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Classical Music

Shall It Be Said… - For Mezzo-Soprano, Flute and Harp (2025)

Composed as part of the Presteigne Music Festival 2025, Shall It be Said uses several texts from poems by Dylan Thomas. Often he evokes and explores themes of nature, nostalgia, divinity and how humans experience and find meaning in the world. This song-cycle, embarks us on this journey, almost creating a dreamlike state throughout and weaving these various themes. Both harmony and gesture are integral to how these themes and the text are interpreted and how they come to occupy this ever- growing dreamlike state.

Performed by the Erda Ensemble

Text by Dylan Thomas

(Mezzo-Soprano, Flute and Harp)

AUDIO COMING SOON

End, Beginning… - For Mixed Ensemble Orchestra (2025)

Performed by the Plus/Minus Ensemble, 'End, Beginning...' is an acoustic realisation of composed electronic extracts, whereby cells of ideas are transcribed and take on their own development throughout the piece. In this piece we will not encounter the original electronics, only the acoustic reproduction of them, exploring the boundaries of both synthetic and organic soundworlds.

Performed by the Plus/Minus Ensemble

(Vln, Vc, Cl, Acc, Perc)

O Dan Orchudd Golau - For Vocal Ensemble (2025)

Performed by the EXAUDI Vocal Ensemble, Dan Orchudd Golau (Beneath the Veils of Light) draws influence from one of Gustav Klimts' works Philosophy. In the painting, there is this great sense of being suspended in the in-between, drifting in the decay of these dreamlike, spiritual states. These are themes and characteristics which feature in this piece, particularly this progressive sense of decay in not only the notation but of the pitch, intonation, rhythm, text and speech alike.

Performed by EXAUDI Vocal Ensemble

Text by Adi Denner

(Sop, M-Sop, Ct, Tnr, Btn, Bass)

Breathless Grace - For Solo Tenor and Piano (2025)

Written as part of the Guildhall Artists Masters programme. Breathless Grace focuses on the emotions one experiences from grief - its complexities and the need to blissfully hold on to something so dear. Throughout, the harmony continuously informs our interpretation of the text. Often pulling us in and out of these dream-like states, tainting the beauty of these emotional moments sung in the text.

Performed by the William Prasteyo (Tenor) and Maxime Trechsel (Piano)

Text by Adi Denner

(Tnr and Pno)

Sonnenstand - For Solo Violoncello and Piano (2025)

Written as part of the Guildhall Artists Masters Programme. Sonnenstand (‘Positions of the Sun’) draws inspiration from a series of images by Ursula Schulz- Dornburg which evokes the position of the sun and the essence of light and darkness captured by a beam of light through the windows of a medieval hermitage.

Similar to Schulz-Dornburg, this piece explores the spiritual imagery and energy of light and darkness. This is particularly embodied within the harmonic language of the piece, where the tonalities explore these varying moods and blended qualities. Throughout a reoccurring singular note is exchanged between the cello and piano until one final iteration at the end, drawing our attention to the focal point of Ursula Schulz-Dornburg’s images, the beam of light.

Performed by Seth Collin (Violoncello) and Cristoforo Beretti (Piano)

(Vc and Pno)

Printemps - For Piano Duo (2024)

Written as part of the Guildhall Artists Masters Programme, Printemps is a short work exploring the various colours and characteristics associated with the Autumn season. This is particular is highlighted by the harmony and conversations which take place between each part, almost creating a jazz ballad-like feel throughout.

Performed by the Maxime Trechsel (Piano) and Berniya Hamie (Piano)

(Pno Duo)

Blodeuo - For Chamber Orchestra (2024)

Composed as part of the Presteigne Music Festival 2024, Blodeuo draws inspiration from the landscapes of the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust. During these site visits, volunteers offered insights into the various projects and their approaches to regenerating the landscape to its natural state. Ultimately, discussing how they hope these landscapes with evolve over the coming years, how it will transform and flourish. The landscape itself was beautiful and vibrant, places that felt simply untouched. Blodeuo, especially draws on this influence of transformation and the blossoming of this beautiful landscape, exploring rich textures and harmonies that grow evermore as we journey through the piece, highlighted by organic melodic solos and gestural accompaniment..

Performed by the Presteigene Festival Orchestra

(1.1.1.1/2.0.0.0/ Strings)

Meditation - For Orchestra (2024)

Written as part of the BBC’s Music and Meditation Podcast. This piece was recorded as a guided mediation by Katie Piper and Izzy Judd, drawing on the themes of ‘Making Peace with Imperfections’.

This podcast premiered on BBC Sounds and Spotify (Series 3, Ep.1).

Performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra

(2.2.2.1/2.0.0.0/2 Perc/ Pno/ Hrp/ Strings (no D.B)

BBC Music and Meditation Podcast

Polarity - For Quartet (2024)

Written for the William Mathias Quartet as part of the Bangor Music Festival 2024. Polarity draws inspiration from the works of Tacita Dean, particularly her landscape chalk works ‘Fatigues’. This piece explores the juxtapositions of these works that draw on themes of darkness and light. Throughout the piece there are two distinct themes/characteristics of the piece, which touches upon the monochromic effects of these chalk works. The lightness, explores the subtle, bright and melodic textures of the theme, whilst the darkness totally contrasts through percussive and dark tonalities.

Performed by the Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias Ensemble

(Fl, Vla, Perc, Hrp)

It’s Only a Dream - For Octet (2024)

Composed for the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Junior Artists Showcase. 'It’s Only a Dream' is based on Lewis Caroll's Alice' s Adventures in Wonderland and draws influences from this fantasy and nonsense-like themes presented in the novel. We journey through short bursts of events, starting with an ambient and mysterious opening, sparking curiosity for what's to come. We eventually tumble and arrive in Wonderland and the gestures that were once presented before are later juxtaposed, enhancing the themes of fantasy and nonsense.

Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra Junior Artists 2023/24

(Ob, Cl, Bsn / Perc / Harp / Vl.I, Vl.II, Vlc)

Picture This… - For Chamber Orchestra (2023)

Composed as part of the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Young Composer Programme (2022/23), 'Picture This...' draws inspiration from abstract animations by Norman McLaren and Stan Brakhage; Pas de Deux (1968); Begone Dull Care (1949); The Dante Quartet (1987). This piece also draws on the associated techniques which both McLaren and Brakhage used to devise these works. These approaches include drawing and scratching directly on to the film and creating a stroboscopic effect within their visuals.

Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra

(2.2.2.2/2.2.2.1/ 2 Perc/ Hrp/ Pno/ Strings)

WATCH VIDEO BELOW TO LISTEN

NightMusic - For Organ (2021)

Composed as part of the NightMusic scheme by Ty Cerdd, NightMusic is a piece for solo organ which was performed at St. David’s Hall by James McVinnie and draws on the techniques used in electronic music known as Spectromorphology.

Performed by James McVinnie

Purchase NightMusic from Ty Cerdd

AUDIO COMING SOON

The Letters of Vincent van Gogh - For Symphony Orchestra (2021)

The Letters of Vincent van Gogh is an orchestral work which takes inspiration from the paintings and life events of Vincent van Gogh. Additional influences include his painting style; impressionism and the composers associated to this medium such as Ravel and Debussy.

(3.2.3.2 / 4.2.3.1 / Timp / 6 Perc / Hrp / Pno and Cel / Strings)

A Clockwork Portrait - For Symphony Orchestra (2020)

Selected as part of BBC NOW's Composition Wales Scheme, A Clockwork Portrait takes inspirations from the inner workings of ones thought processes. Building upon various gestures which accumulate into a large and dense climactic finish.

Performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

(3.2.3.2 / 4.2.3.1 / Timp / 3 Perc / Hrp / Pno / Strings)

Y Gnocell - For Solo Marimba (2020)

Composed as part of the Encore Scheme for the National Eisteddfod. Y Gnocell, is a short and playful work for solo marimba which draws on the natural sounds of the woodpecker.

Performed by Mary Johnson

WATCH VIDEO BELOW TO LISTEN

Listen More…

All of the following audio files are extracts. If you wish to listen to the full versions of these works on SoundCloud, please press the button below:

SoundCloud

Electronic Music

Pas de Deux - Electroacoustic (2024)

Pas de Deux draws inspiration from David Hurn’s work ‘Small Dance Club’, a moment captured in stillness, this image encapsulates the romantic and intimate gestures of a dance. David Hurn predominantly utilised cameras which printed in monochromic colours (black and white), creating a timeless feel to the image. This work attempts to reignite this moment through sound, exploring the tonalities of jazz ballads and evoking the rich, luscious textures which we see in this work. These rich tonalities almost offer a juxtaposition to the absence of colour to which we see in this image.

Performer: Michael Blanchfield

AUDIO COMING SOON

Dark Matter - Soundscape (2023)

Composed as part of an R&D event with TinShed Theatre Company. Dark Matter explores the diverse landscapes of Mid Wales and how the the natural world evolves across day and night. From birdsong to small micro-organisms beneath our feet, all is to be explored within this ambient piece.

Co-Composer: Joshua Lascar

Llais Y Bannau - Soundscape (2022)

Composed as part of the Green Space Dark Skies event. Llais Y Bannau (Soundscape) draws its influence from the natural landscapes of Craig-Y-Nos and the ideas developed through the community workshops conducted during the course of this project.

