James Saunders
- Professor of Music
- Email: j.saunders@bathspa.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)1225 875422
- School: Bath School of Music and Performing Arts
- Website:
Personal statement
James Saunders is a composer who makes open form compositions that explore group behaviours and decision making. His music has been played at numerous international festivals, including Bludenz Tage fur Zeitgenossiche Musik, Brighton Festival, BMIC Cutting Edge, Darmstadt, Donaueschingen, Gothenburg Arts Sounds, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Inventionen Berlin, The Kitchen, Music We’d Like to Hear, Ostrava New Music Days, Rational Rec, Roaring Hooves, Ultima, and Wittener Tage fur Neue Kammermusik. It has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Resonance FM (UK), WDR3, BR Klassik and SWR2 (Germany), and national radio in Czech Republic, Norway, Italy, New Zealand, and Sweden. In 2003 and 2007 he held residencies at the Experimental Studio fur Akustiche Kunst in Freiburg.
James has worked with Apartment House, Arditti Quartet, asamisimasa, Sebastian Berweck, ensemble chronophonie, duo Contour, Rhodri Davies, EXAUDI, Nicolas Hodges, London Sinfonietta, Ensemble Modern, Neue Vocalsolisten, plus minus ensemble, Psappha, ensemble recherche, SUONO MOBILE, SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg, and 175 East. As a performer he plays in the duo Parkinson Saunders with composer Tim Parkinson, Apartment House, and has also performed with Alvin Lucier, Christian Wolff and Phill Niblock.
James studied at the University of Huddersfield and latterly with Anthony Gilbert at the Royal Northern College of Music. He runs the Open Scores Lab and the ensemble Material at Bath Spa University. James was a participant in the London Sinfonietta’s Blue Touch Paper scheme (2006-9). He held an AHRC Research Leave Award in 2005-6, and a Fellowship in 2010-11. His edited book The Ashgate Research Companion to Experimental Music was published in 2009, and Word Events: Perspectives on Verbal Notation (with John Lely) was published by Continuum in 2012.
Academic qualifications
- BMus (Hons) Huddersfield
- PGDip Huddersfield
- MusM RNCM
- PhD Huddersfield
Professional qualifications
- FHEA
- AHRC Peer Review College [2007-10]
- Higher Education Academy
- Performing Rights Society
External examiners
- Brunel University [BA Music, 2008-11]
- University College Falmouth [BA Music, 2013-]
- Royal Academy of Music [BA Music, 2013-16]
- York St. John University [BA Music, 2016-19]
- City University [MA Music, 2017-20]
PhD examiners
- University of Birmingham
- Birmingham Conservatoire
- Brunel University
- Cardiff University
- City University
- University of Durham
- University of Edinburgh
- Goldsmiths College
- Guildhall School of Music and Drama
- University of Huddersfield
- Leeds University
- Oxford Brookes University
- University of Southampton
- Trinity Laban
Other external roles
- Board Member, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival [2007-2013 ]
- AHRC application reviewer [2006- ]
Teaching specialism
- Composition
- Experimental Music
- Music since 1945 (Musicology)
- Notation
Research and academic outputs
Word events: perspectives on verbal notation
book
Saunders, J and Lely, J (2012) Word events: perspectives on verbal notation. Continuum, London. ISBN 9781441173102
The Ashgate research companion to experimental music
book
Saunders, J (2009) The Ashgate research companion to experimental music. Ashgate, Aldershot. ISBN 9780754662822
Perfect information: scores as self-evident processes
book_section
Saunders, J (2024) 'Perfect information: scores as self-evident processes.' In: Kocher, P, ed. TENOR: Ninth International Conference on Technologies for Music Notation and Representation, Zurich, Switzerland 4–6 April 2024. University of the Arts, Zurich, pp. 53-57.
