Anthony Gilbert (born 26 July 1934) is a British composer and academic, long associated with the

Royal Northern College of Music The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) is a conservatoire located in Manchester, England. It is one of four conservatoires associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. In addition to being a centre of music education ...

Biography

Gilbert, who was born in London on 26 July 1934, trained initially as a translator, then studied composition with Mátyás Seiber privately, with Denis Holloway at Trinity College, and with

Alexander Goehr Peter Alexander Goehr (; born 10 August 1932) is an English composer and academic. Goehr was born in Berlin in 1932, the son of the conductor and composer Walter Goehr, a pupil of Arnold Schoenberg. In his early twenties he emerged as a centra ...

and Anthony Milner at Morley College. He also studied with Gunther Schuller at Tanglewood. Until 1970 he was working in London at Schotts the music publishers where he was Editor of contemporary music. In 1970 he became Granada Arts Fellow at

Lancaster University Lancaster University (legally The University of Lancaster) is a public university, public research university in Lancaster, Lancashire, Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established in 1964 by royal charter, as one of several pla ...

and then went on to become first Tutor, then Head of the School of Composition at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he stayed until retirement in 1999. Amongst his students there were Sally Beamish, Tim Benjamin, Martin Butler, Simon Holt, Paul Newland, Janet Owen Thomas and James Saunders. Gilbert has been an active committee member of the

Society for the Promotion of New Music The Society for the Promotion of New Music (SPNM), originally named The Committee for the Promotion of New Music, was founded in January 1943 in London by the émigré composer Francis Chagrin, to promote the creation and performance of new music in ...

, the ICA Music Section, the British and Sydney Sections of the ISCM and the New Music Panel of North West Arts. He was founder member and artistic director of New Music Forum, Manchester. His memoirs, ''Kettle of Fish'', were published in 2021. He is published by Schott Music (works prior to 1994) and the University of York Music Press (since 1994).

Music

Gilbert has been a prolific composer since the 1960s, the majority of works for instrumental or chamber ensemble. Early ensemble pieces include ''Brighton Piece'' and ''Nine or Ten Osannas'' (both 1967), and works especially written for

The Fires of London The Fires of London, founded as the Pierrot Players, was a British chamber music ensemble which was active from 1965 to 1987. The Pierrot Players was founded by Harrison Birtwistle, Alan Hacker, and Stephen Pruslin.''Who’s Who 1975'', page 1 ...

, such as ''The Incredible Flute Music'' (1970) and ''Spell Respell'' for basset clarinet and piano (1973). From the 1970s he produced a series of larger orchestral compositions such as the Symphony (1973) and ''Ghost and Dream Dancing'' (1974), which Gilbert has called "in effect, a second symphony", as well as two operas: ''The Scene-Machine'' (1970, for the

Staatstheater Kassel The Staatstheater Kassel is a state-owned and operated theater in Kassel, Germany. History A permanent theatre house existed in Kassel during the first decade of the 17th century. It stood immediately next to the Ottoneum near the State Theatre ...

) and ''The Chakravaka-Bird'' (1977, for BBC Radio). Compositions for smaller orchestra during this period included ''Crow-Cry'' (1976, written for the London Sinfonietta), and ''Towards Asvari'' for solo piano and chamber orchestra (1978, written for Peter Lawson and the Manchester Camerata).UYMP. Catalogue of works
/ref> During the following decade smaller scale works were his primary focus. ''Moonfaring'' for cello and percussion (1983) has also been performed with dancers. There are a trilogy of humorous pieces based on the imaginary Chinese bestiary of Jorge Luis Borges: ''Quartet of Beasts'' (1984). ''Beastly Jingles'' (1985) and ''Six of the Bestiary'' (1985). Other works from this time include ''Dream Carousels'' for wind ensemble (Gilbert’s most-performed work, written for RNCM conductor Timothy Reynish) and the orchestral song-cycle ''Certain Lights Reflecting''. Both were inspired by writings of the Tasmanian poet

Sarah Day Sarah Day (born 1958) is an English-born Australian poet and teacher. She was also the poetry editor of ''Island Magazine'' for several years. Biography Sarah E Day was born in Lancashire, England, in 1958 and grew up in Hobart, Tasmania. Aft ...

