Dr. Richard Causton

Biography

Richard Causton is a distinguished composer based at the Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge. He studied at the University of York, the Royal College of Music, and the Scuola Civica in Milan, with notable teachers such as Franco Donatoni. Causton's career gained prominence with the premiere of 'Persistence Memory' in 1995 for the London Sinfonietta. His work is known for its delicate sound world that blends a range of sonorities, including prepared piano, harp, vibraphone, and microtonally tuned bells. He is recognized for his orchestral piece 'Waves Sea,' commissioned by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 2004, which innovatively incorporates spatialization effects. Additionally, Causton’s compositions often carry a political dimension, particularly illustrated in pieces employing instruments linked to street demonstrations. His music is published by Oxford University Press, and he frequently lectures on Italian contemporary music and contributes to RAI Radio 3. Currently, he is engaged in a major orchestral work for the BBC Symphony Orchestra and has recently composed 'De Profundis' for solo cello and a choral piece for King's College commissioned for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

Research Interests