The Music Serenade

'true chamber music understanding'

He has received several commissions and performances have included those by the Orchestra of Opera North, European Union Chamber Orchestra, Amsterdam New Music Ensemble, Radio-Bucharest Chamber Orchestra, Capricorn Ensemble, the Duke String Quartet and the Geneva Conservatoire Quintet. His music is performed worldwide and broadcast by various European radio stations.

His ‘Canticello’ for cello and orchestra was performed at the ISCM World Music Days ’99 in Bucharest, whereas ‘Soliloquy’ for violin solo was one of the highlights of the 2000 ICSM Festival in Luxembourg, where it was given its world premiere.

‘Plenilunio’ for 12 solo strings - written for, and premiered by, the European Union Chamber Orchestra - has now been selected for performance at the World Music Days 2001 in Yakohoma, Japan. Simaku’s music is published by University of York Music Press and Emerson Edition. He is now based at the University of York where he holds an Arts & Humanities Research Board (AHRB) Fellowship in the Creative and Performing Arts.

List of main works composed since 1991

String Quartet (Duration : 9') (Emerson Edition)

First performance in 1993 by the Duke String Quartet in the Park Lane Group Series at Purcell Room in London. It has also been performed in Geneva and Zagreb.

Wind Quintet - Hommage à Stravinsky (9') (EE)

First performance in 1992 by York University New Music Group at Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall. 

"Epitaphs" for String Orchestra (18') (EE)

Commissioned by the Music Department of York University, first performed by the University Chamber Orchestra on 3 November 1993. Selected by the International Jury of the ISCM for the 1995-World Music Days Festival in Germany.

"Elephas-Maximus" for thirteen wind instruments (9') (EE)

Commissioned by "The Elephant Trust", first performed by York University New Music Group on 9 December 1993.

Quintet for clarinet in A and strings (12') (EE)

First performance at ISCM-Albanian Section Festival on 4 November 1996 in Tirana.

"Aux Quatre Vents" for eight instruments (18') (EE)

First performance on 22 November 1996 by the Thallien Ensemble at the Birmingham Conservatoire.

"L’Aria Distante" for oboe and chamber ensemble (12') (EE)

First performance on 8 December 1995 by the York University NMG. The American première was given on 21 July 1996 by the Fellows of the Tanglewood Music Centre conducted by Stefan Asbury at Seiji Ozawa Hall.

"The Eagles" for brass ensemble (5') (EE)

Written for the London Brass Ensemble.

"Silver" for choir and piano (6') (EE)

Commissioned by the New London Children’s Choir with funds provided by the R V Williams Trust and first performed on 21 March 1996 at St John’s Smith Square in London.

"Andante" for violin ensemble (7')

Commissioned by the Association of German Schools of Music in Dusseldorf.

"Tanglewood Trio" for clarinet, viola and piano (7') (EE)

Written during residency as The Leonard Bernstein Fellow in composition at the Tanglewood Music Centre in the USA, it was first performed on 13 August 1996 at the Seiji Ozawa Hall. The UK première given by the Capricorn Ensemble on 14 January 1998 at York University.

"Penta..." pour treize instruments à cordes (10')

"Canticello" for cello and orchestra (15')

Written to a commission by the Phyllis Gardiner Trust, first performance was given on 9 October 1997 by Nicholas Roberts and the New London Orchestra at St John’s Smith Square, London.

" Stanze Sonore" for chamber ensemble (12')

First performance to be given on 16 November 1997 by the Black Hair Ensemble at the Late Music Festival in York.