Paul Archbold

Biography

Dr Paul Archbold is a composer with extensive teaching experience. He was Lecturer in Music at the University of Huddersfield (1993-96), Head of Composition at the University of Durham (1996-2003), Reader in Music at Kingston University (2004-17) and Director of the Institute of Musical Research, University of London (2011-15).  He has been teaching in the Academic Studies Department at Guildhall School since 2018. In 2002 he was elected ARAM and is also an Associate Fellow of the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies.

After studies at the Royal Academy of Music (BMus & MMus), Paul gained a doctorate in composition from the University of Durham, studying with John Casken and Peter Manning. He also attended classes with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Robert Saxton and Sir James MacMillan (at summer schools at Dartington and Hoy) and studied privately with Philip Grange.

Writing for acoustic instruments, voices and electroacoustic resources, his compositions are published by Composers Edition and are performed and broadcast across the globe. Several of his chamber works can be heard on the Gramophone acclaimed CD Wind-Up: chamber music of Paul Archbold and Fabrice Fitch (Metier MSVCD92042). A performance of Nine Memos by the Arditti Quartet can be viewed here.

Performing live electronics, he has appeared with Christopher Redgate (as the RedArch duo), Neil Heyde, David Alberman and the Uroboros Ensemble.

As a creator of music documentaries, he has worked with the companies Optic Nerve and Metier Sound & Vision:

Electric Chair Music explores Ferneyhough's work for cello and electronics Time and Motion Study II, with Neil Heyde (cello) and Paul Archbold (live electronics).

Climbing a Mountain follows the Arditti Quartet from the first rehearsal of Ferneyhough's Sixth String Quartet to the world première at Donaueschinger Musiktage 2010.

Pression concentrates on Lachenmann's work for solo cello in a detailed rehearsal with the composer and cellist Lucas Fels, with several interviews.

Current composition projects include After Medussa for viola and harp and After Ondine for cello and harp, both commissioned by Hugh Webb, and a third quartet for the Arditti Quartet. Following his research role leading ‘Translingualism in contemporary opera, music theatre and film’ within the AHRC OWRI research project ‘Cross-Language Dynamics: Reshaping Community’, he is writing a book examining the relations between writers and composers in contemporary opera.