna Webber – Digital/book release in Summer 2022
– Duo for Bass Flute and Bass Clarinet – Premiere by The Chimera Ensemble, 2022
– Piece for voice, trumpet, clarinet, bass and drums – Release by Tilo Weber and Five Fauns, 2022
– Large ensemble improvised piece (pianos, harp, guitars, strings, drum kits, percussion, winds, brass, synths, objects) for Ozzy Moysey Ensemble – Release in 2022
Full scores for performance are available to download for free below – I would appreciate programme credits if you choose to use them for performance. If you’d like a copy of something that’s missing, individual parts or paper/PDF versions for performance, please contact me
Things my parents said about childhood
solo double bass
Commissioned for ION Shorts at Ideas of Noise Festival 2020 – Premiere 30.01.2020 at The Woodman, Birmingham
full info and programme notes
An August Midnight
harp/mezzo-soprano soloist or harp/mezzo-soprano duo
ca. 8 minutes
developed as part of The Arc Project’s for Songs On Thomas Hardy – Premiere 2022
Full score
The Whitewashed Wall
miniature in 3 movements for solo soprano
1 minute 40 seconds
Premiere 22.10.2020 at Roulette, Brooklyn
developed as part of Stephanie Lamprea‘s Unaccompanied: Tiny Works for Quarantine Volume I
“By dividing The Whitewashed Wall into three distinct movements, James Banner gives the singer multiple opportunities to show off elements of her virtuosity. “Why does she turn…?” offers leaping contours and a climactic high note, while “Well, once…” imposes a strict, swift tempo onto the melody. “My brush goes one with a rush…”, frenetic and clearly meant to push the singer to the very upper limit of her range, comes off as a controlled detonation.” [Nicholas Stevens, ClevelandClassical, 21.5.2020]
”Despite of everything else, Quarantine has brought the best out of many creatives…Vocalist Stephanie Lamprea asked a number of composers to write her short pieces while stuck at home. The resulting album is a gem, but English composer James Banner brings a playful setting of three Thomas Hardy poems. These tunes are light, manic, virtuosic, and full of twists and turns. A delight from within this delightles time.” [John Paul Mayse, Composer, 23.4.2020]
Profile in The Boston Musical Intellingencer
Full Score
The Physics of Rebirth
solo soprano
2 minutes 30 seconds
developed as part of Stephanie Lamprea‘s Unaccompanied: Tiny Works for Quarantine – Premiere 11.6.2020 [online]
words by Rebecca Connors
VIDEO https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.lamprea/videos/10216010095995518/
Full Score
Piece for Solo Instrument
solo Bb clarinet
1 minute 30 seconds
developed for Vanguard Manchester – Premiere 2022
Scores for other instruments below – request one
Full Score – Clarinet in B flat // Performance Notes, Clarinet in B Flat
Full score – Trumpet in b flat
Full Score – Viola
Pizz Study 1 for Solo Viola
Le Poulailler
Miniature for Toy Piano
1 minute 5 seconds
Composed for George Xiaoyuan Fu – Premiered (on Piano) by Rolf Hind
Full Score
Two Movements for Three Guitars
Three guitars
7 minutes 20 seconds
developed for Dominic Matthews as part of The Arc Project for Digital Edition – Premiere online, 22.10.2020
Full score (concert pitch)
Full Score (transposed)
Trio for Viola, Bassoon and Percussion
viola, bassoon, percussion (snare, bass drum, vibraphone)
ca. 8 minutes
developed for Vanguard Manchester
unperformed
Duo for Contrabass Flute and Bass Clarinet
contrabass flute and bass clarinet [flexible/open scoring available for performances by other instruments]
ca. 7 minutes
unperformed
Full score
Verre
double bass, double bass/cello, viola, violin, objects/glasses + optional electronics)
6 minutes 7 seconds
Full score
Choir
Exposure
SATB divisi + narrator
4 minutes
Full score
Community Projects
upcoming commission with NCN/Make The Paint Dance and Chapeltown Nursery – Collaborative piece with toddlers, bass, viola and electronics – premiere 2022
Concertino For Concert Band
concert band
18 minutes
composed as part of Adopt a Composer 2018-2019 – premiere 06.10.2019 at Salts Mill, Saltaire, broadcast on BBC Radio 3 09.01.2020
Full score
Journey On A Cloud
chamber ensemble + mixed children’s choir
6 minutes
Collaborative composition commissioned by Make The Paint Dance, for a project with a primary school in Cardiff
Full score
#BirdsongMashup
mixed electronic media + double bass
4 minutes 50 seconds
Collaborative community composition commissioned by Make The Paint Dance – premiere 31.5.2020
”It’s just a brilliant idea, I love it!” Nick Ahad – BBC Radio Leeds [31.5.2020]
James Banner 