THE RESONANCE ATLAS
Rob Keeley
Biography
Rob Keeley (born 1960 in South Wales) is a British composer and pianist whose music places particular emphasis on chamber forms, clarity and expressive economy. He studied at the Royal College of Music with Oliver Knussen and at Oxford University, later working with Franco Donatoni in Rome and with composers including Hans Werner Henze at Tanglewood. Before taking up a teaching post at King's College London in 1993, he worked as a pianist, répétiteur and music copyist.
Keeley's music includes numerous chamber works, string quartets, songs and orchestral pieces, and has been performed by groups including Lontano and the BBC orchestras. His compositional language draws on twentieth-century modernism while retaining an affection for classical forms, wit and directness. Following retirement from university teaching, he has continued composing and performing, with a renewed emphasis on chamber music.
Why this music interests us
Keeley's chamber music combines clarity, economy and a lively sense of musical character. His writing draws on twentieth-century modernism while retaining an ear for classical forms and direct instrumental conversation. For Resonance, his substantial chamber catalogue offers an opportunity to explore music whose craft and expressive individuality may be more rewarding than its public visibility suggests.
Selected works & listening
Chamber works for winds and piano (specific titles to verify); String Quartets; other chamber music
Further information