Geoffrey Poole worklist 2022

Geoffrey Poole

Geoffrey Poole

Geoffrey Poole is a contemporary classical composer with a bold and independent outlook. Much of his most characteristic work has been inspired by the mutual interrogation of classical tradition and high folk traditions from Europe, Africa and Asia. English by birth (b.1949), he has lived in East Africa (1985-7), the USA as Visiting Fellow in Composition at Princeton (1997-8), and studied traditional performance in Korea (2008) and The Gambia (2009). After a substantial career at the University of Manchester he was made Professor of Composition at Bristol University, a position from which he retired in 2009. He was married to composer Beth Wiseman from 1977 until her death in 2007, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts the same year.

His works include three string quartets commissioned by The Lindsay String Quartet, orchestral music performed by the Halle, RLPO, BBCSO, BBC Philharmonic and others, choral music broadcast by The King’s Singers, the Tavener Consort / BCMG and a major concerto for vocalities, The Colour of My Song, which was commissioned in 2006 by the BBC Singers. Other colourful large-scale compositions are the Sheherazade-like voyage Sailing With Archangels for Wind Orchestra and some unusual concertos: Two-Way Talking for Ghanean Drummer and 5 ensembles, Swans Reflecting Elephants for Javanese Gamelan and chamber orchestra, and Lucifer a black comedy for piano and 21 loud instruments. He has written several works for amateurs or younger players, including the widely known recorder pieces Skally Skarekrow’s Whistling Book, and Look Behind You!

A recorded pianist and conductor on occasion, Poole has also established a body of work as a critic and theorist, and has served on the North West Arts Board, BBC and SPNM Reading Panels, SPNM Board of Directors, and ISCM Board of Directors, and as advisor to RAE2008.

Geoffrey Poole’s music has been performed and broadcast worldwide. It is represented on Metier, ASC, Serendipity, RCA, Forsyth, Klavier, Art Fusion, Divine Art, and NMC recording labels and almost fifty of his eighty titles are published by Edition Peters.

For further information:

Leipzig

London

C. F. Peters Ltd. & Co. KG Peters Edition Ltd

New York

C. F. Peters Corporation

Talstraße 10 2 – 6 Baches Street 520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2005 D-04103 Leipzig London N1 6DN New York, NY 10018 Deutschland UK USA

( +49 (0) 341 989 792 ( +44 (0) 20 7553 4000 * stefan.conradi@editionpeters.com * newmusic@editionpeters.com

* gene.caprioglio@editionpeters.com

WORK LIST

Solos

Commodo Dragonfly (2005) 6 minutes

Solo Bass Clarinet Musings on fragments from Dao Qian

First performed 21 October 2005, Rotterdam International Bass Clarinet Festival, Rotterdam, by Ian Mitchell EP 71550

Dogs Bark, the Caravan Rolls On (2007) 4 minutes Solo Violin

First performed 19 March 2007, Sheffield University as part of a Western Australian (Perth) exchange EP 71586

Nocturnes (1984) 10 minutes Solo Piano EP 71570

On the High Wire (1996) 12 minutes

Solo Cello

First performed 21 March 1996, Manchester, by Betsy Taylor EP 71572

Ricercare (1980/1999) 7 minutes

Cello Solo after J.S. Bach

First performed 11 June 1995, Manchester St. Anne’s, by Betsy Taylor EP 71557

TEN (1981) 14 minutes Solo Piano

First performed 22 April 1982, Lancaster University, by Peter Lawson EP 71553

Duos

Fibonacci Fizz (2015) 5.5 minutes Marimba & Pf EP 73387

Firefinch (1999) 9 minutes Ob & Pf

Commissioned by Chester Summer Music Festival

First performed 27 July 1999, Chester, by Jinny Shaw (ob) and Anne-Marie Hastings (pf) EP 71581

Kakemono (2004) 11 minutes

2Hp

Commissioned by Park Lane Group

First performed 13 January 2005, Purcell Room, by Double Action EP 71555

Lovesong to my bird (1981) 2 minutes

Voice and any instrument Dedicated to Beth at 30 EP 72570

Twain (2000) 8 minutes

2Fl or 2Rec or 2Ob

First performed 6 September 2003, St Ives, by Jinny Shaw and Lucy Wakeford EP 71562

Wild Goose Weeping Widow (1984) 22 minutes 2 Guitars

Commissioned by Aguado Guitar Duo

First performed 1984-5, Asian-Australian International Tour, by Aguado Guitar Duo EP 71566

Chamber Ensemble (3-20 Players)

After Long Silence (2007) 6 minutes

Soprano, Recorder and Cello

Text: W.B. Yeats

Commissioned by Ida Carroll Trust, written in memory of Basil Deane

First performed 11 September 2007, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, by Lesley-Jane Rogers (soprano) and John Turner (recorder) EP 72568

