Benjamin Dwyer

Benjamin Dwyer is a guitarist and composer and the author of ‘Different Voices: Irish Music and Music in Ireland’. He is Professor of Music at Middlesex University’s Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries.

A Love of Music Making
Leonard Bernstein represents the ultimate musician, from writing 'West Side Story' through to presenting a series of Harvard music lectures, to his conducting and performances as a pianist – he showed us that music is a thoroughly holistic affair. In this essay, Benjamin Dwyer explores the American icon’s life, work, political affiliations and achievements.
James Wilson's Inexplicable Decision
What was behind composer James Wilson's decision to come to Ireland? Mark Fitzgerald's new book, reviewed by Benjamin Dwyer, explores this and other questions.
Laughing at the Chaos: György Ligeti (1923–2006)
This November, a festival dedicated to the music of György Ligeti, one of the giants of twentieth-century composition, takes place in Dublin. Benjamin Dwyer, Artistic Director of ‘Remembering Ligeti’, describes what makes the Hungarian’s music so remarkable.
'The Deepest Need to be There, Communicating'
An Interview by composer Benjamin Dwyer with double-bassist and composer Barry Guy.
Reflections on the Adorno/Berg Correspondences.
The Life and Music of Brian Boydell
A review of a recent book on the Irish composer.
‘Powerless’ and ‘consenting’: A response to D. Vincent Twomey
Art and Society: A response to Vincent Twomey.
Pacto de Olvido?
Benjamin Dwyer discusses the treatment of classical music in some recent books on Irish culture.
The Search for Samhita
Art and the Vedic tradition.
A Eunuch's Shadow
Composer Benjamin Dwyer on new music criticism.
A Bouncer's Viewpoint
Composer and Director of the concert series Mostly Modern, Benjamin Dwyer, discusses performance issues in the contemporary music scene.