Andy Wareham (30) is an aspiring composer, conductor, brass tutor and musicologist originally from Southampton. He studied music at undergraduate and postgraduate level at Cardiff University’s School of Music in 2016 and later the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2018. Andy now lives back in Southampton and is the conductor of his local second section brass band, Ocean Brass. Day-to-day, Andy works as a pharmacy technician at Southampton General Hospital, a job he loves where he enjoys being able to help others. Away from his day job and music, Andy’s main hobbies include cinema, photography, history and science podcasts, nature, coast walks and swimming.
Concert Prelude Ikigai takes its inspiration from a Japanese philosophical concept “ikigai” which translates literally as “reason for being”. The ideas behind ikigai date back to Japan’s Heian period (794 to 1185) and still play an important role within Japanese society to this day. The philosophy provides a framework for a person to find their life’s passion and purpose, and support themselves in doing so. Andy really took to this when he was researching ideas for a piece on the theme of “creative vision” and believes everyone can relate to struggling to find time for their passions at some point in their lives.
Concert Prelude Ikigai is heavily influenced by modern electronic music styles but also features ‘irrational time signatures’ which gives the work’s metre an interesting glitch effect, a representation of struggle. Andy set the music out in a loose ternary (three-part) form where all the musical material is developed from the work’s short introduction. Despite the modern influences, the music finishes quite traditionally with a large, triumphant ending.
You can find out more about Andy and his work on his Facebook, YouTube, X, Instagram, Bluesky and Substack channels or on his website.
