Matthew Owain Jones

10/12/2024

This Sunday!

**Dyddiad i’r dyddiadur**Date for the diary**🎅🏻Dewch i ddathlu’r Nadolig a chefnogi Ymchwil Cancr yr Ysgyfaint yr un pryd! Come and get in the Christmas spirit and support Lung Cancer Research at the same time! 15-12-24🎄

07/12/2024

Thank you Derby for being such a warm audience!

I had so much fun performing with the wonderful The Piccadilly Sinfonietta and bravo Warren Mailley-Smith for a stellar Rachmaninoff 2nd Piano Concerto!

Looking forward to playing again in Nottingham St Mary's on Monday!

01/12/2024

**Dyddiad i’r dyddiadur**Date for the diary**🎅🏻Dewch i ddathlu’r Nadolig a chefnogi Ymchwil Cancr yr Ysgyfaint yr un pryd! Come and get in the Christmas spirit and support Lung Cancer Research at the same time! 15-12-24🎄

22/11/2024

Happy Birthday Benjamin Britten!

Born this day in 1913 in Lowestoft, England.

Britten has so much wonderful repertoire for string instruments - what's your favourite? One piece that seems to have inspired Spotify listeners is his Valse for violin and piano - over 4 million plays!

https://open.spotify.com/track/5aZtG8CsE1XdapZqWulJpl?si=566b2ff0242041ff

It is a beautifully tender piece of music. So here it is, from the album 'Reflections' I recorded with Annabel Thwaite. Music by Britten for violin, viola and piano.

Naxos
Annabel Thwaite

21/11/2024

Wind Quintet

Following my string quartet performances with Ensemble MidtVest I was commissioned to compose them a wind quintet. - This is a Danish article on the quintet premiere!

I'm delighted both works are featured on our new album, and with Ensemble MidtVest performing them so wonderfully! Listen: https://open.spotify.com/track/3hDujerNbsejObVbDGimDN?si=7e79e13fb2d24aab

The wind quintet is in one section, and starts with a lone horn call to invite the other instruments into its warm sound-world.

20/11/2024

Enjoying our album?

I've found the poster for Ensemble MidtVest first performance of my string quartet - this lead to the wind quintet being commissioned, and to our album release!

https://open.spotify.com/album/1rflRhvbKddY6xQQjVUuqg?si=0jPF4My6R3CSSx7eNQsY2g

The string quartet is in two movements, and has a warm fairly romantic style - both movements have over 6,000 plays on Spotify. Do you have a favourite moment?

12/11/2024

A lovely throwback to 3 years ago!

Today is 3 years since the final of the last Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition took place! Here's just a few snapshots of the finalists in action, and a post-final shot 📸

Line-up picture, from left to right: Matthew Jones (jury); Thomas Riebl (jury); Garth Knox (jury); Noga Shaham (finalist, 2nd prize winner); Haneul Park (finalist, 3rd prize winner); Edgar Francis (finalist, 1st prize winner); Louise Lansdown (Executive Artistic Director)

11/11/2024

Looking forward to working with the wonderful The Piccadilly Sinfonietta next month - this time it'll be Vivaldi's Four Seasons!

Enjoy a little clip of Bach's amazing Double Violin Concerto with the ensemble back in 2022

Vivaldi Four Seasons Performances:
Derby Cathedral: Friday 6th December 7:30pm https://fb.me/e/7OEUvE7yJ
Nottingham, St Mary's Church: Monday 9th December 7:30pm https://fb.me/e/60zEaOiZX

08/11/2024

Today's the Day - my new album is out now on all digital platforms: https://album.link/i/1758780040

A huge thank you to First Hand Records and Ensemble MidtVest for making this happen. I have over 25 albums now, but this is the first to feature my own compositions (string quartet and wind quintet) - so it's an extra special one for me. A big thank you to Kirsty Matheson Art for the amazing cover painting!

I'm also delighted that Spotify has chosen the fiery second movement of my string quartet for their New Classical Release playlist this week: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWV0gynK7G6pD?si=BClkZBt_RpWTExVXDvznSg
Fun to have it sat next to Lang Lang's new recording!

06/11/2024

It's been all things Viola this week - a wonderful Viola Day, with viola ensembles, masterclasses and performances - and a Viola Concerto competition at Guildhall School of Music & Drama

I just came across this video from 2010 International Viola Congress https://youtu.be/ztDuJNrCKT4?si=44CKGzxF_JjvGgkv

A real gem for four violas with Bruno Giuranna, Xidi Shen, Matthew Jones and Michel Michalakakos playing Michel's Piazzolla arrangement.

Thanks to Juhl Media for sharing!

"Contrabajeando" by Piazzolla, arr. by Michel Michalakakos. Bruno Giuranna, Xidi Shen, Matthew Jones, Michel Michalakakos, on violas.International Viola Cong...

05/11/2024

I'm looking forward to a new CD album release this Friday (8th November) Trailer by First Hand Records
https://youtu.be/pakUts9ViiA?si=d6ttMcmPIAGxaLpw

It's the first album of my own compositions - a string quartet, wind quintet and my new arrangement of Nielsen's 'Aladdin'. All performed by the wonderful Ensemble MidtVest

Released on a DigiSleeve CD and on all digital platforms: Autumn 20240:00 JONES: I. Andante from String Quartet No. 11:02 JONES: II. Allegro Minaccioso from ...

05/11/2024

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