Vocals by Teifi Emerald

Llais Y Bannau - Rolling Ambience (2022)

Composed as part of the Green Space Dark Skies event. Llais Y Bannau (Rolling Ambience) is an ambient sequence which utilises all the sounds from the other tracks in this series and is later set to choreography when the ‘luminators’ begin their lighting display.

Vocals by Teifi Emerald

Growth and Honesty - Electroacoustic (2022)

Composed as part of Ty Cerdd’s CoDI Lead scheme. Growth and Honesty is a hybrid piece which draws solely on simple gestures of the French Horn, Flute, Violin and Robo-Recorder. This work primarily draws on my growth as a composer, exploring electronic music in a different style that’s less familiar and to simply have fun working with these sounds.

Performance by Isaac Shieh, Lila Bhattacherjee, Siobhan Clough and Liza Bec

MIXTAPE - Interactive Audio Installation (2021)

Performed at the 2021 Atmosphere's Festival, MIXTAPE is an interactive audio installation based on the world of cassette tapes, where the audience trigger the sounds and events through pressure pads which are programmed through an Arduino and MAX patch.

Other Music

Where We Meet - Live Viola, Cello and Electronics for Movement (2024)

Done in collaboration with the London Contemporary School of Dance and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Where We Meet is a piece composed for contemporary dance exploring a series of improvisations centred on our interactions with the world and those around us. As we journey through the piece, both dancers and musicians become increasingly aware of their environments and from that emerges an energetic, interactive, playful conversation where both have equal influence on the outcomes of movement and musical gesture.

Choreographed by Elina Saryazdi (made in collaboration with dancers)

Performed by Rebekah Dickinson (Viola) and Caleb Curtis (Cello), Yu-Ning Tan, Isabella Gaynor and Sophie Scarborough (Dancers).

WATCH VIDEO BELOW TO LISTEN

The Game - Short Film (2024)

Composed as part of the British Council Wales ‘Wales-France Culture Fund’. The Game explores the story of a local Welsh rugby club. During this project, members of the Newport community contributed to the development and sound-world of this short film.

Performed by the Fabulo Ensemble (Quintet) and Joshua Lascar (Guitar)

WATCH VIDEO BELOW TO LISTEN

AXIS - For Solo Harp and Electronics (2023)

Composed as part of the SOLOS concert at SHIFT Cardiff. AXIS draws influence from both the harmonic theory and the compositional structure of a palindrome. We explore almost hints of a theme and variation that interweaves between notational music and graphics scores whilst still maintaining the harmonic integrity and structure of both axis theory and a palindrome. Throughout, the harp is accompanied by a luscious vocal track.

Performed by Cerys Rees (Harp) and Tayla-Leigh Payne (Voice)

Llais Y Bannau - Live Voice and Electronics (2022)

Composed as part of the Green Space Dark Skies event. Llais Y Bannau (Live Voice and Electronics) draws its influence from the natural landscapes of Craig-Y-Nos and the ideas developed through the community workshops conducted during the course of this project. This was also written in collaboration with Teifi Emerald who draws on the theme of Mother Nature through her singing and lyrics.

Performed by Teifi Emerald (Voice)

The London Underground - Live Drum Kit and Electronics (2019)

The London Underground is a highly energetic hybrid piece for electronic and live drum kit. It takes influence from the soundscape of the underground where the live drum kit imitates these gestures throughout the performance.

Performed by Matt Wood (Drum-Kit)

Where We Meet - Live Viola, Cello and Electronics for Movement (2024)

Picture This… - For Chamber Orchestra (2023)

Composed as part of the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Young Composer Programme (2022/23), 'Picture This...' draws inspiration from abstract animations by Norman McLaren and Stan Brakhage; Pas de Deux (1968); Begone Dull Care (1949); The Dante Quartet (1987). This piece not only draws on the visual elements of these animations but the characteristics of the visuals and their associated techniques which both McLaren and Brakhage used to devise these works.

MIXTAPE - Interactive Audio Installation (2021)

Y Gnocell - For Solo Marimba (2020)

Composed as part of the Encore Scheme for the National Eisteddfod. Y Gnocell, is a short and playful work for solo marimba which draws on the natural sounds of the woodpecker.

Performed by Mary Johnson

The Game - Short Film (2024)

Performed by the Fabulo Ensemble (Quintet) and Joshua Lascar (Guitar)

Showreel

Below is a compilation of works from other various projects which may not have been featured above. These works consists of sound/music for theatre, sound design, community workshop sound material and other short excerpts.

Get in touch.

If you are interested in commissioning Tayla-Leigh Payne for any projects or if you wish to hire scores and parts of her works, please contact her below.

Contact Tayla-Leigh Payne