Concert Recordings

Dr David Önaç – MA(Cantab), MPhil, MMus, LRSM, PhD

Solo Piano

And works prominently featuring piano
David Önaç has written several virtuosic works for, or featuring, solo piano. These works have had high profile performances by artists such as Peter Donohoe, Marc Danel and Simon Smith. David is also an accomplished pianist himself, and has performed and premiered several of his own works. This playlist gives snapshots from a period of about 20 years, and includes some of his youthful recordings.

String Quartets

David fell in love with writing String Quartets in the final year of his undergraduate degree at the University of Cambridge. He shares the high regard for quartets expressed by many composers, perhaps best conveyed by Faure as “the medium which makes the greatest demands on a composer’s technical skills and a vehicle for the most concentrated…compositional thought”. He has written 6 quartets in a range of styles over the past 20 years and high profile performances include premieres by the Carducci Quartet and the Danel Quartet.

Duos, Trios and Small Ensemble

David has written for well-established combinations such as violin & piano (‘Ayla’, premiered by the composer with Marc Danel) and flute, viola & harp (‘Beginnings’, premiered by principals of the BBC Philharmonic). He has also written for less common instrumentations (‘Trio for violin, trombone & piano’, a youthful work premiered at the Purcell Rooms). Please see the dedicated Jazz & Gospel page for small ensemble arrangements in this style.

Choral Works

This playlist includes settings of texts by renowned authors and poets David has met in person. High profile works include “Nöel”, which sets J R R Tolkien’s recently rediscovered poem for SATB and organ, premiered at the University of Birmingham’s Carol Service (conducted and commissioned by Simon Halsey), recorded by Selwyn College Choir (cond. Sarah MacDonald, generously funded by the Tolkien Estate), and performed by Kantos Chamber Choir (cond. Ellie Slorach). David also arranges well-known choral works for the instrumentation available in liturgical settings, such as various Christmas Carols recorded at All Saints Ecclesall, Sheffield, during David’s tenure as Director of Choral Worship there.  Please see the Jazz & Gospel page for arrangements in this style which include choral elements.

Works for Medium and Large Ensemble

David Önaç has written for ensembles ranging from octet to large orchestra, including both traditional scorings and bespoke instrumentation. Works included in this list have been conducted by Clarke Rundell, John Miller, Mark Heron, Dan Rosina and Theo Vinden. The recording of ‘Newton’s Cradle’ (the final piece for David’s PhD in Musical Composition at the University of Manchester) also features him in the role of solo pianist.