Hope Spiral: Ben Nobuto

Release Date: 20 February 2026

Ben Nobuto is a British/Japanese composer, pianist and producer whose
commissions include work for the BBC Proms, Manchester Collective, City of
Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Choir, Colin Currie Quartet and
BBC Singers.

Hope Spiral reflects on joy, hope, wonder - how to renew these things so that you
can fall in love with the world over and over again, like seeing a cloud or hearing a
major chord as if for the first time. Spirals are usually depicted as going downwards,
often linked to negative things (thought spirals, anxiety spirals). Nobuto presents it
inverted, like a vortex spiralling up to the sky, a euphoric feedback loop.

The piece quotes William Blake’s Auguries of Innocence (1863):
Every night and every morn / Some to misery are born. / Every morn and every night /
Some are born to sweet delight. / Some are born to sweet delight, / Some are born to
endless night.

This release is a part of Extended Play - Jerwood Series - the result of in-depth conversations between NMC and the selected composers, together shaping a programme that meets their evolving needs. Each Extended Play release is a professionally recorded EP of around 20 minutes, distilling the artist's latest work, and supported by a high-quality music video, a scrolling score film, bespoke mentoring, and an international digital release across all major streaming platforms. Alongside NMC’s expertise and global network, the series aims to raise composers’ profiles, reach new audiences worldwide, and unlock the next stage of their creative careers.

Ben Nobuto 
Ben Goldscheider horn
Brother Tree Sound

FUNDERS

Extended Play has been made possible with generous support from the Jerwood Foundation and the Fenton Arts Trust.

NMC Recordings would also like to thank: 

RECORDING CREDITS