Work of the Week – Steve Martland: Horses of Instruction

Steve Martland was among the most distinctive voices in late twentieth-century British music. Influenced by Louis Andriessen and shaped by an unwavering independence of thought, he developed a musical language that challenged traditional divisions between contemporary concert music and popular culture. His music sought direct physical impact without sacrificing structural sophistication. Contemporary programme notes describe him as one of Britain’s most original and uncompromising composers.  

Composed in 1994–95, Horses of Instruction was first written for the Bang on a Can All-Stars before being expanded for the forces of the Steve Martland Band. Its title derives from William Blake’s line, “The tigers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction,” reflecting the work’s spirit of artistic independence and restless momentum.  

Rhythm as Driving Force 

The score unfolds through rapidly shifting rhythmic processes, exchanges between instrumental groups and increasingly intense layers of musical motion. According to the programme notes for a major London tribute concert, the final section transforms the ensemble into a vast rhythmic machine driven by collective momentum.  

Yet the work’s significance reaches beyond sheer energy. Reviewing the tribute performance, critics highlighted the precision and sensitivity that underlie its forceful surface. This balance between rhythmic urgency and compositional control remains one of the defining characteristics of Martland’s music.  

On 31 July 2026, Horses of Instruction returns to the Bang on a Can All-Stars, the ensemble for which it was originally conceived, at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA). Added significance comes from the inclusion of Martland’s Eternal Delight, receiving its first US performance within the same programme. Together, the works offer a concentrated perspective on Martland’s artistic legacy. 

Colin Currie, one of the composer’s most prominent advocates, described Horses of Instruction as “perhaps his finest work”, praising its “brilliant rhythmic complexity and drive”. The statement reflects the exceptional position the piece occupies within Martland’s catalogue.  

The same programme at MASS MoCA also features the first US performance of Eternal Delight. 

Learn more 

• Horses of Instruction – Work Details and Online Score
• Composer Profile Steve Martland
• Event Page at MASS MoCA 

_{Illustration: Ad Nuis (photo by Steve Martland), background generated by AI}