Group behaviours as music
book_section
Saunders, J (2021) 'Group behaviours as music.' In: Timmers, R, Bailes, F and Deffern, H, eds. Together in music: coordination, expression, participation. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 13-23. ISBN 9780198860761
Heuristic models for decision making in rule-based compositions
book_section
Saunders, J (2015) 'Heuristic models for decision making in rule-based compositions.' In: Ginsborg, J, Lamont, A, Phillips, M and Bramley, S, eds. Proceedings of the Ninth Triennial Conference of the European Society for the Cognitive Sciences of Music, 17 - 22 August 2015, Manchester, UK. Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, pp. 715-719.
Rebecca Saunders, Still
book_section
Saunders, J (2012) 'Rebecca Saunders, Still.' In: Dvorák, Rebecca Saunders, Tchaikovsky. BBC, London, pp. 6-8.
Mutual effects: organization and interaction in the orchestral music of Christian Wolff
book_section
Saunders, J (2010) 'Mutual effects: organization and interaction in the orchestral music of Christian Wolff.' In: Chase, S and Thomas, P, eds. Changing the System: The music of Christian Wolff. Ashgate, Farnham. ISBN 9780754666806
Rebecca Saunders
book_section
Saunders, J and Adlington, R (2009) 'Rebecca Saunders.' In: Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Christopher Fox
book_section
Saunders, J and Pace, I (2009) 'Christopher Fox.' In: Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Fourteen musicians
book_section
Saunders, J (2009) 'Fourteen musicians.' In: Saunders, J, ed. The Ashgate Research Companion to Experimental Music. Ashgate Research Companions . Ashgate, Farnham and Burlington VT, pp. 221-368. ISBN 9780754662822
'Traces' and 'Rebecca Saunders'
book_section
Saunders, J (2009) ''Traces' and 'Rebecca Saunders'.' In: BBC Prom 56. BBC, London, pp. 3-5.
Confined spaces: a portrait of Bryn Harrison
book_section
Saunders, J (2008) 'Confined spaces: a portrait of Bryn Harrison.' In: Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Programme Book. hcmf, Huddersfield.
Modular structures in manufacturing and object art
book_section
Saunders, J (2007) 'Modular structures in manufacturing and object art.' In: Waterman, A, ed. Agape. Miguel Abreu Gallery, New York, pp. 36-50.
#271102 (apartment house, Huddersfield) [sketch]
book_section
Saunders, J (2007) '#271102 (apartment house, Huddersfield) [sketch].' In: Waterman, A, Singer, D and Lyons, M, eds. Between thought and sound : graphic notation in contemporary music. The Kitchen, New York, p. 49.
#110605 (ensemble recherché, Freiburg) [sketch]
book_section
Saunders, J (2007) '#110605 (ensemble recherché, Freiburg) [sketch].' In: Waterman, A, Singer, D and Lyons, M, eds. Between thought and sound : graphic notation in contemporary music. The Kitchen, New York, p. 48.
What are you doing with your music?
book_section
Saunders, J (2005) 'What are you doing with your music?' In: Blocks of consciousness and the unbroken continuum. Sound 323, London, pp. 254-263. ISBN 9780955154102
Rebecca Saunders
book_section
Saunders, J (2004) 'Rebecca Saunders.' In: 2004 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Programme Book. hcmf, Huddersfield, p. 13.
What do composers do all day? (2)
article
Saunders, J and Sergeant, M (2023) 'What do composers do all day? (2).' MusikTexte, 177/8. pp. 57-66. ISSN 0178-8884
What’s the point? Balancing purpose and play in rule-based compositions
article
Saunders, J (2022) 'What’s the point? Balancing purpose and play in rule-based compositions.' Contemporary Music Review, 41 (2-3). pp. 295-309. ISSN 0749-4467
What do composers do all day?
article
Saunders, J and Sergeant, M (2022) 'What do composers do all day?' MusikTexte, 173. pp. 15-24. ISSN 0178-8884
Specific objects? Distributed approaches to sourcing sonic materials in open form compositions
article
Saunders, J (2013) 'Specific objects? Distributed approaches to sourcing sonic materials in open form compositions.' Contemporary Music Review, 32 (5). pp. 473-484. ISSN 0749-4467
'Zeit ist niemandes Eigentum'. Interview mit Beuger
article
Saunders, J (2011) ''Zeit ist niemandes Eigentum'. Interview mit Beuger.' MusikTexte, 130. pp. 44-50. ISSN 0178-8884
Introduction: what is Wandelweiser?
article
Melia, N and Saunders, J (2011) 'Introduction: what is Wandelweiser?' Contemporary Music Review, 30 (6). pp. 445-448. ISSN 1477-2256
Testing the consequences–multipart series in the work of the Wandelweiser composers
article
Saunders, J (2011) 'Testing the consequences–multipart series in the work of the Wandelweiser composers.' Contemporary Music Review, 30 (6). pp. 497-524. ISSN 0749-4467
Realising Gavin Bryars' 'Far away and dimly pealing'
article
Saunders, J and Lely, J (2009) 'Realising Gavin Bryars' 'Far away and dimly pealing'.' PORES, 5. ISSN 1740-4304
Modular music
article
Saunders, J (2008) 'Modular music.' Perspectives of New Music, 46 (1). pp. 152-193. ISSN 0031-6016
The Dictaphone in my life
article
Saunders, J (2007) 'The Dictaphone in my life.' Leonardo Music Journal, 17. pp. 33-34. ISSN 0961-1215
Playing, music
conference_item
Saunders, J (2015) Playing, music. In: Gaminomics, 11 June 2015, Cavendish Conference Centre, Tower Hill, London.
I tell you what to do: autonomy, control and play in game compositions
conference_item
Saunders, J (2015) I tell you what to do: autonomy, control and play in game compositions. In: Authorship in Music, 6-7 March 2015, University of Oxford.
things to do (2014-2020) [REF2021 collection]
artefact
Saunders, J (2021) things to do (2014-2020) [REF2021 collection].
you are required to split your attention between multiple sources of information (2018) [REF2021 collection]
artefact
Saunders, J (2021) you are required to split your attention between multiple sources of information (2018) [REF2021 collection].
it is impossible for everyone to achieve everything they want (2018) [REF2021 collection]
artefact
Saunders, J (2021) it is impossible for everyone to achieve everything they want (2018) [REF2021 collection].
know that your actions reflect within the group (2017) [REF2021 collection]
artefact
Saunders, J (2021) know that your actions reflect within the group (2017) [REF2021 collection].
alternate between attention and ease (2017) [REF2021 collection]
artefact
Saunders, J (2021) alternate between attention and ease (2017) [REF2021 collection].
trying to make things fit together
composition
Saunders, J (2023) trying to make things fit together.
it is difficult to find the right way to proceed
composition
Saunders, J (2023) it is difficult to find the right way to proceed.
looking forwards, looking backwards
composition
Saunders, J (2023) looking forwards, looking backwards.
amongst it all, some occasional moments of respite
composition
Saunders, J (2023) amongst it all, some occasional moments of respite.
waiting for someone to do the thing you need them to do
composition
Saunders, J (2023) waiting for someone to do the thing you need them to do.
it is really hard to focus when there are too many things to do
composition
Saunders, J (2023) it is really hard to focus when there are too many things to do.
performing tasks they secretly believe do not really need to be performed
composition
Saunders, J (2023) performing tasks they secretly believe do not really need to be performed.
making a choice and then making another choice
composition
Saunders, J (2021) making a choice and then making another choice.
it is the behaviour that a system tends towards and encourages that needs to be understood
composition
Saunders, J (2021) it is the behaviour that a system tends towards and encourages that needs to be understood.
they should report on the underlying causes of the input
composition
Saunders, J (2019) they should report on the underlying causes of the input.
you are required to split your attention between multiple sources of information
composition
Saunders, J (2018) you are required to split your attention between multiple sources of information.
it is impossible for everyone to achieve everything they want
composition
Saunders, J (2018) it is impossible for everyone to achieve everything they want.
