Christopher Bowers-Broadbent


Christopher Bowers-Broadbent is an English organist and composer.

Biography

Christopher Bowers-Broadbent was born in Hertfordshire UK on 13 January 1945. He was a boy chorister in the choir of King's College, Cambridge under Boris Ord and then briefly under David Willcocks. While at King's he played violin and piano. During his teenage years he was a pupile at Berkhamsted School where he first began to learn the organ under Dr Kenneth Abbott.
After Berkhamsted School Bowers-Broadbent went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music where his principal studies were organ with Arnold Richardson, and composition with Richard Rodney Bennett.

Composing career

Over more than 60 years he has composeda wide range of works, including : four operas : choral music and organ music.

Concert organist career

He made his debut at the Camden Festival in 1966; his first major recitals were at the St Albans International Organ Festival in 1969 and the Royal Festival Hall in 1971. His first appearance as a soloist was at the Proms in 1972. He has worked extensively with Paul Hillier's Theatre of Voices.

Dedications and honours

Liturgical organist career

Recording career

His extensive discography includes many ECM albums, reflecting a long-running and fruitful partnership with the Hilliard Ensemble and Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.
He has recorded CDs as an organist, and with the He has also appeared with Paul Hillier's Theatre of Voices.

Teaching career: organ

Pupils: organ

Christopher Bowers-Broadbent is the father of musician Harry Broadbent.

Compositions

Choral

Canticles

Evening canticles
  • 1968 Festal setting
  • 1968 Lenten setting
  • 1976 in Two Parts
  • 1988 Ex-St Pancras
    Morning canticles
  • 1972 Te Deum
  • 1975 Te Deum
  • 1971 Short communion service
  • 1973 Communion Service
  • 1981 A New Benedicite

Anthems

  • 1965 2 Short Motets
  • 1966 Brief life
  • 1968 No time ago
  • 1968 Offer your very selves
  • 1968 Into this world of sorrow
  • 1969 Virgin Born
  • 1969 Music to Hear
  • 1969 Pleasure it is
  • 1969 The way to Life
  • 1970 Pater noster
  • 1970 Except the Lord
  • 1970 Let thy merciful ears
  • 1971 I thank you God
  • 1976 The grace of God
  • 1977 There is water in the river
  • 1995 Yiheyu leratson
  • 1994 The Elixir
  • 1994 Hail bright Cecilia
  • 1996 Since I
  • 1997 Hashivenu
  • 1997 Office Hymns
  • 1997 All praise
  • 1997 ''Az Yashir Mosheh''

Christmas music

  • 1963/1970 Sleep Holy Babe
  • 1965 Matin Responsory
  • 1971 A spotless rose
  • 1973 There is no rose
  • 1977 If Christ were born in Camden
  • 1978 If Christ were born in London
  • 1984 A Christmas Litany
  • 1985 A Christmas Song
  • 1991 Angelus ad Virginem
  • 1999 As with gladness
  • 2002 ''Alleluia: A new work is come on hand''

Instrumental

Organ

  • 1964 Variations
  • 1966 Four Diversions
  • 1968 Six Pieces
  • 1968 Serenata
  • 1994 PreluDDe
  • 1996 Media vita – a sequence of short pieces
  • 1996 Duets and canons – a sequence of short pieces
  • 1997 Ya Shema
  • 2000 Organ Notebook 1
  • 2002 7 Words – a piece in 7 movements

Chamber operas

Songs and incidental music

Selected recordings

As composer

  • 1999: Duets and Canons, perf. Kevin Bowyer.

As performer