David Braid Cause and reaction for chamber orchestra: 3 fl (1 doubling piccolo; 3 doubling alto flute), ca, cl, b-cl, hn, b-trb, hp, pno, strings (9.0.3.3.1) duration: 8 minutes Cause and reaction This piece is divided into contrasting sections of two types, one active and discursive, the other rather static. These alternate throughout, with the discursive sections (which begin the piece) getting shorter on each return and the static sections getting longer. This has the overall structural effect of slowing down the piece while still keeping a kinetic contrast throughout. This structure is reflected in the title. Cause and reaction is written for chamber orchestra without percussion. Regular pulse is avoided with tempo changes being created simply by the temporal distance between events. The basis of David Braid’s musical language comes from underlying principles in nature especially properties of time and proportion. Many aspects of his work are influenced by other disciplines such as Literature and Cinema. David has had works performed in many countries outside the UK including Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Poland. Recent works include a Violin Concerto, a setting of the Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen and Dedalus (after Joyce) for solo piano. Among the awards won are the John Longmire prize for Composition (RCM, 1998), the "Accessit" Composition prize for youth Orchestra, Murcia, Spain (1994), the Chameleon Composers` Group prize for Dedalus (1999) and the Jack Morrison Prize for guitar (1993). He has recently completed his first book, the tutor Play Classical Guitar which is published in the UK and USA by Backbeat Books. Additionally David contributed to, and was the Consultant on classical Music, for the Encyclopaedia Music in the 20th Century which was published in Britain by Fitzroy Dearborn and the United States by M.E. Sharpe in 1999. He also contributes articles on various aspects of music for several publications including the Tree of Knowledge part-work and the CD Rom The Great composers. David Braid graduated joint first study in Composition and Guitar from the Royal College of Music, London in 1994 and went on to post-graduate study in Composition and Conducting at the Krakow Academy of Music in Poland in 1995. In 1998 he returned to the RCM where he completed his M.Mus in Composition. Other interests include contemporary science (especially physics), European Cinema, Polish language and culture, and fencing. Back to shortlist.