reaching an acceptable and stable solution
composition
Saunders, J (2018) reaching an acceptable and stable solution.
solutions must be sought which everyone can accept
composition
Saunders, J (2018) solutions must be sought which everyone can accept.
know that your actions reflect within the group
composition
Saunders, J (2017) know that your actions reflect within the group.
alternate between attention and ease
composition
Saunders, J (2017) alternate between attention and ease.
sometimes we do what you say, but occasionally we don't
composition
Saunders, J (2017) sometimes we do what you say, but occasionally we don't.
we tell each other what to do but always listen to you
composition
Saunders, J (2017) we tell each other what to do but always listen to you.
constant interchange of the most various kinds
composition
Saunders, J (2016) constant interchange of the most various kinds.
they are always different, they are always the same
composition
Saunders, J (2016) they are always different, they are always the same.
in which one thing depends on another
composition
Saunders, J (2016) in which one thing depends on another.
we gradually have more things to do and fewer things to say
composition
Saunders, J (2015) we gradually have more things to do and fewer things to say.
positions in the sequence correctly recalled
composition
Saunders, J (2014) positions in the sequence correctly recalled.
we do what you say and say what to do
composition
Saunders, J (2014) we do what you say and say what to do.
I decide what it is I am going to do
composition
Saunders, J (2014) I decide what it is I am going to do.
interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles
composition
Saunders, J (2013) interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles.
the range of outside factors influencing it, as well as its own radius of action
composition
Saunders, J (2013) the range of outside factors influencing it, as well as its own radius of action.
everybody doing what everybody else is doing
composition
Saunders, J (2013) everybody doing what everybody else is doing.
what you must do, rather than must not do
composition
Saunders, J (2012) what you must do, rather than must not do.
AT LEAST ONE HUNDRED DEVICES BEING TURNED ON AND OFF
composition
Saunders, J (2012) AT LEAST ONE HUNDRED DEVICES BEING TURNED ON AND OFF.
with the same material or still, to vary the material
composition
Saunders, J (2011) with the same material or still, to vary the material.
various distinct spatial and temporal locations
composition
Saunders, J (2011) various distinct spatial and temporal locations.
opposition between the two spaces and their common mediation
composition
Saunders, J (2011) opposition between the two spaces and their common mediation.
nothing reveals itself without at the same time concealing something else
composition
Saunders, J (2011) nothing reveals itself without at the same time concealing something else.
it may exist for a few seconds or it may go on indefinitely
composition
Saunders, J (2011) it may exist for a few seconds or it may go on indefinitely.
certain elements within that situation remained constant
composition
Saunders, J (2011) certain elements within that situation remained constant.
materials vary greatly and are simply materials
composition
Saunders, J (2010) materials vary greatly and are simply materials.
any one part can replace any other part
composition
Saunders, J (2010) any one part can replace any other part.
although it may appear to vary by the way in which units are joined
composition
Saunders, J (2010) although it may appear to vary by the way in which units are joined.
imperfections on the surface are occasionally apparent
composition
Saunders, J (2009) imperfections on the surface are occasionally apparent.
components derive their value solely through their assigned context
composition
Saunders, J (2009) components derive their value solely through their assigned context.
PART OF IT MAY ALSO BE PART OF SOMETHING ELSE
composition
Saunders, J (2009) PART OF IT MAY ALSO BE PART OF SOMETHING ELSE.
'various distinct spatial or temporal locations' and 'with the same material or still, to vary the material'
audio
Saunders, J (2012) 'various distinct spatial or temporal locations' and 'with the same material or still, to vary the material'.
Divisions that could be autonomous but that comprise the whole
audio
Saunders, J (2011) Divisions that could be autonomous but that comprise the whole.
Rebecca Saunders' piano music [Liner notes for 'Rebecca Saunders: Choler; Crimson; Miniata']
other
Saunders, J (2008) Rebecca Saunders' piano music [Liner notes for 'Rebecca Saunders: Choler; Crimson; Miniata'].