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Giles Oliver Cairnes Swayne (born
and premiered in 1980 (recorded on the label NMC by the BBC Singers conducted by John Poole)
* ''Magnificat'', 1982
* ''
* ''The Silent Land'', for cello and choir, premiered in 1998 * ''HAVOC'', for accompanied choir – a sequel to ''CRY''; premiered 1999 * ''Riff-Raff'' for organ, premiered in 1983 by Andrew Parnell * ''Le Nozze di Cherubino'' (opera, premiere 22 January 1985 London)
Autobiography at Gonzaga Publishers
Included instead of the biography at Schirmer, which mostly duplicates it.
Giles Swayne's web-page
Contains biography and complete worklist
chesternovello.com
List of works published by Novello & Co.
Recordings from Giles Swayne's study in The Gambia and Senegal
1946 births Living people 20th-century classical composers 20th-century English composers 20th-century British male musicians 21st-century classical composers 21st-century British male musicians English classical composers English male classical composers English opera composers Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Conservatoire de Paris alumni Male opera composers Musicians from Hertfordshire People educated at Ampleforth College {{UK-composer-stub
Giles Oliver Cairnes Swayne (born Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is one of the home counties in southern England. It borders Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to the north, Essex to the east, Greater London to the south, and Buckinghamshire to the west. For govern ...
, 30 June 1946) is a British composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and Defi ...
.
Biography
Swayne spent much of his childhood inLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...
, and began composing at a young age. He was educated at Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College is a co-educational independent day and boarding school in the English public school tradition located in the village of Ampleforth, North Yorkshire, England. It opened in 1802 as a boys' school, it is situated in the groun ...
and at Cambridge University
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
, where he worked with Raymond Leppard
Raymond John Leppard (11 August 1927 – 22 October 2019) was a British-American conductor, harpsichordist, composer and editor. In the 1960s, he played a prime role in the rebirth of interest in Baroque music; in particular, he was one of the ...
and Nicholas Maw
John Nicholas Maw (5 November 1935 – 19 May 2009) was a British composer. Among his works are the operas '' The Rising of the Moon'' (1970) and ''Sophie's Choice'' (2002).
Biography
Born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, Maw was the son of Clarence ...
before spending three years at the Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, England, is the oldest conservatoire in the UK, founded in 1822 by John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. It received its royal charter in 1830 from King George IV with the support of the first Duke of ...
as a student of Harrison Birtwistle
Sir Harrison Birtwistle (15 July 1934 – 18 April 2022) was an English composer of contemporary classical music best known for his operas, often based on mythological subjects. Among his many compositions, his better known works include ''Th ...
, Alan Bush
Alan Dudley Bush (22 December 1900 – 31 October 1995) was a British composer, pianist, conductor, teacher and political activist. A committed communist, his uncompromising political beliefs were often reflected in his music. He composed pro ...
and, once again, Maw. During the years 1976 to 1977 he attended several of Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (, ; ; 10 December 1908 – 27 April 1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithologist who was one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex; harmonically ...
's classes at the Paris Conservatoire
The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...
and from 1981 to 1982 made a study visit to the Gambia
The Gambia,, ff, Gammbi, ar, غامبيا officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. It is the smallest country within mainland AfricaHoare, Ben. (2002) ''The Kingfisher A-Z Encyclopedia'', Kingfisher Publicatio ...
and southern Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤠(Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤠ðž ...
– a formative experience he put to creative use as composer-in-residence to the London borough of Hounslow, 1980–83. Together with his second wife, the Ghanaian, Naaotwa Codjoe, he lived in a village near Accra, Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
, from 1990 to 1996; he has now settled in London. Swayne is a cousin of Elizabeth Maconchy
Dame Elizabeth Violet Maconchy LeFanu (; 19 March 1907 – 11 November 1994) was an Irish-English composer. She is considered to be one of the finest composers Great Britain and Ireland have produced.
Biography
Elizabeth Violet Maconchy was b ...
and Nicola LeFanu
Nicola Frances LeFanu (born 28 April 1947) is a British composer, academic, lecturer and director.
Life
Nicola LeFanu was born in Wickham Bishops, Essex, England, to William LeFanu and Elizabeth Maconchy (also a composer, later Dame Elizabeth ...
.
Selected compositions
* ''CRY'', opus 27 for 28 solo voices and electronics, commissioned by theBBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...String Quartet
The term string quartet can refer to either a type of musical composition or a group of four people who play them. Many composers from the mid-18th century onwards wrote string quartets. The associated musical ensemble consists of two violinists ...
s'' 1 – 3 (1971 to 1993)
* ''Goodnight Sweet Ladies'' for soprano and piano, commissioned by Lord Harewood
Earl of Harewood (), in the County of York, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
History
The title was created in 1812 for Edward Lascelles, 1st Baron Harewood, a wealthy sugar plantation owner and former Member of Parliament for ...
and written 1994–5* ''The Silent Land'', for cello and choir, premiered in 1998 * ''HAVOC'', for accompanied choir – a sequel to ''CRY''; premiered 1999 * ''Riff-Raff'' for organ, premiered in 1983 by Andrew Parnell * ''Le Nozze di Cherubino'' (opera, premiere 22 January 1985 London)
References
External links
Autobiography at Gonzaga Publishers
Included instead of the biography at Schirmer, which mostly duplicates it.
Giles Swayne's web-page
Contains biography and complete worklist
chesternovello.com
List of works published by Novello & Co.
1946 births Living people 20th-century classical composers 20th-century English composers 20th-century British male musicians 21st-century classical composers 21st-century British male musicians English classical composers English male classical composers English opera composers Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Conservatoire de Paris alumni Male opera composers Musicians from Hertfordshire People educated at Ampleforth College {{UK-composer-stub