. A recorder concerto written for John Turner, ''Igórochki'', was completed in 1992 and a lyrical violin concerto, ''On Beholding a Rainbow'', in 1997, recorded in 2005 with soloist Anthony Marwood. Although not noted for his interest in traditional forms. Gilbert has composed three piano sonatas and a cycle of five string quartets spanning the years 1972 to 2009. The third quartet has been recorded by the Nossek String Quartet (1999), the Madawaska Quartet (2009) and the Bingham Quartet (2014), and the fourth by the Tavec Quartet (2009). He wrote an extended essay on the British String Quartet since 1935. There is also a string trio, ''Humdance'' (2007) and a string quintet, ''Haven of Mysteries'', premiered by the Carducci String Quartet with cellist Guy Johnston at the Wigmore Hall on 14 June 2015.

Works

Piano

*''Elegy'' for piano, 1961 *Piano Sonata no.1, 1962 *Piano Sonata no.2 (piano 4-hands), 1966 *''Little Piano Pieces'' 8’, 1972 *''O alter Duft'' for piano (withdrawn), 1984 *''Funtoons: children’s pieces'' for piano (MS) 8’, 1985 *''Peal III'' for piano (MS) 2’, 1984 *Piano Sonata no.3 (2001) *''People Pieces'' for piano (beginners and on) 15’, 2005 *''Passing Bells'' for piano 3', 2006 *''Do Well: 8 short pieces'' for piano 15', 2009 *''Chimes in Time'' for piano, 7', 2010

Instrumental

*''Strophics'' for violin & piano, 1961 *Duo for violin and viola, 1963 *''The Incredible Flute Music'' for flute and piano (Peal I), 1968 *''Spell Respell'' for electric basset clarinet and piano, 1968 *''Treatment of Silence'' for violin and tape, 1969 *''Crow Undersongs'' for solo viola 11’, 1981 *''Sunrising'' for oboe and piano (commissioned and published by Forsyth Bros. Ltd., Manchester) 3’, 1981 *''Two Birds by Kuring-Gai'' for horn and piano (commissioned and published by Forsyth) 6’, 1982 *''Moonfaring'' for cello and percussion 19'-30’, 1983 *''Dawnfaring'' for viola and piano 15’, 1984 *''Peal IV'' for organ (MS) 2’, 1984 *''O alter Duft'' for piano duet (withdrawn), 1990 *''Paluma'' for sopranino recorder and piano (arranged from movement IV of Igórochki) (MS) 4’, 1993 *''Trying to make John SLOW DOWN AFTER 50'' for sopranino recorder and piano (Forsyth)**, 1993 *''Ziggurat'' for bass clarinet and marimba 21’, 1994 *''Stars'' for treble recorder and guitar (rev. 2004) 13’, 1995 *''Flame Robin'' for sopranino recorder solo (Forsyth) 1’, 1995 *''Miss Carroll her Lullabye'' for sopranino recorder and piano (Forsyth)**, 1995 *''Chant-au-clair'' for sopranino recorder and piano (Forsyth)**, 1995 *''Midwales Lightwhistle Automatic'' for sopranino recorder and piano (Forsyth)**, 1996 *''Réflexions, Rose nord'' for bass clarinet and vibraphone 5’, 1996 *''Osanna for Lady O'' for cello and piano (rewritten 2007) 8’, 1997 *''Ondine - chant au clair de lune'' for soprano and recorder (Aloysius Bertrand) (MS) 6', 1998 *''Os'' for oboe and vibraphone (revised 2002) 16’, 1999 *''Margareeting'' for tenor or descant recorder and piano (MS) 2’, 2000 *''Sinfin'' for vibraphone solo 8’, 2000 (also arranged for vibraphone duo) *''Worldwhorls'' for bass clarinet solo 8’, 2000 *''Photos found at Hukvaldy, August 1928'' for oboe solo 5’, 2000 *''Farings'' for sopranino recorder and piano (Forsyth) 15’, 2000Recorded by John Turner and Peter Lawson, Divine Art CD DDA21241 (2022)
/ref> *Piano Sonata no.3 autour des palombes 15', 2001 *''Kauri'' for solo Tuba 11’, 2002 *''Tulip Tree Dances'' for solo bass and treble recorders 15’, 2003 *''Rose luisante'' for solo freebass accordion 9’, 2003 *''Litany'' for clarinet and piano (Associated Board Spectrum series) 2’, 2004 *''Catercorny'', four pieces for clarinet and piano (contains Litany above) 6', 2004 *''Swallowtail'' for solo vibraphone 2', 2004 *''Halifenu Vine Dance'' for organ and pre-recorded organ 9', 2005 *''A Piece of Cake'' for treble recorder and piano (MS) 80", 2006 *''Jugalbandi Blues'' for bass clarinet solo 60", 2006 *''Echo'' for solo trumpet (Cincuentas 5) 4', 2007 *''Twirlpool'' for flute and viola 3', 2008 *''Gioco dei Pari'' for violin & viola (reworking of Duo of 1962) 10', 2008 *''Twinned Set'', seven short pieces for solo bassoon (and Set 2 for bass clarinet) 18', 2008 * ''Rapprochement'' for piano and cello, 8', 2011 * ''Pilbara Park'', solo guitar, 2012 * ''The Flame has Ceased'' (in memory

