Der 1943 geborene britische Komponist Gavin Bryars machte in den späten 1960er Jahren als Vertreter einer experimentellen Musikrichtung auf sich aufmerksam. Seither arbeitete er in den unterschiedlichsten Bereichen, schuf 1969 das legendäre Multimedia-Werk "The Sinking of the Titanic" und 1984 die Oper "Medea", die unter der regie von Robert Wilson in Lyon und Paris aufgeführt wurde. Bryars komponierte für zahlreiche Ensembles, darunter das Arditti Streichquartett, das Balanescu Quartett, das Hilliard Ensemble, den Saxophonisten John Harle, den Jazzgitarristen Bill Frisell und das BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Gavin Bryars b. Goole, Yorkshire, 16.1.1943 Gavin Bryars has emerged as one of Britain's most distinctive and original composers. Over the last 20 years, his compositions have ranged widely from the legendary multi-media work "The Sinking of the Titanic" (1969) and the opera "Medea", directed by Robert Wilson at the Lyon and Paris Opera Houses in 1984, to commissions for leading performers, including the Arditti Quartet, the Balanescu Quartet, the Hilliard Ensemble, saxophonist John Harle, jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, bassist Charlie Haden and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Among the choreographers who have used Gavin Bryars music are William Forsythe, Lucinda Childs, Maguy Marin, Graeme Murphy, Siobhan Davies and Laurie Booth. His numerous albums include "Three Viennese Dances", "After the Requiem", and "Jesus Blood Never Failed me Yet" which topped the classical music charts and was nominated for the 1993 Mercury Music Prize. The Gavin Bryars Band, led by the composer himself, regularly undertakes international tours.