Jeannette Owen - composer



Jeannette studied flute (with Edward Blakeman and Rainer Schulein), piano and recorder at the London College of Music and composition with James Saunders at Bath Spa. Based in Somerset, she is now a composer, musician and teacher.

Her works are often written for friends, family and members of the local community, in particular for The Fitzwarren Collective: a group of artists based in and around Somerset. Her aim is to draw people together whilst playing new bespoke music. She creates groups of musicians from her many contacts to play her works. The Fitzwarren Chamber Orchestra and The Exmoor Ensemble are examples of this, and she often collaborates with poet Philippa Johnson in works such as The Seven Stages of Woman and Views of Exmoor when writing for voices.

She has also written for Plus Minus Ensemble (Online Anxiety and Falls, Footsteps and Follies), Taunton Concert Band (Familial Traditions and Somerset Stately Homes) and The Somerset Wind Quintet (Fitzwarren Rag and Sonatina). Other work includes pieces for school ensemble (Blue Band) and solo pieces for use by other teachers (Amanda's Ayre and Blues for Alice).

Her music is influenced by her classical and folk upbringing, a particilar love of 20th Century flute music, and the beautiful area in which she lives: The Somerset Levels - A Symphonic Suite, Footsteps, Falls and Follies - an exploration of Hestercombe Gardens, Views of Exmoor, Norton Hill Fort and Somerset Stately Homes are just some of the compositions that are influenced by the places near her home.