Gilbert Vinter (4 May 1909 – 10 October 1969)
was an English conductor and composer, most celebrated for his compositions for brass bands.
Life
Vinter was born in
Lincoln
Lincoln most commonly refers to:
* Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the sixteenth president of the United States
* Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England
* Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S.
* Lincoln ...
. As a youth, he was a chorister at
Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln Minster, or the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln and sometimes St Mary's Cathedral, in Lincoln, England, is a Grade I listed cathedral and is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Lincoln. Constructio ...
, and eventually became Head Chorister there. He later became a
bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuo ...
ist, playing in
Thomas Beecham
Sir Thomas Beecham, 2nd Baronet, Order of the Companions of Honour, CH (29 April 18798 March 1961) was an English conductor and impresario best known for his association with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic and the Roya ...
's newly-formed
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is one of five permanent symphony orchestras based in London. It was founded by the conductors Sir Thomas Beecham and Malcolm Sargent in 1932 as a rival to the existing London Symphony and BBC Symphony ...
. In 1930, he joined the BBC Military Band, where he did much of his early conducting. It was during that time that he also began to compose. During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Vinter played in
The Central Band of the RAF
The Central Band of the Royal Air Force is an RAF regular band and is part of Royal Air Force Music Services. The motto of the band is ''Aere Invicti'' (Latin for "Invincible with the Brass").
History
The Central Band of the RAF was formed in ...
and later led several other RAF bands.
He was the first principal conductor of the
BBC Concert Orchestra
The BBC Concert Orchestra is a British concert orchestra based in London, one of the British Broadcasting Corporation's five radio orchestras. With around fifty players, it is the only one of the five BBC orchestras which is not a full-scale symp ...
, from 1952 to 1953.
In 1960, The ''
Daily Herald'' newspaper and sponsors of brass band contests, commissioned Vinter to write his first major work for brass band, the result of which was ''Salute to Youth''.
Vinter was an adjudicator at the British Open Championships at
Belle Vue, Manchester
Belle Vue is an area of Manchester, England, east of the city centre, bordered by the Hope Valley Line on the east and the Glossop Line on the west. Belle Vue is part of the electoral ward of Longsight. Belle Vue railway station lies on the ...
, in 1969 where his ''Spectrum'' was the test piece. Midway through the contest, however, he was forced to retire from 'the box' due to his failing health. His position at the contest on the day was taken by Tom F Atkinson.
Vinter died in
Tintagel
Tintagel () or Trevena ( kw, Tre war Venydh, meaning ''Village on a Mountain'') is a civil parish and village situated on the Atlantic coast of Cornwall, England. The village and nearby Tintagel Castle are associated with the legends surroundin ...
, aged 60.
Major Works
Vinter wrote a number of works for brass band, including:
Vinter's other works include three brass quartets:
* ''Elegy and Rondo'' (written at the request of the GUS (Footwear) Band Quartet to play at the 1966 National Brass Quartet Championship)
* ''Fancy's Knell'' (written for the 1967 Championship)
* ''Alla Burlesca'' (written for the 1968 Championship).
References
External links
The Brass Herald, page on Sounds of Brass Programmes in honour of Gilbert VinterBBC Concert Orchestra history page
4BR wonders what Vinter would have thought: Salute to what Youth?
1909 births
1969 deaths
20th-century English composers
20th-century classical musicians
Brass band composers
English conductors (music)
English classical bassoonists
Light music composers
People from Lincoln, England
Royal Air Force airmen
Royal Air Force personnel of World War II
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