Canto 2 (Dante’s Eagle) (2001) 4 minutes

Soprano, Recorder, Cello and Piano

Dedicated to David Lumsdaine at 70

First performed 11 November 2001, Manchester, by Eleanor Meynell (soprano), John Turner (recorder), Jonathan Price (cello) and Peter Lawson (piano) EP 72569

Carved in Stone (2006) 14 minutes Fl, Cl(B-cl), Hp, Pf, 2Perc, Str (1.0.0.1.0)

Dedicated to Keith Nimmo

Commissioned by Bournemouth SO, Corsham Festival, and friends of Wiltshire Music Centre

First performed 18 June 2006, Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon, by Kokoro/Mark Forkgen

Carved in Stone (recomposed 2011) 14 minutes

Sextet version for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion

First performed 9 February 2011, Elektrostatic Series, Colston Hall 2, Bristol, by Bristol Ensemble, directed by Geoffrey Poole EP 72141a

Crossing Ohashi Bridge (1995) 18 minutes

Strings

Commissioned by the Goldberg Ensemble

First performance 21 January 1995, Royal Northern College of Music, by the Goldberg Ensemble, directed by Malcolm Layfield EP 71561

Fragments (1974) 8 minutes

Strings (min. 4.4.3.2.1)

First performed March 1992, Manchester International Festival of Expressionism, Royal Northern College of Music, by the Goldberg Ensemble, directed by Malcolm Layfield EP 71577

Hanami Sanjo (2008 arr. 2011) 8-9 minutes

Vla, Vc & Pf

Commissioned by Ahn Jae Sook

First performed 9 February 2011, Elektrostatic Series, Colston Hall 2, Bristol, by The Bristol Ensemble EP 72140

Harmonice Mundi (1978) 32 minutes

Piano Quintet (string quartet and piano)

Commissioned by The Lindsay String Quartet funded by RVW Trust

First performed 9 March 1979, Manchester, by Lindsay Quartet and Maurice Aitchison EP 72567

The Impersonal Touch (1995) 9 minutes

2 Pianos/4 Hands

First performed 9 January 1996, Purcell Room, by Yana Polyanovskaya and Irina Feoktistova EP 71551

Look Behind You! (2002) 5 minutes

Vln, Vc & Pf

Commissioned by Chamber Music 2000 Education Project

First performed 12 February 2003, Purcell Room, by Salisbury students EP 71568

Qigong (Chi Kun) (1999) 12 minutes

Strings (3.3.2.2.1)

First performed 24 November 1999, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, by the Goldberg Ensemble EP 71578

Septembral for mixed ensemble (1993, rev. 1998) 16 minutes

B-cl, Vln, Vc, Pf

Commissioned by ICA Live Arts

First performed 31 October 1993, ICA, London, by Gemini EP 71560

The Sheltering Bell (2009) 10 minutes

String Quartet

Commissioned by the University of Bristol in celebration of its Centenary

First performed 8 May 2009, the Vice-Chancellor’s Banquet, Great Hall, Wills Memorial Building, Bristol, by the Brodowski Quartet EP 72181

Slow - Music (1982) 13 minutes

Ob, Cl, Bsn, Hn, Pf

Commissioned by Chester Summer Music Festival

First performed 28 July 1982, Chester, by Endymion EP 71584

String Quartet No.1 (Saranghi) (1983) 18 minutes

String quartet

Commissioned by Birmingham Chamber Concerts Society

First performed 21 January 1984, Birmingham Cathedral, by Lindsay Quartet EP 71583

String Quartet No.2 (The Gambia) (1990) 21 minutes

String quartet

Commissioned by Sheffield City Polytechnic

First performed 9 October 1990, Sheffield, by Lindsay Quartet EP 71585

String Quartet No.3 (1997/99) 20 minutes

String quartet

Commissioned by Keele Concerts Society

First performed 27 October 1997, Keele, by Lindsay Quartet EP 71587

Two-Way Talking (1991) 32 minutes

Concerto for Ghanean Drummer and five ensembles 1.1.1.1—1.1.1.0—Hp—Perc—Str(1.0.1.1.1)

Commissioned by Focus 1991 African Arts Festival

First performed 1991, Royal Northern College of Music, Kwasi Asare with Polyphonia, conducted by Geoffrey Poole EP 71579

Vocal and Choral Works

Angels Also Die (2013) c. 6 minutes

SATB a cappella choir

Dedicated to Jonathan Harvey (1939-2013) in loving memory Commissioned by Severnside Composers Alliance

First performed 11 May 2013, Arnos Vale Anglican Chapel, Bristol, by The New Bristol Voices, directed by Steven Kings EP 72501

Ave, Rex Angelorum (1970, rev. 1998) 16 minutes

From ‘Wymondham Choruses’

SATB Chorus

Text: Medieval English carols and lyrics Commissioned by The Kings Singers EP 72160

The Ballad of Halloween Hag (2013) 5 minutes

SATB and piano

Text: ‘The Hag’, Robert Herrick

Dedicated to Andrew Hopwood and The Painswick Singers

First performed 26 October 2013, Painswick, by the Painswick Singers, directed by Andrew Hopwood, Geoffrey Poole (keyboard) EP 72493

