Photo: Andy Newcombe Farnborough, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0 · credits
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Gavin Bryars
Person · male · United Kingdom · Goole · born 1943 · recording since 1975
English composer and double bassist
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Also known as Richard Gavin Bryars · 加文·布萊爾斯
Timeline
30 events▣ Album 28◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1
1940s
1970s
· Debut release
Debut release: The Sinking of the Titanic
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
· Album
Album: Piano Concerto, "The Solway Canal" / After Handel's Vesper / Ramble on Cortona
Album
source: musicbrainz
2020s
· Album
Album: Crowhurst and Gavin Bryars Present Incoherent American Narrative
Album
source: musicbrainz
Biography
English biography1,072 words · 3 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1373954911
Biography
Richard Gavin Bryars (; born 16 January 1943) is an English composer and double bassist. He has worked in jazz, free improvisation, minimalism, historicism, avant-garde, and experimental music.
Early life and career
Born on 16 January 1943 in Goole, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, Bryars attended Goole Grammar School. He studied philosophy at Sheffield University but became a jazz bassist during his three years as a philosophy student.
The first musical work for which he is remembered was his role as bassist in the trio Joseph Holbrooke, alongside guitarist Derek Bailey and drummer Tony Oxley. The trio began by playing relatively traditional jazz, touring with saxophonist Lee Konitz in 1966, before moving into free improvisation. Bryars became dissatisfied with this when he saw a young bassist (later revealed to be Johnny Dyani) play in a manner that seemed to him to be artificial, and he abandoned improvisation, becoming interested in composition instead. In 1998, the trio reformed briefly, giving two live performances and making recordings.
Bryars's first compositions owe much to the New York School of John Cage (with whom he briefly studied), Morton Feldman, Earle Brown, and minimalism. One of his earliest pieces, The Sinking of the Titanic (1969), is an indeterminist work that allows the performers to take a number of sound sources related to the sinking of the RMS Titanic and make them into a piece of music. The first recording of this piece appeared on Brian Eno's Obscure Records in 1975. The 1994 recording was remixed by Aphex Twin as Raising the Titanic (later collected on the 26 Mixes for Cash album). In 2012, the centenary of the Titanic's sinking, Bryars made a new extended version, with film projections by Bill Morrison and Laurie Olinder, that included his four children as a low-string ensemble (viola, 2 cellos, bass) and turntablist Philip Jeck, subsequently released on GB records (BCGBCD21 2013)
Another well-known early work of Bryars is Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet (1971), which has as its basis a recorded loop of an old homeless man singing a musical fragment that the man had improvised. On top of that loop, rich harmonies played by a live ensemble are built, increasing in density, before the whole thing gradually fades out. A recording of this work was made in 1993 with Tom Waits singing along with the original recording of the homeless man during the final section.
Bryars was a founding member in May 1970 of the Portsmouth Sinfonia, an orchestra whose membership consisted of performers who "embrace the full range of musical competence", and which played popular classical works. Its members included Brian Eno, whose Obscure Records label would subsequently release works by Bryars. In one of the label's first three releases, Eno's album Discreet Music, Bryars conducted and co-arranged Three Variations on the Canon in D Major by Johann Pachelbel, which constitutes the second half of the album.
The 1992 composition A Man in a Room Gambling was written on commission from Artangel. Bryars' music is heard beneath monologues spoken by the Spanish artist Juan Muñoz, who talks about methods of cheating at card games (drawing on The Expert at the Card Table by S. W. Erdnase). The ten short works were played on BBC Radio 3 without any introductory announcements, and Bryars wrote that Muñoz hoped they would appear to the listener in a similar way to the Shipping Forecast, "bemused by this fleeting and perhaps enigmatic curiosity."
Bryars has written many other works, including five operas and many instrumental pieces, among the latter six string quartets and several concertos. He has written several pieces for dance, including Biped (1999) for Merce Cunningham, as well as works for William Forsythe, Carolyn Carlson, Édouard Lock and David Dawson. In 1981–1984, Bryars participated in the CIVIL warS, a vast, never-completed multimedia project by Robert Wilson, who also directed his first opera, Medea. His cello concerto Farewell to Philosophy was recorded in 1996 by Julian Lloyd Webber. He has also written a large body of vocal and choral music for groups such as the Hilliard Ensemble, the Latvian Radio Choir, the Estonian National Men's Choir, Red Byrd, Trio Mediaeval, Singer Pur, Nordic Voices and The Crossing, whose recording of "The Fifth Century
The Fifth CenturySpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: I. We see the heavens with our eyes9:472The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: II. As sure as there is a space infinite5:373The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: III. Infinity of space is like a painter's table3:544The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: IV. Eternity is a mysterious absence of times and ages6:425The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: V. Eternity magnifies our joys exceedingly3:176The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: VI. His omnipresence is our field of joys5:507The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: VII. Our bridegroom and our king being everywhere7:148Two Love Songs for female choir a cappella: I. Io amai sempre3:599Two Love Songs for female choir a cappella: II. Solo et pensoso3:47" won a Grammy in 2019. He has written a great deal for early music performers including six books of madrigals, several works for viol consort, and a collection of 54 "laude" based on a 12th century manuscript.
Bryars' When Harry Met Addie (a tribute to jazz singer Adelaide Hall and saxophonist Harry Carney) was premiered at the Duke Ellington Memorial Concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, on 1 May 1999. The piece was performed by the London Sinfonietta Big Band and commissioned by the baritone saxophonist/bass clarinettist John Surman. Cristina Zavalloni sang the soprano and the London Sinfonietta Big Band was conducted by Diego Masson·
Bryars founded the music department at Leicester Polytechnic (now De Montfort University), and was Professor of Music there for several years. He left in 1994 to concentrate on composition and performance.
Since 1986, Bryars has run The Gavin Bryars Ensemble with his preferred musicians, consisting chiefly of low strings. Now, this regularly includes his children (2 cellos, piano and double bass).
Since 1974, Bryars has been a member of the Collège de 'Pataphysique and was elected Regent in 2001. In 2015 he was named Transcendent Satrap, the highest honour in the Collège, a position he shares with Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, Eugène Ionesco, Umberto Eco, and others.
In 2020, Bryars composed Altissima Luce for Sound World’s Coronavirus Fund for Freelance Musicians, a project supporting struggling musicians during the UK’s Covid 19 lockdown. It was included on the album Reflections alongside specially written pieces by other composers such as Nico Muhly, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Evelyn Glennie, and Sally Beamish.
In 2023, Bryars collaborated with Goole band Sandra's Wedding on their EP "Another Rugby League Town".
Also in 2023, Bryars provided a special guest vocal for experimental composer Bill Vine's work, "Norwich Under the Water". The piece premiered at Norwich Cathedral in August 2023.
In November 2024, Bryars received the Ivor Novello Award for Innovation, presented in association with the Musicians' Union, at The Ivors Classical Awards.
Personal life
Bryars lives in England, and, for part of the year, on the west coast of Canada. He is married to Anna Tchernakova, a Russian filmmaker, and has a stepdaughter and son. He also has two daughters from his first marriage.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 19 | 79.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 36 | 91.9th |
