About

John Lely (b. 6 December 1976) is a composer, musician and curator based in Norwich, UK.

He composes and improvises with acoustic and electronic objects and instruments. He is interested in the variety of sounds, correspondences and experiences that can arise through the use of limited materials.

Recent works composed for John Tilbury, Erik Carlson, Michael Duch, Mira Benjamin, Tre Voci Cello Ensemble and Philip Thomas. Formative and ongoing collaborations with John White, Apartment House, Bozzini Quartet and edges.

Notable recordings:
Walking North, a 71-minute work with electronics
Orrery, for piano
Meander Selection, which features recent chamber compositions played by Apartment House (at195)
The Harmonics of Real Strings with Anton Lukoszevieze, cello (at92)
Seaside with Dirar Kalash and John Tilbury (at100)

He is co-author, with James Saunders, of Word Events: Perspectives on Verbal Notation (Continuum/Bloomsbury 2012), a book about text scores.

Since 2005 he has co-curated Music We'd Like to Hear, a concert series described by TEMPO as 'an oasis of thoughtful and idealistic music-making'.

He teaches composition privately.

p.s. John is not on social media.


© Rick Pushinsky © Mira Benjamin