Anthony Gilbert (composer)
Anthony Gilbert was a British composer and academic, long associated with the Royal Northern College of Music. He also taught for extended periods as head of composition at the New South Wales State Conservatorium. His works, many of them for larger chamber ensembles, were published by Schott and University of York Music Press. Several of them were written for particular musicians, who performed and recorded them. He wrote a memoir, published in 2021.
Biography
Gilbert, who was born in London on 26 July 1934, trained initially as a translator, then studied composition privately with Mátyás Seiber, piano with Denis Holloway at Trinity College, and composition with Alexander Goehr and Anthony Milner at Morley College. He also studied with Gunther Schuller at Tanglewood.He worked for the London branch of Schott, beginning as a warehouseman and later chief editor of contemporary music, and head of production. In 1970 he moved north, first as Granada Arts Fellow at Lancaster University, and then to the Royal Northern College of Music, as Tutor and later head of the school of composition and contemporary music, where he stayed until retirement in 1999. He worked for extended periods as head of the composition department of the New South Wales State Conservatorium during the 1980s. Amongst his students were Sally Beamish, Tim Benjamin, Martin Butler, Simon Holt, Adam Johnson, Paul Newland, Priti Paintal, Janet Owen Thomas, James Saunders Jane Antonia Cornish and Ian Vine.
Gilbert was an active committee member of the Society for the Promotion of New Music, the music section of the ICA, the ISCM's British and Sydney sections, and the new music panel of North West Arts. He was a founding member and artistic director of both the New Music Forum, Manchester, and the Akanthos Ensemble at the Royal Northern College of Music. His publishers were Schott Music, for works prior to 1994, and then University of York Music Press. He enjoyed lasting friendships with other composers, including Harrison Birtwistle, Don Banks, Alexander Goehr and David Lumsdaine.
He began writing a memoir in 2014, focusing on the work in the months preceding his 87th birthday; it was published as Kettle of Fish in 2021.
Gilbert was married twice, and divorced twice. His first marriage was to Mary Hill, in 1956. Hill and Gilbert had three children. His second marriage in 1978 was to Alison Cox, who became the first Head of Composition at The Purcell School for Young Musicians where she has taught from 1988 - the present day, and also founded a musical charity, The Commonwealth Resounds. Gilbert died on 5 July 2023, at age 88. His three children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren survive him.
Music
Gilbert was a prolific composer from the early 1960s, writing the majority of his works for instrumental or chamber ensemble.He wrote about composing:
The Piano Sonata No. 1 was his first published composition. It was selected for the 1962 ISCM Festival and premiered by Margaret Kitchin at the Cheltenham Festival. Early ensemble pieces include Brighton Piece and Nine or Ten Osannas, and works especially written for The Fires of London, such as The Incredible Flute Music and Spell Respell for basset clarinet and piano. From the 1970s he produced a series of larger orchestral compositions such as the Symphony and Ghost and Dream Dancing, which he called "in effect, a second symphony", as well as two operas: The Scene-Machine and The Chakravaka-Bird. Compositions for smaller orchestra during this period included Crow-Cry, and Towards Asvari for solo piano and chamber orchestra.
During the following decade smaller scale works were his primary focus. Moonfaring for cello and percussion has also been performed with dancers. There are a trilogy of humorous pieces based on the imaginary Chinese bestiary of Jorge Luis Borges: Quartet of Beasts. Beastly Jingles and Six of the Bestiary. Other works from this time include Dream Carousels for wind ensemble and the orchestral song-cycle Certain Lights Reflecting. Both were inspired by writings of the Tasmanian poet Sarah Day. Igórochki, a recorder concerto written for John Turner, was completed in 1992 and there was a lyrical violin concerto, On Beholding a Rainbow, recorded in 2005 with soloist Anthony Marwood.
Although not noted for his interest in traditional forms, Gilbert composed four piano sonatas and a cycle of five string quartets spanning the years 1972 to 2009. The third quartet has been recorded by the Nossek String Quartet, the Madawaska Quartet and the Bingham Quartet, and the fourth by the Tavec Quartet. There is also a string trio, Humdance and a string quintet, Haven of Mysteries, premiered by the Carducci String Quartet with cellist Guy Johnston at the Wigmore Hall on 14 June 2015. He wrote an extended essay on the British String Quartet since 1935.