| Studio albums | 28 | 98th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 30 | 96.8th |
| Recording span (years) | 51 | 91.8th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (36 release groups · 28 studio albums)
Albums · 28
1975 · studio album
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Tracklist · 2 tracks · 50:37
1The Sinking of the Titanic24:402Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet25:571978 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks
A1Irma: IntroductionA2Irma: Overture and Aria “I Tell You That’s Irma Herself”A3Irma: First InterludeB1Irma: Aria “Irma You Will Be Mine”B2Irma: Second InterludeB3Irma: Chorus “Love Is Help Mate”B4Irma: Postlude1978 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks
A1Autumn Countdown MachineA2Son of Gothic ChordA3Jew’s Harp MachineA4Drinking and Hooting MachineBThe Squirrel and the Ricketty Racketty Bridge1981 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 40:08
A1My First Homage15:11A2The English Mail-Coach3:17B1The Vespertine Park11:09B2Hi-Tremolo10:311986 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 48:24
A1Prologue4:45A2String Quartet No. 1 ("Between the National and the Bristol")20:09B1First Viennese Dance ("M. H.")18:53B2Epilogue4:371990 · studio album
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Tracklist · 1 track · 1:00:19
1The Sinking of the Titanic1:00:191991 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 1:06:51
1After the Requiem15:492The Old Tower of Löbenicht16:013Alaric I or II15:154Allegrasco19:46Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet
1993 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 1:14:44
1Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet: Tramp with Orchestra I (String Quartet)27:062Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet: Tramp with Orchestra II (Low Strings)15:173Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet: Tramp with Orchestra III (No Strings)4:484Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet: Tramp with Orchestra IV (Full Strings)6:075Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet: Tramp and Tom Waits with Full Orchestra19:386Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet: Coda: Tom Waits with High Strings1:481994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 56:38
1Incipit Vita Nova6:082Glorious Hill11:393Four Elements28:534Sub Rosa9:581995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 1:12:50
1String Quartet no. 1 ("Between the National and the Bristol")22:032Die Letzten Tage ("The Last Days"): Prelude (The Roman Ending)4:093Die Letzten Tage ("The Last Days"): I. The Venetian Beginning5:454Die Letzten Tage ("The Last Days"): Intermezzo I4:195Die Letzten Tage ("The Last Days"): Intermezzo II4:116Die Letzten Tage ("The Last Days"): II. The Corinthian Middle8:377String Quartet no. 223:461996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:15:06
1Cello Concerto "Farewell to Philosophy": I.9:132Cello Concerto "Farewell to Philosophy": II. Piu mosso4:533Cello Concerto "Farewell to Philosophy": III.4:374Cello Concerto "Farewell to Philosophy": IV.2:045Cello Concerto "Farewell to Philosophy": V. The Philosopher2:096Cello Concerto "Farewell to Philosophy": VI. Poco meno mosso6:117Cello Concerto "Farewell to Philosophy: VII. "Farewell": a tempo6:038One Last Bar, Then Joe Can Sing: I. Lento8:289One Last Bar, Then Joe Can Sing: II. Piu mosso7:4210One Last Bar, Then Joe Can Sing: III. Coda2:5211By the Vaar: I.8:4012By the Vaar: II.9:0213By the Vaar: III. Epilogue3:121997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 51:38
1Bottom Dealing5:102Three Card Trick5:103Cutting5:104Shifting Upper Pack to Bottom5:105Sorting 3 Cards in a Pack5:106Taking Cards From the Bottom5:107Sorting 2 Cards in a Pack5:108Getting Rid of Extra Cards5:109Three Card Trick / The Mexican Row5:1010Dealing From the Bottom5:081999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:01:18
1Cadman Requiem: Requiem9:182Cadman Requiem: Caedmon Paraphrase (Bede)3:063Cadman Requiem: Agnus Dei5:074Cadman Requiem: Caedmon's "Creation Hymn"2:235Cadman Requiem: In Paradisum5:256Adnan Songbook: Song I3:257Adnan Songbook: Song II4:248Adnan Songbook: Song III3:179Adnan Songbook: Song IV1:3510Adnan Songbook: Song V4:0411Adnan Songbook: Song VI3:1512Adnan Songbook: Song VII3:0813Adnan Songbook: Song VIII5:3314Epilogue from Wonder Lawn7:182001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 45:56
