John Rutter: A Gaelic Blessing Context Commissioned by the Chancel Choir of the First United Methodist Church in Omaha, Nebraska in 1978, John Rutter’s A Gaelic Blessing is one of his most popular works. Written for SATB choir, A Gaelic Blessing is primarily known for the repeated chants of the Read more…
George Enescu: Symphony No.1 Context Romanian composer George Enescu (1881-1955) composed his First Symphony in 1905 after training at the Paris and Vienna conservatoires where he studied under the tutelage of Gabriel Fauré, Robert Fuchs and Jules Massenet. The symphony was performed the following year and the score was dedicated Read more…
Ludovico Einaudi: Nuvole Bianche Context Ludovico Maria Enrico Einaudi was born in Turin, Italy in 1955. Einaudi began to compose his own music when he reached his teen years, with his main musical tool being a guitar. He decided to study formally and gained a place at the prestigious Conservatorio Read more…
Ronald Binge: Miss Melanie Context Composed in 1956, Miss Melanie is said to be a lady from Ronald Binge’s imagination. A fun-loving and joyful character, Miss Melanie is another example of Binge’s token ‘Light British’ style from the 20th century. This descriptive short piece tells of some of the activities Read more…
Fergal Carroll: Winter Dances Context Commissioned by the Cultural Services Department at the Warrington Borough Council in 2002, Fergal Carroll’s Winter Dances for wind orchestra was premiered by the North Cheshire Concert Band. The work, which consists of three short movements, is now a staple in wind orchestra repertory and Read more…
Joan Tower: Copperwave Context Joan Tower was born in New Rochelle, New York in 1938. When Tower was nine, her family moved to Bolivia, which she describes as an integral part of her compositional style. Upon her father’s insistence, she learnt the piano and had consistent musical training. Her father Read more…
Arwel Hughes: Fantasia in A Minor Context Arwell Hughes (1909-1988) was born near Wrexham, North Wales. He attended the Royal College of Music, where he studied with Ralph Vaughan Williams. Hughes worked as a professional organist and conductor, leading the way in premiering new works by Welsh composers. He often Read more…
Judith Weir: The Welcome Arrival of Rain Context Judith Weir was born in 1954 in Cambridge, and at a young age she began learning the oboe. Weir in her youth performed regularly with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. She studied composition whilst at school with none other than Read more…
Jules Massenet: Meditation Context Used as an instrumental en’tract between scenes in Act II of Jules Massenet’s opera Thaïs, Meditation has since become a popular concert piece for violinists around the world. The piece reflects Thaïs, a beautiful courtesan, reflecting on big decisions that are coming their way. The orchestra Read more…
George Gershwin: Lullaby for String Quartet Context Composed in 1919 when George Gershwin was still a student, Lullaby for String Quartet was one of the young composer’s first ‘serious’ works. As with many of Gershwin’s works, Lullaby was conceived at the piano and fully harmonised before Gershwin arranged it for Read more…