John McCabe John McCabe may refer to: *John McCabe (composer) (1939–2015), British composer and classical pianist *John McCabe (writer) (1920–2005), Shakespearean scholar and biographer *Christopher John McCabe Christopher John McCabe (born 20 Oc ...

), 2016 * ''Verse'' for solo double bass (written for David Hayes), 2019 * ''Duologue'' - small sonata for viola & piano, 2020

Chamber ensemble

*''Serenade'' for 6 instruments, 1963 *''Brighton Piece'' for 8 players, 1967 *''Nine or Ten Osannas'' for 5 players, 1967 *''O’Grady Music'' for clarinet, cello and toy instruments 24’, 1971 *String Quartet I (also available in arrangement with piano) 22’, 1972 *Canticle I (Rock-Song), for wind instruments 9’, 1973 *Canticle I (Rock-Song) version 2, for woodwind, horns, harp & piano 9', 1979 *''Calls around Chungmori'' for chamber ensemble and participating audience 15’, 1979 *''Vasanta with Dancing'' for chamber ensemble (dancer optional) 17’, 1981 *''Bendigo Match'' for wind band (MS) 3', 1981 *Concert Fanfare for Strathfieldsaye for 5 brass and 2 perc. (MS) 1', 1981 *''Little Fantasy on Gold-digger Melodies'' for flute and string quartet (MS) 4', 1981 *''Little Dance of Barrenjoey'' for fl.,cl., vla, vc. (MS) 2’, 1981 *''Quartet of Beasts'' for 3 wind instruments and piano 13’, 1984 *''Six of the Bestiary'' for saxophone quartet 12’, 1985 *''Fanfarings'' for 6 and 8 brass instruments (MS) 5 x 1’, 1986 *String Quartet II (revised 2003) 19’, 1987 *String Quartet III super hoqueto 'David' 7’, 1987 *''Tree of Singing Names'' for chamber orchestra 15’, 1989 *''Fanfaring V'' for brass (MS) 1’, 1992 *''Moon comes up, Pearl Beach (June ‘79)'' for alto flute, vibraphone and cello (version 2, MS lost) 1’, 1995 *''Dancing to the Tune'' for 4-8 oboes, 2-4 cors anglais, 1-2 heckelphones (MS) 4’, 1996 *''Sinfin 2'' for 4 vibraphones 8’, 2000 *''Unrise'' for ten wind instruments 16’, 2001 *''Four Seasons for Josca’s'' for young players (variable ens.) 3’, 2001 *String Quartet IV 23’, 2002 *''Ondine'' (version 2, extended), soprano + recorder, cello, hpschd. 11’, 2003 *''Palace of the Winds'' for 11 solo strings 15’, 2003 *''Tinos'' for soprano, clarinet and vibraphone (Magdalena Mismareza) 3’, 2004 *''Dark Singing'', Dancing Light for bassoon and string quintet/string ens. 10', 2005 *''ecco Eco'' for flute, clarinet & vibraphone (Cincuentas 4) 50", 2007 *''HumDance'' for string trio 20', 2007 *''York Surprise'' for flute, clarinet & bass clarinet 8', 2007 *''Word-Chimes in the Wind'' for wind quintet 18', 2008 *String Quartet no. 5 20', 2009 *''Hope's Place'', for chamber ensemble, 18', 2013 *''Tryptych'', for three winds and string ensemble, 16', 2014 * ''Haven of Mysteries'', string quintet, 2015 * ''La Douceur'', septet for three winds and string quartet, 2016 * ''Return of the St Louis'', trio for oboe, clarinet in A and bassoon, 2017