1Part I7:342Part II12:573Part III9:184Part IV8:315Part V5:166Part VI2:202002 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 1:03:01
1String Quartet no. 1 "Between the National and the Bristol"20:152String Quartet no. 221:323String Quartet no. 321:14I Have Heard It Said: Music of Gavin Bryars
2002 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 1:13:37
1Three Songs: I Have Heard It Said That a Spirit Enters4:312Three Songs: Planet Earth10:483Three Songs: The Apple4:254Violin Concerto 'The Bulls of Bashan'20:465The Porazzi Fragment13:316By the Vaar19:362003 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:15:11
1In Hydraulis7:332Incipit Vita Nova5:4536-Part in Nomine2:344In Nomine (After Purcell)8:525Salve Regina/Diversi Diversi Orant8:276From First Bookof Madrigals: Stormy3:087From First Bookof Madrigals: Web3:148From First Bookof Madrigals: Almond Tree2:5196-Part Pavane in F6:4110Cadman Requiem: Requiem9:2911Cadman Requiem: Caedmon Paraphrase (Bede)3:0012Cadman Requiem: Agnus Dei5:0313Cadman Requiem: Caedmon Creation Hymn2:1714Cadman Requiem: In Paradisum6:17A Listening Room (Chambre d'écoute)
2006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 56:06
1Espace de la cour3:152Cage du grand escalier8:463Salon des emigres4:504Galerie des peintures6:085Tour des Ondes6:476Cuisine10:237Vestibule4:488Salle d'armes6:529Salle des Faïences / Salon Gris4:172008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 17 tracks · 1:19:17
1Amjad New 6-1 Swan4:262Amjad No. 8 (Swan Lake No. 13, Danse Des Cygnes)7:253Amjad No. 10 (Swan Lake No. 17, Sortie Des Invités El Valse)3:364Amjad No. 1 (Swan Lake No. 2, Tempo Di Valse)5:205Amjad No. 2 (Swan Lake No. 4, Pas De Trois)4:516Amjad No. 14 (Sleeping Beauty No. 17, Panorama)4:147Amjad No. 6 (Swan Lake No. 11, Scène)4:108Amjad No. 3 (Swan Lake No. 5, Pas De Deux)3:329Amjad No. 9 (Swan Lake No. 13, Danse Des Cygnes)4:0410Amjad No. 11 (Swan Lake No. 29, Scène Finale. Andante)4:1811Amjad No. 16 (Sleeping Beauty No. 28, Pas De Deux)3:2112Amjad I Await4:2113Amjad No. 7 (Swan Lake No.13b, Danse De Cygnes)3:2114Amjad No. 15 (Sleeping Beauty No. 18, Entr'acte)6:4015Amjad No. 12 (Sleeping Beauty No. 8, "Rose Adagio")5:3616Amjad Sleeping Panorama4:4817Amjad Swan Without Bass Drum5:142008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 1:04:31
1Double Bass Concerto "Farewell to St Petersburg"28:172Memento2:533Silva Caledonia5:444O Oriens11:475The Summons6:316Ian in the Broch9:192010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 59:33
1At Portage and Main (2009)15:362One Last Bar Then Joe Can Sing (1994)18:023New York (2004)25:55Piano Concerto, "The Solway Canal" / After Handel's Vesper / Ramble on Cortona
2011 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 52:40
1After Handel's Vesper (version for piano)11:482Ramble on Cortona12:333Piano Concerto, "The Solway Canal"28:19Hövdingar hittast (Heroes meet)
2014 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 1:06:36
1From Egil's Saga, Prologue4:092From Egil's Saga part I. To Erik in York: “Vestr fórk of ver…” (“By sun and moon…”) (To Erik in York)7:563From Egil's Saga part II. Lament for my Sons: “Mjök erum tregt…” (“My mouth strains…”)5:414From Egil's Saga part II. Lament for my Sons: “Attak gótt…” (“The spear-god shared…”)2:375From Egil's Saga part II. Lament for my Sons: “Nú erum torvelt” (“The end is all”)3:236From Egil's Saga part III. In honor of Aribjorn: “Hann aldrteig…” (“A fertile field…”)3:577From Egil's Saga part IV. Late Poems: “Vals hefk vófur helsis…” (“My bald pate bobs and blunders…”)3:248From Egil's Saga part II. Lament for my Sons: “Nu erum torvelt” (“The end is all” reprise)3:069Hitt blinda liðið (The Company of the Blind)3:4610Tróndur í Gøtu: The Journey Prayer (St. Brendan)3:5611Tróndur í Gøtu: The Island of Birds (St Brendan)3:1612Tróndur í Gøtu: “I Føroyum búðu menskir fyrr…” (“In bygone times, the Faroes…”)5:5613Tróndur í Gøtu: Tróndur’s Creed I1:5314Tróndur í Gøtu: St. Brendan’s Prayer4:4515Tróndur í Gøtu: “Hevjið í Homrum” (“Raise the Vociferous Chant”)1:2616Tróndur í Gøtu: “Streyk Tróndur Saer Um Ennið” (“Trondur Strokes His Forehead”)2:5917Tróndur í Gøtu: Tróndur’s Creed II1:3818Tróndur í Gøtu: “Tróndur doyði…” (“Trondur Died…”)2:48Madrigals Volume 1: Al suon dell'acque scriva