Works
Gilbert's compositions include:Piano
Elegy, 1961- Piano Sonata No. 1, 1962
- Piano Sonata No. 2, 1966Little Piano Pieces, 8', 1972O alter Duft, 1984Funtoons: children's pieces, 8', 1985Peal III, 2', 1984
- Piano Sonata No. 3 autour des palombes, 15', 2001People Pieces, 15', 2005Papillon Postcards, 2', 2005Passing Bells, 3', 2006Do Well: 8 short pieces, 15', 2009Some Say: 11 short pieces for solo piano, 11', 2009Chimes in Time, 3', 2010Propel, 7', 2010Monsoon Toccata, 4', 2013
- Piano Sonata No. 4, 2022
Instrumental
Strophics for violin & piano, 1961- Duo for violin and viola, 1963The Incredible Flute Music for flute and piano, 1968Spell Respell for electric basset clarinet and piano, 1968Treatment of Silence for violin and tape, 1969Crow Undersongs for solo viola, 11', 1981Sunrising for oboe and piano, 3', 1981Two Birds by Kuring-Gai for horn and piano, 6', 1982Moonfaring for cello and percussion, 19'-30', 1983Dawnfaring for viola and piano 15', 1984Peal IV for organ, 2', 1984O alter Duft for piano duet, 1990Paluma for sopranino recorder and piano, 4', 1993Trying to make John SLOW DOWN AFTER 50 for sopranino recorder and piano, 1993Ziggurat for bass clarinet and marimba, 21', 1994Stars for treble recorder and guitar, 13', 1995Flame Robin for sopranino recorder solo, 1', 1995Miss Carroll her Lullabye for sopranino recorder and piano, 1995Chant-au-clair for sopranino recorder and piano, 1995Midwales Lightwhistle Automatic for sopranino recorder and piano, 1996Réflexions, Rose nord for bass clarinet and vibraphone, 5', 1996Osanna for Lady O for cello and piano, 8', 1997Ondine – chant au clair de lune for soprano and recorder, 6', 1998Os for oboe and vibraphone, 16', 1999Margareeting for tenor or descant recorder and piano, 2', 2000Sinfin for vibraphone solo, 8', 2000Worldwhorls for bass clarinet solo, 8', 2000Photos found at Hukvaldy, August 1928 for oboe solo, 5', 2000Farings for sopranino recorder and piano, 15', 2000Kauri for solo Tuba, 11', 2002Tulip Tree Dances for solo bass and treble recorders, 15', 2003Rose luisante for solo freebass accordion, 9', 2003Litany for clarinet and piano, 2', 2004Catercorny, four pieces for clarinet and piano, 6', 2004Swallowtail for solo vibraphone, 2', 2004Halifenu Vine Dance for organ and pre-recorded organ, 9', 2005U-Go for Arirang for variable instruments, 4', 2005A Piece of Cake for treble recorder and piano, 80", 2006Jugalbandi Blues for bass clarinet solo, 60", 2006Echo for solo trumpet, 4', 2007Twirlpool for flute and viola, 3', 2008Gioco dei Pari for violin & viola, 10', 2008Tulip Dance, for solo flute, 5', 2008Twinned Set, seven short pieces for solo bassoon, 18', 2008Converse, for bass clarinet and tenor saxophone, 9', 2010Inseparable, for alto flute or oboe and string trio, 7', 2010Recitative, for solo trombone, 8', 2010Running Free, for tenor saxophone solo, 6', 2010Above all that, for recorder and piano, 3', 2011Early to Bloom, for tenor recorder and harpsichord, 3', 2011Rapprochement for piano and cello, 8', 2011Songline, for double bass and piano, 3', 2011Behind all this, for descant recorder and harpsichord, 3', 2012Dançando con Flores, for solo guitar, 5', 2012DancE-a-Triple-Round, for recorder and cello, 2', 2012Outflow, for solo double bass, 3', 2012Pilbara Park, for solo guitar, 10', 2012Skipping side to side, for solo banjo, 5', 2012Behind all this, for recorder and piano, 3', 2012Haunted, for solo bass guitar, 5', 2013The Flame has Ceased, 2016Verse for solo double bass, 2019Duologue – small sonata for viola & piano, 8'45", 2020Tulip Dance 5 – ‘Spring Dance’ music for bass recorder and tuned percussion, intended for ballet-type dance, 4'44", 2021A Breath for Life brief song for John Turner's 80th birthday, 2023
Chamber music
Serenade for 6 instruments, 1963Brighton Piece for 8 players, 1967Nine or Ten Osannas for 5 players, 1967O'Grady Music for clarinet, cello and toy instruments, 24', 1971- String Quartet No. 1, 22', 1972Canticle I for wind instruments, 9', 1973Canticle I version 2 for woodwind, horns, harp & piano, 9', 1979Calls around Chungmori for chamber ensemble and participating audience, 15', 1979Vasanta with Dancing for chamber ensemble, 17', 1981Bendigo Match for wind band, 3', 1981Concert Fanfare for Strathfieldsaye for 5 brass and 2 percussion, 1', 1981Little Fantasy on Gold-digger Melodies for flute and string quartet, 4', 1981Little Dance of Barrenjoey for flute, clarinet, viola and cello, 2', 1981Quartet of Beasts for 3 wind instruments and piano, 13', 1984Six of the Bestiary for saxophone quartet, 12', 1985Fanfarings for 6 and 8 brass instruments, 1', 1986
- String Quartet No. 2, 19', 1987
