Tyler Futrell (b. 1983) is an eclectic Oslo-based composer working primarily with the concert situation and live performance. Originally from northern California, after studying with Lee Hyla at the New England Conservatory, and then Bent Sørensen at the Royal Danish Academy of Music (including a year with Michael Jarrell in Vienna), he moved to Norway, where he became a citizen.
Since then, Futrell has worked with many ensembles festivals both within Norway and internationally, such as The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, The Trondheim Soloists, the London Contemporary Orchestra Soloists, Athelas Sinfonietta, Bit20, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Wiener Concert-verein Orchestra, Andreas Brantelid, and the Engegård, Sonar, and Bozzini string quartets. These collaborations and others saw venues such as Ultima Festival, Klang Festival, Oslo International Church Music Festival, Nordic Music Days, Lucerne Festival, Borealis Festival, Weimar Spring Days, and Institute del Teatre, and The International Rostrum of Composers, where Schism )) Pier was recently selected as a recommended work.
His work often attempts to synthesise almost contradictory historical branches, and often uses space as part of the musical logic or transmission of meaning. Direct choreographing of the bodies of the musicians, including without sound, is also sometimes utilized. In balancing these disparate interests, recent work has sometimes shown an increased willingness to use a more broadly situated language as one element, particularly with regards to emotional movement - though without wishing to give up other sources of musical power, such as perceptual fascnination or intellectual interest.
Futrell's debut album on BIS, Stabat Mater, released 2024, has met with wide praise, garnering a spot on Gramophone’s best albums of 2024. The title work was also nominated for the Nordic Council Music Prize 2024. He has received various other stipends and prizes, including a 3-year Government Grant for Artists (Statens Kunstnerstipend), a development grant (Fordypningsstipend) from The Composers’ Remuneration Fund (Komponistenes vederlagsfond), and a grant from the Ingerid, Synnøve and Elias Fegersten Foundation. His work is published by Edition Wilhelm Hansen and the Norwegian National Library.