2015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:14:51
1Benedetto sia 'l giorno e 'l mese et l'anno3:402Io son giá stanco di pensar sì come3:473Quando dal proprio sito si rimove/Ma poi che 'l dolce riso6:214Poi che voi et io più volte abbiam provato4:255Non veggio ove scampar mi possa omai3:276Ponmi ove 'l sole occide i fiori et l'erba4:097Non Tesin, Po, Varo, Arno, Adige et Tebro3:238I' vidi in terra angelici costumi4:249O passi sparsi, o pensier vaghi et pronti3:4210Una candida cerva sopra l'erba2:5911Che fai? Che pensi? / Datemi Pace5:4512Amor, che meco al buon tempo ti stavi3:1513Fu forse un tempo dolce3:2414Morte à spento quel sol ch' abagliar suolmi4:3815Marconi's Madrigal: Se 'l sasso ond' è più chiusa questa valle6:1016Fourth Book Of Madrigals No. 1: A qualunque animale11:222016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 21 tracks · 1:11:19
1Mr. Pilkington's Toye2:032For Vere1:263Howells' Clavichord: No. 1. Goff's Fireside3:114Howells' Clavichord: No. 2. Patrick's Sicilliano3:535Howells' Clavichord: No. 3. Jacob's Brawl2:286Howells' Clavichord: No. 4. Dart's Sarabande2:497Howells' Clavichord: No. 6. Andrew's Air3:278Howells' Clavichord: No. 7. Boult's Brangill2:409Howells' Clavichord: No. 10. Dyson's Delight3:2410Howells' Clavichord: No. 12. Ralph's Pavane4:5611Howells' Clavichord: No. 13. Ralph's Galliard3:1412Howells' Clavichord: No. 14. Finzi's rest5:0113Howells' Clavichord: No. 16. Malcolm's Vision5:2914Howells' Clavichord: No. 18. Julian's Dream5:1715Howells' Clavichord: No. 20. Walton's Toye2:5816After Handel's Vesper10:1517Four Little English Dances in the Georgian Manner: No. 1. Poco allegro1:1418Four Little English Dances in the Georgian Manner: No. 2. Andantino1:5019Four Little English Dances in the Georgian Manner: No. 3. Poco andantino0:4720Four Little English Dances in the Georgian Manner: No. 4. Allegro ma non troppo1:2321Howells' Clavichord: No. 1. Goff's Fireside3:342016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 50:07
1The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: I. We see the heavens with our eyes9:472The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: II. As sure as there is a space infinite5:373The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: III. Infinity of space is like a painter's table3:544The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: IV. Eternity is a mysterious absence of times and ages6:425The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: V. Eternity magnifies our joys exceedingly3:176The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: VI. His omnipresence is our field of joys5:507The Fifth Century for choir and saxophone quartet: VII. Our bridegroom and our king being everywhere7:148Two Love Songs for female choir a cappella: I. Io amai sempre3:599Two Love Songs for female choir a cappella: II. Solo et pensoso3:47Crowhurst and Gavin Bryars Present Incoherent American Narrative
2020 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 48:41
1Blistered Glaciers13:512Not Yet Ready for Flowers9:453Dead Swans of Dreams25:052021 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:08:37
1A Native Hill: No. 1, The Sense of the Past6:402A Native Hill: No. 2, The Path4:443A Native Hill: No. 3, Sea Level5:084A Native Hill: No. 4, The Pool3:185A Native Hill: No. 5, The Road8:156A Native Hill: No. 6, The Music of Streams8:217A Native Hill: No. 7, Questions5:158A Native Hill: No. 8, Top Soil4:279A Native Hill: No. 9, The Hill3:3610A Native Hill: No. 10, Animals and Birds4:1511A Native Hill: No. 11, Shadow5:0212A Native Hill: No. 12, At Peace9:36
Single · 3
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me YetSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 8:031Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet (The Single)4:05 2Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet (Single Remix) (feat. Tom Waits)3:58 | 1993 | ||
| 2017 | WinesteadSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 18:511Winestead18:51 | Live | 20 October 2017 | |
| 2026 | Song VII: Her Shoes Off, so Silent (Duet)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 3:391Song VII: Her Shoes Off, so Silent (Duet)3:39 | 8 May 2026 |
