The short list of nominees for the 2016 British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) Awards has been announced.

Not only does it reveal an increasing inspiration from science and the blurring of artistic boundaries, but there are also an encouraging number of composers linked to the brass band movement.

This year the Wind Band or Brass Band category contains a trio of highly evocative works from Nigel Clarke (above), Fumiko Miyachi and Shri Sriram, whilst other categories see compositions nominated from the likes of Lucy Pankhurst, John Pickard, James McMillan, Emily Howard and Sir Harrison Birtwistle.

Brass and Wind Category

Nigel Clarke's 'A Richer Dust' was commissioned by Middle Tennessee State University and was premiered in the UK in November 2015 at the famous Guards Chapel at Birdcage Walk by The Band of the Irish Guards directed by Andrew Porter.

Using music and words, 'A Richer Dust' explores what it means to live with violence and extremism, the constant companions of human history. The intertwined text and music, ideas and images, weave together voices ranging from those of historically significant figures through to the voiceless, ordinary people living in extraordinary times.

Fumiko Miyachi's 'Au79' was premiered in March 2016 by Birmingham Conservatoire Brass Band conducted by Ian Porthouse.

It forms part of 'The Transitional Metal Series' with Au79 (Gold) for brass band the second piece inspired by the neatness of the periodic table and the rhythmic drive and clarity of texture inherent in the elements of different metals.

Shri Sriram's 'Just a Vibration' fuses Indian melodies and instrumentation to the traditional concepts of the British brass band and features an intoxicating mix of sitar, bass, drums, Indian flute and Indian tabla vocalisation.

Commissioned by Drum the Bass, it received its UK premiere in September 2015, performed by Shri and Skelmanthorpe Brass Band at the Freedom Festival in Hull.

Other nominees

Meanwhile, Lucy Pankhurst's 'Brass Roots; Musical Wings' which was commissioned by the Macclesfield Youth Brass Band to celebrate their 10th anniversary is nominated in the Community or Educational Project category, whilst John Pickard's 'In Sea-Cold Lyonesse', specifically written for the Online Orchestra is nominated in the Amateur or Young performers section.

James McMillan's, 'Noli Pater' is featured in the Choral category, Emily Howard's 'Afference' is nominated in the Small chamber awards and Sir Harrison Birtwistle's 'The Cure' is in the Stage works list of nominees.

Changes

Crispin Hunt, Chairman at BASCA, said: "This year BASCA introduced a number of changes to the submissions and judging process to ensure the British Composer Awards are representative of the wealth and diversity of talent here in the UK.

The resulting shortlist announced today is a great snapshot of the creative expression that is contemporary classical, jazz and sonic art."

Ed McKeon, joint Artistic Director of the Awards for the past three years, added: "The shortlist reflects just how much the richer our musical life is for the international musicians and artists who have settled here and who come here to study and to explore a rich global culture.

In the process, music has become less tribal and more playful, and the same goes for audiences. It's a great time to be listening to new music in the UK."

For the first time, this year entries were judged anonymously for all categories apart from Community or Educational Project, Sonic Art and Stage Works.

New awards

The British Composer Awards will be launching two new Gift of BASCA awards this year: the British Composer Award for Innovation and the British Composer Award for Inspiration, with each category recognising the entire body of work of a composer to date.

BBC Radio 3 will broadcast exclusive coverage of the Awards on Hear and Now on Saturday 10th December.

The winners in each category will be announced at the British Film Institute (BFI) on Tuesday 6th December 2016.

Using music and words, 'A Richer Dust' explores what it means to live with violence and extremism, the constant companions of human history4BR

2016 British Composer Awards Shortlist:

Amateur or Young Performers

I am, I say by Kate Whitley
In Sea-Cold Lyonesse by John Pickard
The Monster in the Maze by Jonathan Dove

Chamber Ensemble

13 Vices by Brian Irvine and Jennifer Walshe
Chamber Symphony No. 2 'The Australian' by Laurence Crane
Freezywater by Leo Chadburn

Choral

Ave Verum Corpus Re-Imagined by Roderick Williams
Noli Pater by James MacMillan
When Time is Broke by Cecilia McDowall

Community or Educational Project

Activating Memory by Eduardo Reck Miranda
Brass Roots; Musical Wings by Lucy Pankhurst
Into the Light by John Webb

Contemporary Jazz Composition

Karembeu's Guide to the Complete Defensive Midfielder by Joe Cutler
Our Lady of Stars | Book of Hours by Sorana Santos
With One Voice by Mark Lockheart

Orchestral

Alba by Rebecca Saunders
Instability by Luke Bedford
Smatter Hauler by Anna Meredith

Small Chamber

A Day at the Spa by Oliver Leith
Afference by Emily Howard
Modus Triplex by Alex Nikiporenko

Solo or Duo

Ampelos by Martin Iddon
Five Memos by Mark Bowden
Misplaced Time Refound by Richard Whalley

Sonic Art

SING SIGN: a close duet by Hanna Tuulikki
Sonorama by Claudia Molitor
Tree Radio by Magz Hall

Stage Works

Between Worlds by Tansy Davies
Nothing by David Bruce
The Cure by Harrison Birtwistle

Wind Band or Brass Band

A Richer Dust by Nigel Clarke
Au79 by Fumiko Miyachi
Just a Vibration by Shri Sriram