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Born in London in 1953, Chris Dench’s journey into music was unconventional. With a disdain for academic rigidity, he developed a style rooted in self-teaching and a reaction against English musical conservatism. Dench's compositions encourage performers to embrace interpretive freedom, capturing a blend of spontaneity and rigor in their performances.
His evolving thought processes surrounding notation have led to distinguishing moments that challenge the performer to engage with the organic essence of musical communication rather than feel overwhelmed by notational complexity.