Behind the Arras (2012) c. 15 minutes

Male vocal consort ATBarB

Text: Anonymous authors of the Tudor period

Dedicated to Betty Poole at 90 Commissioned by New York Polyphony EP 72429

Calligrammes d’Apollinaire (1984) 10 minutes

Soprano, Clarinet & Piano

Text: G. Apollinaire

First performed 24 November 1984, Purcell Room, London, by Triple Echo, Jane Ginsborg (soprano), Philip Edwards (clarinet), George Nicholson (piano) EP 71573

The Colour of my Song (2006) 36 minutes

SATB Choir - Semi-chorus - 2Perc - Hp

BBC commission, for BBC singers in commemoration of Luciano Berio

First performed 10 November 2006, St. Paul’s, Knightsbridge, by the BBC, conducted by James Morgan EP 71549

Five Brecht Songs (Fünf Brecht Lieder) (1983) 13 minutes

Baritone & Piano

For Leeds Contemporary Music Festival

First performed 3 March 1983, Leeds Festival, by Philip O’Reilly (baritone) and Graham Barber (piano) EP 71582

Heynonnynonny Smallprint (2008) 3 minutes

Voice (any)

Text: Geoffrey Poole

Commissioned by NMC records for the 40th anniversary songbook

First performed 1 April 2009, Kings Place, London, by David Stout (baritone) EP 71776

Imerina (1986)

SATB chorus

Text: J-J Rabearivelo

First performed 1988, Manchester University, by Manchester Singers, directed by Rowena Brown EP 71552

WORKI LIST

The Magnification of the Virgin (1992) 16 minutes

Small SSA choir and 12 players: 0.2(+1).0.2 - 0.2.3.0 - 2Perc

Commissioned by Sound Investments

First performed 9 February 1992, Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham, by Tavener Consort and Birmingham Contemporary Music Ensemble, conducted by Andrew Parrott EP 71565

Rune Labyrinth (1997) 15 minutes

Oboist/narrator – Hp - actress/dancer

Text: adapted by the composer from Anglo-Saxon Rune Alphabet poems and related literature Commissioned by Okeanos, directed by Virginia Shaw, with funds from the A4E First performed 5 October 1997, Newport theatre, Wight, by Okeanos EP 71558

Wymondham Choruses (1988) SATB chorus Commissioned by King’s Singers EP 71563

Orchestra and Large Ensemble

Lucifer (2001) 28 minutes

Concerto for piano and 21 loud instruments Pf solo - 0.0.0.0.S-sax.A-sax.T-sax.Bar-sax - 4.3.3.1 – Timp - 4Perc - Db

Commissioned by Thames Valley University for Philip Mead’s Piano and Brass project

First performed 17 November 2002, Royal Northern College of Music, by RNCM Brass, Philip Mead (piano), conducted by James Gourlay EP 71567

Schubert’s “Reliquie” (1997) 40 minutes String Orchestra Completion and arrangement of Schubert’s Sonata in C, D.840 First performed 26 November 1999, Royal Northern College of Music, by the Goldberg Ensemble, Malcolm Layfield EP 71559

Shumei, Shumei (2011) 14 minutes 2.Picc.2.CA.2.B-cl.2.Cbsn – 4.4.3.Btbn.1 – Timp – 5Perc – Clavinova – 2Hp – Str Commissioned by the New Bristol Sinfonia with funds from the Britten-Pears Foundation and PRS for Music Foundation

First performed 26 November 2011, Victoria Rooms, Bristol, by New Bristol Sinfonia EP 72214

Song of The Gambia (2000) 10 minutes

String Orchestra

Arranged from third movement of String Quartet No. 2 (The Gambia) EP 71580

Swans Reflecting Elephants (1998) 18 minutes

Gamelan soli—3(I=Picc, III=A-fl).2(II=Ca).Ob-d’a.0. 3.0.3(III=B-tbn).0—Perc—Hp—Str (0.0.3.0.3)

Commissioned by Halle

First performed 27 February 2004, BBC “Swans Reflecting Elephants” series, by BBCSO, South Bank Gamelan, conducted by Jason Lai EP 71554

Woodscapes (1986) 18 minutes

2(II=A-fl).2(II=Ca).2(II=B-cl).1—2.2.0.0— Timp—Perc—Str

First performed 23 June 1988, Aix-en-Provence Festival, by RNCM Sinfonia, conducted by Michel Brandt EP 71564

For further information:

Leipzig London New York

C. F. Peters Ltd. & Co. KG

Peters Edition Ltd

C. F. Peters Corporation

Talstraße 10 2 – 6 Baches Street 520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2005 D-04103 Leipzig London N1 6DN New York, NY 10018 Deutschland UK USA ( +49 (0) 341 989 792 ( +44 (0) 20 7553 4000 * stefan.conradi@editionpeters.com * katie.tearle@editionpeters.com

* gene.caprioglio@editionpeters.com