Adrian Lee
Composer and guitarist Adrian Lee is one of the leading music creatives in contemporary UK theatre. Adrian’s output comprises over 60 scores for theatre, TV, radio, film, dance and music theatre. He has worked extensively with theatre companies including the Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and Young Vic Theatre. TV scores include music for documentaries broadcast by BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
His compositions have pioneered the integration of world music performance traditions and styles in mainstream media productions and his scores demonstrate a broad spectrum of compositional approach, from devised works, the use of improvisation through to fully-notated compositions. Gamelan music of Southeast Asia figures prominently in his output with collaborations and scores performed in the UK, Europe and Southeast Asia.
Electric guitar
Adrian’s recent work embraces curating / composing / performing new works for electric guitar ensembles in the contemporary classical music context. In Hexagram 2014, Adrian launched Ludi Quartet, his electric guitar quartet performing new works and minimalist music for the quartet in a 5-venue UK tour. In Scratch Electric 2015, Adrian convened a mixed ability ensemble of learner to professional electric guitarists to perform new and minimal works for the electric guitar ensemble. Adrian’s creative collaborations with Falmouth University music students together with guitarist Adrian Utley (Portishead), 2016-17, helped to innovate ways of creating, arranging and performing new works for electric guitar ensembles. Through the Sound and Music Portfolio scheme, Adrian has led Ludi Quartet in the first set of Portfolio workshops for 3 new commissions in Prussia Cove (2017). Adrian is also involved with the Paraorchestra and Tactile as a performer / creative collaborator.
Workshop leader
Adrian has worked with musicians from learner to professional, as well as with gamelan musicians, actors, dancers and musicians / actors in the disabled arts sector to create new works in a range of different contexts. Recent projects include Sensing Nature with blind musicians in the Norfolk / Ipswich area, RPO’s Visual Impairment Programme, RNIB music study day at Wigmore Hall, Firebird Theatre, etc. Adrian has also begun to develop a profile as an experienced and discerning workshop / creative leader in disability music & theatre groups.
Theatre
TV & Radio
Improvisation
Electric Guitar
Photo Gallery
LUDI QUARTET, electric guitar quartet, led by Adrian Lee
Falmouth University music students at electric guitar creative workshops facilitated by Adrian Lee and Adrian Utley (Portishead)
Scratch Electric orchestra, Nottingham 2015, led by Adrian Lee consisting of learners, young emerging guitarists and Ludi Quartet performing new works and minimalist music for electric guitar orchestra
Scratch Electric orchestra performing Terry Riley’s ‘In C’
Adrian Lee with Ludi Quartet at Sound And Music Portfolio workshops for composers, Prussia Cove, December 2017
Kayu Gangsa Malay gamelan ensemble (Nottingham) performing Adrian Lee’s music in Trafalgar Square
Recent press reviews
Louder Than War online review, Scratch Electric 2015
Scratch Electric: Nottingham Contemporary – live review
Adrian Lee 