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Edward Gregson

{{Short description|English composer}}

{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Edward Gregson

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1945|07|23}}

| birth_place = Sunderland, England

| death_date =

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| alma_mater = Royal Academy of Music

| occupation = Composer

| years_active =

| employer = Royal Northern College of Music (Principal, 1996–2008)

| known_for =

| notable_works =

| television = Title music to BBC's Young Musician of the Year

| awards =

| website = {{URL|edwardgregson.com}}

}}

Edward Gregson (born 23 July 1945){{cite news

| last =

| first =

| title = Birthdays

| newspaper = The Guardian

| location =

| pages = 31

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| date = 23 July 2014

| url =

}} is an English composer of instrumental and choral music, particularly for brass and wind bands and ensembles, as well as music for the theatre, film, and television. He was also principal of the Royal Northern College of Music.

Early life and education

He was born in Sunderland, England, in 1945. He studied composition (with Alan Bush) and piano at the Royal Academy of Music from 1963–7, winning five prizes for composition. Although his works have no opus numbers, he referred to his Oboe Sonata as his Opus 1{{cite web |title=New CD of Gregson's instrumental music to be released on 9 April|url=https://edwardgregson.com/new-cd-of-gregsons-instrumental-music-to-be-released/|work=Composer’s website|date=2 April 2021 }}

Career

In 1988 he was nominated for an Ivor Novello award for his title music to BBC Television's Young Musician of the Year programmes, for which he also regularly officiated as a jury member and broadcaster.

He was Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester from 1996–2008. There he faced criticism for the appointment of Malcolm Layfield, previously a violin teacher at the College, to the post of Head of Strings, despite Gregson's knowledge of allegations that Layfield had a history of sexual misconduct against students.{{cite news|title=Correspondence over appointment of Malcolm Layfield at Royal Northern College of Music|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/interactive/2013/feb/08/correspondence-appointment-malcolm-layfield-rncm|work=Guardian|accessdate=13 February 2013|location=London|date=8 February 2013}}

In 2008 he retired from academic life to concentrate on his composition.

He has since completed orchestral commissions for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the Bournemouth Symphony, the Hallé and the BBC Philharmonic orchestras. In 2014, the North American Brass Band Association honored both Edward Gregson and his brother Bramwell Gregson (best known for his conducting work with the London Citadel Band and Canada's Brassroots, modelled on the Philip Jones brass tentet). Each section's required test piece was composed by Edward Gregson.

He continues to sit on a number of Boards relating to music education and the music industry. He is a fellow at the RNCM, as well as at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music.

In October 2024 Gregson was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award at The Ivors Classical Awards. Viola Concerto "Three Goddesses" was nominated for Best Large Ensemble Composition.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Mark |date=2024-10-15 |title=Nominations for The Ivors Classical Awards 2024 announced |url=https://ivorsacademy.com/news/nominations-for-the-ivors-classical-awards-2024-announced/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=The Ivors Academy |language=en-GB}}

Performances

His music has been performed by many orchestras and ensembles worldwide, including in the UK: the London Symphony Orchestra and all the BBC orchestras; in the USA: Detroit, Louisville and Albany (New York); in the Far East: Tokyo Philharmonic and China National Broadcasting Orchestra; and in Europe: orchestras in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Scandinavia.

A major retrospective of his music was held in Manchester in 2002.

Recordings

Chandos have released three complete discs of works by Gregson:

  • [http://www.chandos.net/details06.asp?CNumber=CHAN%2010478 Trumpet Concerto, Saxophone Concerto, Concerto for piano and wind]
  • [http://www.chandos.net/details06.asp?CNumber=CHAN%2010105 Blazon, Clarinet Concerto, Violin Concerto, Stepping Out]
  • [http://www.chandos.net/details06.asp?CNumber=CHAN%2010627 Music for Chamber Orchestra, Trombone Concerto, Two Pictures for String Orchestra, 'A Song for Chris' (Cello Concerto)]

Naxos has recorded the complete piano music including the Piano Sonata in one movement, and the two string quartets.[http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2021/Mar/Gregson-piano-8574222.htm Naxos 8.574222 (2021), reviewed at MusicWeb International]

