Image by Sam White
Darius Paymai is an Iranian-American composer and performer based in London. His work is characterised by a clarity of approach and economy of material: often fragile, static, cyclical, found and reused in new contexts.
He is undertaking an Artist Master’s at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, learning with Laurence Crane, where he also studied at an undergraduate level with Paul Newland and Paul Whitmarsh.
As a composer he has worked with ensembles such as the London Chamber Orchestra, Plus-Minus Ensemble, Britten Sinfonia, EXAUDI, Quatuor Bozzini, and cellist Francesco Dillon, and his music performed at St. John’s Smith Square, The Place, Milton Court Concert Hall, and Hundred Years Gallery.
As a performer he is interested in approaching experimental repertoire, drone, and free improvisation, often with harmonium, percussion, or live electronics, as well as making and presenting independent radio shows.
His studies have been supported by the Guildhall School Trust.
He enjoys two-word piece titles and crossword puzzles.
link to recent interview
- for two (spring) 2024
- violin, piano
- written for Victoria Lewis and Yihan Chen
Programme note
Recently, I have been making pieces which are comprised of a restricted set of musical materials; for two (spring) is in that regard among my most rigorous. My preoccupation with this way of working comes from an interest in the way similar sounds can be understood differently as a piece unfolds through shifts in pacing and context. I used some material with which I am more familiar, and some which is rather new to me.
Many thanks to Victoria and Yihan for their work in preparing the premiere performance as well as Mark Knoop and Marcus Barcham-Stevens for their guidance.
Performances
19-03-2024: Victoria Lewis/Yihan Chen, Milton Court Concert Hall (UK)