Les Penning is a British

folk musician Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has be ...

and

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 ...

, best known for his work with

Mike Oldfield Mike may refer to: Animals * Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum * Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off * Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and documen ...

on the album ''

Ommadawn ''Ommadawn'' is the third studio album by English musician, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mike Oldfield, released on 25 October 1975 on Virgin Records. ''Ommadawn'' peaked at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart, No. 74 in Canada, and No. 146 on ...

'' and several of Oldfield's singles. He is credited with introducing Oldfield to

medieval music Medieval music encompasses the sacred and secular music of Western Europe during the Middle Ages, from approximately the 6th to 15th centuries. It is the first and longest major era of Western classical music and followed by the Renaissance ...

through their time playing together at Penrhos Court. He has worked with many other artists, playing woodwind, as producer or as recording engineer, and has created radio drama for

BBC Hereford and Worcester BBC Hereford & Worcester is the BBC's local radio station serving the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. It broadcasts on FM, DAB, digital TV and online via BBC Sounds from studios on Hylton Road in Worcester. According to RAJ ...

and music for two

S4C S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...

television series: ''Gwyddion'' and an adaption by

Gareth Miles Gareth Miles is a Welsh-language author, translator, and a founder of . He is a Marxist and translated Hamlet into the Welsh language from that perspective. In 2008 his book won the Wales Book of the Year The Wales Book of the Year is a Welsh ...

of the William John Griffith novel '' Storïau'r Henllys Fawr''.In 1978 he was a musician and performer on the BBC adaption of ‘Kilvert’s Diary’ In 1977 he was given the title of Sir Les Penning, Master of the King's music, to

Richard Booth Richard George William Pitt Booth (12 September 1938 – 20 August 2019) was a British people, British bookseller, known for his contribution to the success of Hay-on-Wye as a centre for second-hand bookselling. He was also the self-proclaimed ...

, the King of Hay. He has recently worked in on several projects in collaboration with

Robert Reed Robert Reed (born John Robert Rietz Jr.; October 19, 1932 – May 12, 1992) was an American actor. He played Kenneth Preston on the legal drama '' The Defenders'' from 1961 to 1965 alongside E. G. Marshall, and is best known for his role as the ...

including "

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...

Theme" and "Sanctuary II" and his albums "Belerion", "Return to Penrhos and "The Ringmaster Part One and Two".

Discography

;Albums *''The Worldes Goodnyte'' (2007) *''Througham Slad's Lost Sessions'' (2014) with

(unofficial release) *''Belerion'' (2016) with

Phil Bates Philip Bates (born 30 March 1953) is an English musician who has been a member of many notable bands, including Trickster and Quill, and was the lead guitarist, songwriter and joint lead vocalist for ELO Part II from 1993 through to 1999 and the ...

, and Miguel Engel de la LLave Jiménez *''Return to Penhros'' (2019) with

and Tom Newman ;Singles and EPs *

Cuckoo Song (instrumental) "Cuckoo Song" is a musical piece written by Michael Praetorius (1571 – 1621). In 1977 British musician Mike Oldfield released an arrangement of the piece as a single. Mike Oldfield single Mike Oldfield released a version of "Cuckoo Song" in ...

with Mike Oldfield, Virgin, 1977 *The British Grenadiers,

Polydor Records Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States. ...

, 1977 *The Hay 'National Anthem', Hay Gramophone Gesellschaft, 1977 *Should Have Been Forever,

Plant Life Records Plant Life Records was a record label that existed from 1977 until 1984. It was formed by Nigel Pegrum, at that time drummer for Steeleye Span. Maddy Prior recorded one album for the label, as did Wizz Jones in 1977. Its most successful record ...

, 1983 *Willow Fair, Plant Life Records, 1983 *Sussex Carol (with Rob Reed), 2016 *In Dulci Jubilo (with Rob Reed), 2018 *The Floral Dance (with Rob Reed), 2019 with

;As a contributing artist *''

'',

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...

, 1975 – Recorder, Conductor *

In Dulci Jubilo "In dulci jubilo" (Latin for "In sweet rejoicing") is a traditional Christmas carol. In its original setting, the carol is a macaronic text of German and Latin dating from the Middle Ages. Subsequent translations into English, such as J. M. N ...

, Virgin, 1975 *

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most dens ...

, Virgin, 1976 – Recorders and feet *Argiers, Virgin, 1976 * Echo & the Bunnymen, ''

Heaven Up Here ''Heaven Up Here'' is the second album by the English post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen, released on 30 May 1981. In June 1981, ''Heaven Up Here'' became Echo & the Bunnymen's first Top 10 release when it reached number 10 on the UK Albums Char ...

'', 1981 *Harmony Revival, ''Original Copy'' (LP), Ellie Jay Records, 1981 *Robert Reed, ''Sanctuary III'' (LP, Album), Plane Groovy, 2018 *Theme from Dr Who (with Robert Reed and Tom Newman), 2018 *Ryan Yard, ''Going Home'', 2018 *Rob Reed,''Tubular Bells - A Minor Tune'' (2019) with

and Tom Newman

Other music industry work

Mean Street Dealers, ''Bent Needles'' Recording Engineer, 1980 Somerville Gentleman’s Band, ''Far From Home'' Recording Engineer and recorder on "Upton Stick Dance", 1980 Manyana, ''Live Carrots'' Recording Engineer, 1980 Diamond Head, ''Diamond Lights'' EP – Engineer, 1981 Harmony Revival, ''Original Copy'' LP – Recording Engineer, 1981 Carolyn Robson, ''Banks of Tyne'' Recording Engineer, 1981 Regal Slip, ''Bandstand'' Recording Engineer, 1981 The Forbury Consort, ''12th - 20th century'' Cassette – Recording Engineer, 1991 Esther Davies, ''With all of my Heart'' LP – Recording Engineer, 1995 Matthew Smith, ''Matthew Smith'' LP – Recording Engineer, 1995

References

External links

Official Facebook Page
* * as Les * as Leslie
With Miguel Engel de la LLave Jiménez
{{DEFAULTSORT:Penning, Les British folk singers British composers British multi-instrumentalists 1944 births Living people