Several CDs of his music for brass have been recorded by various groups on the Doyen label:

  • Gregson Volume 1 (DOY CD 017) Desford Colliery Caterpillar Band, circa 1992
  • Dances and Arias
  • Concerto for French Horn and Brass Band (w. Frank Lloyd, horn)
  • Connotations
  • Of Men and Mountains
  • Gregson 2
  • Gregson 3
  • Gregson 4 The Trumpets of the Angels
  • Halle Brass plays Gregson
  • Edward Gregson Wind Music
  • Gregson 5 Symphony

Works

  • 1965 – [http://edwardgregson.com/works/oboe-sonata/ Oboe Sonata]
  • 1966 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=675 In The Beginning]
  • 1967 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=13270 Quintet for Brass]
  • 1968 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=8117 Music for Chamber Orchestra]
  • 1968 - Divertimento for trombone and piano
  • 1968 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=13264 March Prelude]
  • 1971 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=36303 Horn Concerto]
  • 1971 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=36851 Horn Concerto (wind ensemble version)]
  • 1971/1999 - [http://edwardgregson.com/works/partita/ Partita (for brass band)]
  • 1973 - [https://edwardgregson.com/works/plantagenets-symphonic-study-the/ The Plantagenets]
  • 1976 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=8122 Tuba Concerto (orchestral version)]
  • 1976 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=13265 Tuba Concerto (brass band version)]
  • 1976 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=14701 Tuba Concerto (wind orchestral version)]
  • 1976 - [http://edwardgregson.com/works/variations-on-laudate-dominum/ Variations on Laudate Dominum]
  • 1976 - [http://edwardgregson.com/works/connotations/ Connotations]
  • 1978 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=8115 Flourish for Orchestra]
  • 1979 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=13263 Metamorphoses]
  • 1979 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=8121 Trombone Concerto]
  • 1982 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=673 Six Little Piano Pieces]
  • 1983 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=8114 Contrasts – a concerto for orchestra]
  • 1983 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=13271 Equale Dances]
  • 1983 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=677 Piano Sonata in one movement]
  • 1983 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=8120 Trumpet Concerto]
  • 1984 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=13266 Dances and Arias]
  • 1984 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=8118 Sonata for Four Trombones]
  • 1985 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=13267 Festivo]
  • 1986 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=13268 Occasion]
  • 1987 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=8116 Missa Brevis Pacem]
  • 1988 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=676 Make A Joyful Noise]
  • 1992 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=13269 Of Men and Mountains]
  • 1994 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=8119 Clarinet Concerto]
  • 1997 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=13744 A Welcome Ode]
  • 1999 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=13746 The Dance, forever the Dance]
  • 1971/1999 - [http://edwardgregson.com/works/partita/ Partita (revision for symphonic wind band)]
  • 2006 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=23620 Saxophone Concerto]
  • 2007 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=35696 Cello Concerto]
  • 2009 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=42861 Dream Song]
  • 2009 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=43284 Goddess]
  • 2009 – [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=43282 Tributes]
  • 2011 – [https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/47245/An-Album-for-my-Friends--Edward-Gregson/ An Album for my Friends for piano]
  • 2012 – [http://edwardgregson.com/works/symphony-in-two-movements/ Symphony in Two Movements]
  • 2014 – String Quartet No 1
  • 2017 – String Quartet No 2[http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/May/Gregson-chamber-8574223.htm Gregson Chamber Music, Naxos 8.574223 (2022)]
  • 2020 – [https://edwardgregson.com/works/three-etudes-piano/ Three Etudes for piano]

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website|http://edwardgregson.com/en/home/}} with list of works, discography and sound samples
  • [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2431&State_2905=2&composerId_2905=581 Edward Gregson's homepage at Novello & Co]

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Category:1945 births

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from Sunderland

Category:Fellows of the Royal Academy of Music

Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music

Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Music

Category:Academics of the Royal Northern College of Music

Category:20th-century English classical composers

Category:21st-century English classical composers

Category:English male classical composers

Category:People educated at the Central Grammar School for Boys

Category:20th-century English male musicians

Category:21st-century English male musicians