music is what your emotions sound like
welcome to about Martyn and his music
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About Martyn
Growing up in his home town, Harrogate North Yorkshire, Martyn's musical journey started in earnest when he was eleven years old playing the Tenor Horn in both his school and Harrogate town brass bands. In his early teens he was advised to switch to the French Horn in order to pursue a career as a professional musician and aged 16 went onto study at Huddersfield school of music before entering the world of professional music making.
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It came therefore as a surprise to many when in his early twenties he chose to turn his back on his musical future to pursue an alternative career in business in which he travelled the world and attained several directorships and CEO positions.
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Whilst music was always in the background at age 60 Martyn re ignited his passion and returned whole heartedly to composing, completing works started back in his college days, writing new music and releasing an album of his solo piano music "life through a stained glass window".
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These days you will find Martyn in his studio on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds still completing pieces started at college and regularly new works for brass band, orchestra and small instrumental and vocal ensembles.
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About Martyn's music
Often described as " narrative music " Martyn's writing is firmly rooted in established musical conventions
melody - harmony - rhythm and whilst not always seeing the necessity to challenge listeners, Martyn seeks to engage with the individual, stirring their emotions, evoking vivid imagery and taking them into their own personal world as the musical story and soundscape's unfold.
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Likewise for performer's his compositions do not always require technical virtuosity or brilliance but a deeper musicality and understanding of how every note has a contribution to make to the beauty and completeness of the music and ultimately the enjoyment of the performance.
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Martyn's musical influences are many and varied arising from a love of how music makes you feel and enjoying everything from classical, jazz, musical theatre and film scores through to rock, pop and modern day ambient and relaxation pieces. His musical hero Michael Legrand has also had a huge impact on his compositional approach.
If you have any comments on Martyn's music or to commission a piece please email martyn@mumademusic.com
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Featured music
Orchestral
First Snow
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Scored for film orchestra and taken from the album "Winter Moonlight"
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Martyn Underdown
Brass band
Voyage for brass
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A concert piece scored for brass band and tuned percussion
Solo piano
Variations
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A piece for solo piano taken from the album "life through a stained glass window"