Michael Bonaventure

Michael Bonaventure was born in 1962 in Edinburgh, Scotland. A composer, general keyboardist, concertizing organist and promoter of new and experimental music, formerly based in London and now living in Edinburgh and Amsterdam, his output includes numerous electronic and electroacoustic pieces as well as chamber, solo instrumental, choral and organ music.

His sonic universe is heavily inspired by church liturgy and ritual, imaginary worlds, astronomical and supernatural phenomena. Recent works include the cycles ‘Seven Days’ for saxophones and piano, ‘In Orbit’ for organ and electronics, an open-ended and ongoing series of Preludes, Interludes & Postludes for organ, ‘Castellations’ for carillon, and ‘Epsilon Centauri’ for piano and electronics.

His music has been heard in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, the USA, Canada and at JAM concerts in London. Together with Huw Morgan and Lauren Redhead he is a member of the collective Automatronic, formed in 2013 to promote new music for organ and electronics. As an interpreter of new music he has worked with a huge number of composers internationally, concertized throughout the UK, Europe & USA, on BBC Radio 3, premiered nearly 100 new works and made numerous CDs; these include four volumes of Contemporary British Organ Music on the sfz label, and the later organ cycles of Olivier Messiaen for Delphian Records.

He is also a church organist of nearly 40 years standing, having held appointments in the Church of England, Scottish Episcopal Church and Church of Scotland, and is currently organist of Barclay Viewforth Church in Edinburgh.

Click on a title to see sample pages.  If you have any questions about the music or want to see more pages of a particular score, please contact the composer directly.

CHAMBER WORKS

Seven Days (2011/2016)
A cycle of works for Saxophones and piano (complete)

Extract – Monday, Tuesday, Friday
Three movements for Tenor Saxophone and piano

Extract – Wednesday, Saturday
Two movements for Alto Saxophone and piano

Extract – Thursday
Movement for Soprano Saxophone and piano

Extract – Sunday
Movement for piano solo

CHORAL WORKS

O Virgo Virginum (2011)
A setting of the “8th O Antiphon”, for SATB (divisi) & organ

HANDBELL MUSIC

The Ones Who Rest
For 5 players and 10 bells

For Michael Bonaventure’s solo works for organ
we invite you to peruse his catalogue at Firehead Organ Works.