A Perfect Week of Music in the North of England
On Friday I had the privilege to give a composition seminar to the Music Department of the University of Salford organised by a composer I have always admired, Professor Peter Graham. I completed my Doctorate at Salford from 2006 – 2008 and felt pleased to be back. The students were attentive and stayed behind afterwards to ask many questions. Amongst other aspects of my compositional work, I was able to introduce to the students my latest work `Mysteries of the Horizon’, a concerto for Cornet and Brass Band.
Another reason for my visit ‘up north’ was to attend rehearsals and a recording session of my recent work `Earthrise’ by the students of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester under the direction of Clark Rundell. Other composers featured on the forthcoming Polyphonic disc are Martin Ellerby, Duncan Stubbs, Rob Wiffin, Stephen Richardson, Gordon Jacob, Philip Sparke and the Liverpool based composer Tom Moss.
`Earthrise’ has also been recorded recently by the Middle Tennessee Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr Reed Thomas and will be released next year on the Naxos Label alongside my `Heritage Suite’ and `Their Finest Hour’. I am thrilled to think, that within its first 6 months of life `Earthrise’ has received performances by the Göteborg Symphonic Band, The Band of the Grenadier Guards, Middle Tennessee State Wind Ensemble and has now been recorded by the RNCM Wind Orchestra – What a truly stellar start!
`Earthrise’ both for Brass Band and Concert Band is published by
Studio Music Company
Two Short Clips of Clark Rundell recording `Earthrise’ with the
Royal North College of Music Wind Orchestra