Choral and vocal

*Missa Brevis for unaccompanied choir, 1965 *''Assonants 1''for SATB soli + clarinet & horn, 1965 *''Three War Poems'' for chorus, 1966 *''Shepherd Masque'' for young voices, 1968 *''Love Poems'' for soprano and instrumental ensemble (2 versions) 10’, 1970 *Cantata: the man who tried to hijack an airliner 16’ (withdrawn), 1971 *Canticle II (Anger) for 6 male voices 6’, 1974 *''Inscapes'' for soprano, speaking voice and small ensemble 30’, 1975 *''Long White Moonlight'' for soprano and electric double bass 18’, 1980 *''Chant of Cockeye Bob'' for children’s voices and instruments 14’, 1981 *''Victorian Round'' for any number of voices (MS), 1981 *''Beastly Jingles'' for soprano and instrumental ensemble 11’, 1984 *''Certain Lights Reflecting'' song-cycle for mezzo-soprano and orchestra (to poems of Sarah Day) 19’, 1989 *''Upstream River Rewa'' for storyteller and Indo-European ensemble 29’, 1991 *''Little Cycle'' for Elizabeth Yeoman for soprano, cello and piano (MS) 7’, 1992 *''Handles to the Invisible'' for a cappella choir (to poems of Sarah Day) (rev. 2003) 15’, 1995 *''This Tree'' (Frances Horovitz) o.1 of Love Poems (1970), arr. mezzo and piano(Schott) 3’, 1996 *''Vers de Lune'', soprano plus flute, cello, percussion (Aloysius Bertrand) (incorporates a version of Ondine - chant au clair... above) 17’, 1999 *''Encantos'' song-cycle to Spanish symbolist love poetry for soprano or mezzo + clarinet, vibraphone, guitar (Magdalena Mismareza & anon.) 14', 2004 *''Ygg-drasill'' for soprano or mezzo + recorder, ob., cl., bsn, trp., 3 vlns, vc. (Cincuentas 3) 9', 2006 *''En Bateau'', d'après Watteau for soprano, recorder, oboe, violin & cello (to poems by Baudelaire & Proust) 9', 2007 *''Those Fenny Bells'' for treble, counter-tenor and vibraphone (poem by John Clare) 3', 2008 * ''Lay the Lances'', five songs for baritone and string orchestra, 2018

Orchestral

*Sinfonia for chamber orchestra, 1965 *''Regions'' for two orchestras, 1966 *''Peal II'' for big band, 1968 *Symphony (incorporates modified version of Regions) 39’, 1973 *''Ghost and Dream Dancing'' for orchestra 19’, 1974 *''Crow-Cry'' for chamber orchestra 20’, 1976 *''Welkin'' for orchestra 11’, 1976 *''Koonapippi'' for youth orchestra 6’, 1981 *''Dream Carousels'' for orchestra of wind 13’, 1984 *''Mozart Sampler with Ground'' for orchestra 10’, 1991 *''...into the Gyre of a Madder Dance'' for orchestral wind, 7’, 1994 *''Another Dream Carousel'' for string orchestra 8’, 2000 *''Even in flames,/the Thames/can’t hold a candle/to the Wandle'' for variable orchestra 6’, 2000 *''Sheer'' for string orch. 16’, 2003 *''Dance Concerto - Groove by chants'', for orchestra 19', 2006 * ''Lifelines'', roundelay for orchestra, 2020 * ''Liaison'', tone poem for medium-sized orchestra, 2021

Concertante

*''Mother'', for solo cello and ensemble *''Towards Asâvari'' for piano and chamber orchestra 22’, 1978 *''Igórochki'', concerto for recorder, 1992 *''On beholding a Rainbow'', concerto for violin and orchestra 30’, 1997 * ''A Melding'', concerto for Bb clarinet and chamber ensemble, 2019

Dramatic

*''The Scene-Machine'' one-act opera, libretto by George MacBeth 50’, 1970 *''The Chakravaka-Bird'' radio opera (libretto trans. from Indian sources by A. K. Ramanujan, Daniel H. H. Ingalls and A. Gilbert) (contact composer) 77’, 1977

Arrangements

*Guillaume de Machaut: ''Ma fin est mon commencement'', arr. recorder ensemble with tambour (MS) 4', 1981 *Arthur Benjamin: ''Two Jamaican Street Songs'', arr. piano 4h. (Boosey), 1990 *Mátyás Seiber: ''Burlesque from Pastorale & Burlesque'', arr. recorder and piano; also arr. recorder and string trio (Schott), 2005

References

External links

Anthony Gilbert official website

Anthony Gilbert introduces his work ''Nine or Ten Osannas''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilbert, Anthony British classical composers British male classical composers 20th-century classical composers 21st-century classical composers 1934 births Living people 20th-century British composers 21st-century British composers 20th-century British male musicians 21st-century British male musicians