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Malcolm Dedman
- Born in London in 1948, Malcolm Dedman was initially self-taught, having started to compose when he was 12. Although he later had formal violin and singing lessons, it was composition, arising out of improvising at the piano, that he was most interested in pursuing.
- His first formal lessons in composition were with Patric Standford at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, in 1973-74, but he did not receive a formal musical qualification until 2005, when he passed with distinction his Masters Degree in Composing Concert Music at Thames Valley University, London.
- He considers his compositional style to be an individual one, benefitting from an in-depth understanding of twentieth century trends, ranging from serialism to quasi-aleatoric techniques. He now adopts an individual ‘post-modern’ idiom, based on original modes, that is very personal in approach. Although his music owes much to the music of Messiaen and Bartók, it also integrates music by many other composers as well as music from different cultures. He believes in writing music that speaks directly to the audience, conveying a purposeful message, in a style that is appropriate to this century and without compromising musical quality.