Other · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Raising the Titanic: The Aphex Twin RemixesSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 12:171Raising the Titanic (edit)3:33 2Raising the Titanic (mix)8:44 | Remix | 1995 |
Album · 4
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | A PortraitSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 24 tracks · 2:30:20Disc 1 1Cello Concerto (Farewell to Philosophy): Bar 1 (feat. cello: Julian Lloyd Webber)9:13 2Cello Concerto (Farewell to Philosophy): Bar 100, Più Mosso (feat. cello: Julian Lloyd Webber)4:53 3Cello Concerto (Farewell to Philosophy): Bar 222 (feat. cello: Julian Lloyd Webber)4:37 4Cello Concerto (Farewell to Philosophy): Bar 293 (feat. cello: Julian Lloyd Webber)2:04 5Cello Concerto (Farewell to Philosophy): Bar 324, "The Philosopher" (feat. cello: Julian Lloyd Webber)2:09 6Cello Concerto (Farewell to Philosophy): Bar 354, Poco Meno Mosso (feat. cello: Julian Lloyd Webber)6:11 7Cello Concerto (Farewell to Philosophy): Bar 426, "Farewell" a Tempo (feat. cello: Julian Lloyd Webber)6:03 8One Last Bar Then Joe Can Sing: Bar 1, Lento8:28 9One Last Bar Then Joe Can Sing: Bar 107, Più Mosso7:42 10One Last Bar Then Joe Can Sing: Bar 238, Coda2:55 11Les Fiançailles18:45 12Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet4:05 Disc 21The Green Ray21:28 2Adnan Songbook: Song I3:27 3Adnan Songbook: Song II4:22 4Adnan Songbook: Song III3:17 5Adnan Songbook: Song IV1:35 6Adnan Songbook: Song V4:05 7Adnan Songbook: Song VI3:14 8Adnan Songbook: Song VII3:13 9Adnan Songbook: Song VIII5:32 10The Sinking of the Titanic4:07 11The North Shore14:53 12Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet (single remix)4:02 | Compilation | 2 December 2002 | |
| 2007 | The Sinking of the TitanicSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 1:12:351The Sinking of the Titanic1:12:35 | Live | November 2007 | |
| 2012 | Mercy and GrandSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 19 tracks · 1:13:471Gypsy Tango2:22 2A Little Drop of Poison3:11 3Ballad of Sexual Dependency2:53 4Poor Edward3:24 5Alice5:36 6Whistle Down the Wind4:22 7A Little Rain3:33 8Innocent When You Dream2:42 9Johnsburg, Illinois2:02 10La Partida2:59 11What Keeps Mankind Alive5:31 12Pony5:58 13Georgia Lee3:55 14Broken Bicycles4:00 15Train Song3:27 16Pull Down Lads5:00 17Barbara Allen3:31 18The Briar and the Rose6:04 19Lullaby3:17 | Live | 23 April 2012 | |
| 2014 | The Sinking of the TitanicSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks · 1:14:411Applause1:04 2Prologue10:09 3Crash1:57 4Titanic Hymn I Autumn4:33 5Titanic Hymn II Autumn5:25 6Titanic Hymn III Autumn6:07 7Hymn IV Aughton (“He leadeth me”)5:59 8Morse2:00 9Hymn V Autumn7:56 10Titanic Lament9:04 11Cadences2:56 12Lament extract3:59 13Water gong2:51 14“La Maxixe” music box2:12 15Hymn VI, last hymn8:29 | Live | 11 November 2014 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Gavin Bryars head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 19 | 79.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 36 | 91.9th |
| Studio albums | 28 | 98th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 30 | 96.8th |
| Recording span (years) | 51 | 91.8th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Awards & honours
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Holbrooke Trio(band) | — | present | |
| The Portsmouth Sinfonia(band) | — | present | original |
| Gavin Bryars Ensemble(band) | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gavin_Bryars.JPGaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/af88ef96-ba9c-441c-9291-ac4389cd1464discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/af88ef96-ba9c-441c-9291-ac4389cd1464core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q713939genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q713939seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_Bryarsbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_Bryars
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Andy Newcombe Farnborough, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q713939 · MusicBrainz: af88ef96-ba9c-441c-9291-ac4389cd1464
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