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
- lee shore 2023
- two pianos
- written for Yihan Chen and Maxime Trechsel
lee shore is a piece for two pianos created in collaboration with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Keyboard Department. I worked with the excellent pianists Yihan Chen and Maxime Trechsel.
It was premiered alongside a performance of Meredith Monk’s Ellis Island for two pianos with accompanying film. I selected a few harmonies from Ellis Island — freeze frames — and arranged them freely. Whispers of Antonello da Caserta's Amour m'a le cuer mis en tel martire also made their way in.
I was thinking about small, gentle gestures, lines, and listening through permeable textures.
If you would like to see the full video of Ellis Island with lee shore played attacca, please get in touch.
Performances
29-09-2023: Yihan Chen/Maxime Trechsel, Milton Court Concert Hall (UK)