Howard Skempton (b.1947)
Two autograph manuscripts, for 'Campanella for piano' and 'Three Pieces for Oboe', signed ('Howard Skempton'), 1 January 1981 and 1993
Two works by this prominent figure in the English school of experimental music.

'Campanella' in black ink on two systems, comprising 32 chords, dedication to Ciancarlo Cardini, a few deletions in correction fluid, one page, 176 x 236mm ; 'Three Pieces for Oboe' in pencil on up to ten staves per page, with a dedication to Melinda Maxwell, 4 pages, 306 x 221mm, on 2 bifolia of 10-stave paper.

Provenance:
(1) Sotheby's, 1 December 2010, part of lot 108.

(2) Schøyen Collection, MS 5476/2.

Skempton's works are characterised by strict economy of means and are often no more than a minute or two in length, yet their use of experimental compositional methods is not at the expense of a strongly melodic character.