- String Quartet No. 3 super hoqueto 'David', 7', 1987Tree of Singing Names for chamber orchestra, 15', 1989Fanfaring V for brass, 1', 1992Moon comes up, Pearl Beach for alto flute, vibraphone and cello, 1', 1995Dancing to the Tune for 4–8 oboes, 2–4 cors anglais, 1–2 heckelphones, 4', 1996Sinfin 2 for 4 vibraphones, 8', 2000Unrise for ten wind instruments, 16', 2001Four Seasons for Josca's for young players, 3', 2001
- String Quartet No. 4, 23', 2002Ondine for soprano, recorder, cello and harpsichord, 11', 2003Palace of the Winds for 11 solo strings, 15', 2003Tinos for soprano, clarinet and vibraphone, 3', 2004Dark Singing, Dancing Light for bassoon and string quintet or string ensemble, 10', 2005ecco Eco for flute, clarinet & vibraphone, 50", 2007HumDance for string trio, 20', 2007York Surprise for flute, clarinet and bass clarinet, 8', 2007Word-Chimes in the Wind for wind quintet, 18', 2008
- String Quartet No. 5, 20', 2009Not for the Nashties, septet for three woodwind and string quartet, 14', 2012Hope's Place for chamber ensemble, 18', 2013Tryptych for three winds and string ensemble, 16', 2014Haven of Mysteries, string quintet, 2015La Douceur, septet for three winds and string quartet, dedicated to Raymonde Sassoon, 11'15", 2016Return of the St Louis, trio for oboe, clarinet in A and bassoon, 9', 2017
Choral and vocal
- Missa Brevis for unaccompanied choir, 1965Assonants 1 for SATB soloists, clarinet and horn, 1965Three War Poems for chorus, 1966Shepherd Masque for young voices, 1968Love Poems for soprano and instrumental ensemble, 10', 1970
- Cantata: the man who tried to hijack an airliner, 16', 1971
- Canticle II for 6 male voices, 6', 1974Inscapes for soprano, speaking voice and small ensemble, 30', 1975Long White Moonlight for soprano and electric double bass, 18', 1980Chant of Cockeye Bob for children's voices and instruments, 14', 1981Victorian Round for any number of voices, 1981Beastly Jingles for soprano and instrumental ensemble, 11', 1984Certain Lights Reflecting, song-cycle for mezzo-soprano and orchestra to poems of Sarah Day, 19', 1989Upstream River Rewa for storyteller and Indo-European ensemble, 29', 1991Little Cycle for Elizabeth Yeoman for soprano, cello and piano, 7', 1992Handles to the Invisible for a cappella choir to poems of Sarah Day, 15', 1995
- 'This Tree', 3', 1996Vers de Lune for soprano, flute, cello and percussion to texts by Aloysius Bertrand, 17', 1999Encantos, song-cycle to Spanish symbolist love poetry for soprano or mezzo, clarinet, vibraphone and guitar to texts by Magdalena Mismareza and anon.), 14', 2004Ygg-drasill for soprano or mezzo, recorder, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, three violins and cello, 9', 2006En Bateau, after Watteau for soprano, recorder, oboe, violin and cello to poems by Baudelaire and Proust), 9', 2007Those Fenny Bells for treble, counter-tenor and vibraphone, 3', 2008Encantos 2010 for soprano or mezzo-soprano + ensemble of 8 instruments, 14’30", 2010Peace Notes, for soprano or mezzo-soprano and piano, 14', 2011Placing Art, for soprano and bass recorder, 4', 2012Lay the Lances, five songs for baritone and string orchestra, 2018
Orchestral
- Sinfonia for chamber orchestra, 1965Regions for two orchestras, 1966Peal II for big band, 1968
- Symphony, 39', Cheltenham Festival, 1973Ghost and Dream Dancing for orchestra, 19', 1974Crow-Cry for chamber orchestra, 20', 1976Welkin for orchestra, 11', 1976Koonapippi for youth orchestra, 6', 1981Dream Carousels for wind orchestra, 13', 1984Mozart Sampler with Ground for orchestra, 10', 1991...into the Gyre of a Madder Dance for concert band, 7', 1994Another Dream Carousel for string orchestra, 8', 2000Even in flames, / the Thames/ can't hold a candle/ to the Wandle for variable orchestra, 6', 2000Sheer for string orchestra, 16', 2003Dance Concerto – Groove by chants, for orchestra, 19', 2006Loopy Line-dance orchestral wind, 7', 2011Lifelines, roundelay for orchestra, 10', 2020Liaison, tone poem for medium-sized orchestra, 11'17", 2021
Concertante
- Mother, for solo cello and ensemble, 14', 1969
- Towards Asâvari for piano and chamber orchestra, 22', 1978
- Igórochki, concerto for recorder, 1992
- On beholding a Rainbow, concerto for violin and orchestra, 30', 1997A Melding, concerto for B♭ clarinet and chamber ensemble, 14', 2019
Opera
- The Scene-Machine, one-act opera to a libretto by George MacBeth, 50', 1970
- The Chakravaka-Bird, radio opera to a libretto translated from Indian sources by A. K. Ramanujan, Daniel H. H. Ingalls and A. Gilbert, 77', 1977
Arrangements
- Guillaume de Machaut: Ma fin est mon commencement, arr. for recorder ensemble with tambour, 4', 1981
- Arthur Benjamin: Two Jamaican Street Songs, arr. for piano four-hand, 1990
- Mátyás Seiber: Burlesque from Pastorale & Burlesque, arr. for recorder and piano; or for recorder and string trio, 2005