Gregson, Edward

Gregson, Edward, English composer, teacher, and conductor; b. Sunderland, July 23, 1945. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London (1963-67), where he was a student in composition of Alan Bush, and at the Univ. of London (B.Mus., 1977). He was a lecturer (1976-89), a reader (1989-93), and a prof. (1993-96) at Goldsmiths’ Coll., Univ. of London. From 1989 to 1991 he was chairman of the Assn. of Professional Composers. In 1996 he became the principal of the Royal Northern Coll. of Music in Manchester, as well as an honorary prof. of music at the Univ. of Manchester. As a conductor, he has been particularly known for his advocacy of contemporary music. Gregson has won notable distinction as a composer of brass, wind band, and orch. scores.

Works

Orch .: Music for Chamber Orch. (1968; BBC Radio 3, Nov. 4, 1977); Concerto for Horn and Brass Band (1971; also for Horn and Orch.); Concerto for Tuba and Brass Band (Manchester, April 24, 1976; also for Tuba and Orch., 1978; Edinburgh, June 11, 1983); Flourish (1978; rev. version, London, Nov. 14, 1986); Metamorphoses (London, June 1979); Trombone Concerto (London, July 25, 1979); Trumpet Concerto (London, April 20, 1983); Greenwich Dances, renamed Contrasts (London, May 7, 1983); Celebration (1991); Blazon (1992); Clarinet Concerto (Manchester, April 20, 1994); Concerto for Piano and Winds (1995). Band : March Prelude (1968); Voices of Youth (1968); The Pacemakers (1969); Essay (1970); The Plantaganets (1971); Concerto Grosso (1972); Intrada (1972); Partita (1972); Prelude and Capriccio (1972); Fanfare (1973); Patterns (1974); A Swedish March (1975); Connotations (1976); Dances and Arias (London, Oct. 7, 1984); Occasion (London, Oct. 4, 1986); Of Men and Mountains (Drachten, the Netherlands, Dec. 8, 1990) Festivo (Kortrikj, Belgium, July 14, 1985). CHAMBER : Oboe Sonata (1965); Divertimento for Trombone and Piano (1967); Brass Quintet (BBC Radio 3, Nov. 27, 1967); Prelude and Capriccio for Trumpet and Piano (1972); Ecjuale Dances for Brass Quintet (Leeds, Dec. 1983); Sonata for 4 Trombones (1984; London, Jan. 8, 1985). Piano : 6 Little Pieces (Amsterdam, Oct. 16, 1982; rev. 1993); Sonata (London, Feb. 18, 1983; rev. version, London, Nov. 21, 1986). VOCAL : In the beginning, cantata for Women’s Voices and Piano (1966; rev. for Chorus and Piano, 1981; London, April 18, 1982); Missa Brevis Pacem for Baritone, Boy’s Chorus, and Symphonic Wind Band (1987; Aldeburgh, April 9, 1988); Make a Joyful Noise for Chorus and Orch. (Croydon, Nov. 28, 1988); A Welcome Ode for Chorus and Optional Piano Duet/Percussion or Optional Organ/Percussion (Sunderland, Aug. 22, 1997).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire