3.

ANDREW DOWNES PUBLISHED WORKS


SONG CYCLES - soloists with piano, instrumental and orchestral accompaniment


Soloists with piano accompaniment:-


CASTERBRIDGE FAIR Opus 1 (1973) 11'  View Score

A setting of 5 Thomas Hardy poems for baritone or mezzo-soprano and piano.
First performed by Michael George accompanied by Ruth Gerald at the opening concert in the newly built Recital Hall in Birmingham Conservatoire in 1973.
Prizewinner in the 1980 Stroud Festival International Composers' Competition. Several performances of the songs have since taken place in the same hall by students from Birmingham Conservatoire.

'...the songs impressed by their expressive and beautifully shaped vocal line and simple though telling accompaniments.'
THE MUSICAL TIMES



OLD LOVE'S DOMAIN Opus 29 (1983) 21'  View Score

A setting of 5 Thomas Hardy poems for tenor or soprano and piano.
Commissioned by John Mitchinson and first performed by him on BBC Radio 3 in 1985. Subsequent performances on radio and in the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham. At each of these performances, the accompanist was  Michael Pollock.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Performances by Paula Downes:- at the Candili Singing Course, Greece, accompanied by Verene Rimlinger (August 1999); in St John's Church, Hagley, accompanied by Anna Downes (September 1999); in the Chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge, accompanied by Mark Williams (November 1999) ; in the Bateman Auditorium of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, and in the Master's Lodge of Trinity College, Cambridge, accompanied by Andrew Tortise (January and February 2000) ; in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (May 2001), Birmingham Cathedral (July 2002), on the "Festival Musiques en Mer" Mediterranean Cruise (August 2002), at Y Tabernacl, Machynlleth (April 2003), in the Art Gallery, Wednesbury (April 2004), at St Lawrence Jewry-next-Guildhall, London (August 2005), all accompanied by David Trippett; at Weymouth Arts Centre, accompanied by Duncan Honeybourne (July 2003); at St Sepulchre's Church, Holborn, London, accompanied by Gillian Cracknell (February 2005); and on CD recorded in July 2000, accompanied by David Trippett. To hear a track from this song cycle, visit  www.andrewdownes.com and click on "listening lounge" (CD no 7 entitled Old Love's Domain).

In a concert of music by Andrew Downes on June 21st 2005, in the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham (to mark the retirement of the composer from Birmingham Conservatoire), the cycle was performed by tenor Julian Pike with accompanist Simon Nicholls.  Julian Pike, accompanied by Duncan Honeybourne, then performed the cycle at the 2006 Thomas Hardy Festival in Dorchester, Dorset.

'...on the words " my weary beloved's face" , as tenor Julian Pike quietly created a key change and two sparse chords chimed on the piano, there came that sudden, involuntary rush of emotion that told you this was the real thing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

'This masterly, hauntincycle made a poignant finish to a genuinely affecting evening of Downes' music.'  Richard Bratby BIRMINGHAM POST

Recorded samples of Andrew Downes' music and how to order CDs and videos


SONGS FROM SPOON RIVER Opus 39 (1986) 22'  View Score
Play sample tracks, Dora Williams and Sarah Brown, performed by Paula Downes and David Trippett 

A setting of 5 poems from Edgar Lee Masters' "Spoon River Anthology" for mezzo soprano and piano.
Composed for Sarah Walker and broadcast by her, accompanied by Roger Vignoles,  on BBC Radio 3 in 1989.
Performed at the Tanglewood Festival in August 1994 by New York Metropolitan Opera Soloist, Stephanie Blythe.
Performed at the University of New Mexico Composers' Symposium in March 1995 by Carin Logue accompanied by Joe McCanna.
Performances by Paula Downes:- in the Chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge, in May 2000, with David Trippett, piano; in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, accompanied by Ian Palmer, in June 2000; at the Conservatoire National de Region of Aubervillers, Paris, with accompanist Laura Temim, in April 2001; on the "Festival Musiques en Mer" Mediterranean Cruise in August 2002 accompanied by David Trippett; at the National Portrait Gallery, London, on 5th August 2004, and on CD of song cycles by Andrew Downes, entitled 'Old Love's Domain',  recorded in July 2000, accompanied by David Trippett.

Recorded samples of Andrew Downes' music and how to order CDs and videos

 

Soloists with instrumental accompaniment:-


FIVE HOLY SONGS Opus 11 (1976) 20'

A setting of 5 poems by John Donne for counter-tenor, mezzo-soprano or baritone with 3 violins, 2 violas, 2 'cellos and double bass.
First performed on 5th May 1976 by Andrew Downes accompanied by Caroline Mounsey, Stephen Muth, Kevin Vaughan (violins), Penny Midmer, Susan Ward (violas), David Thorne, Catherine Clarke (cellos) and Roderick Dunk (double bass) at
Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, and subsequently at Birmingham Conservatoire and Ripple Church, Upton-on-Severn.


LOST LOVE Opus 15 (1977) 15'  View Score 

Listen to Lost Love, performed by Paula Downes, David Trippett, Arielle Hansen and Elizabeth Main

A setting of 4 Thomas Hardy poems for soprano soloist with tenor recorder/flute; viol da gamba/cello; harpsichord/piano.
Commissioned by the Musica Antiqua Soloists and first performed in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in March 1978.
Subsequent performances in Birmingham Cathedral, in the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham, in St.James Church Wollaston, at Cambridge University at student recitals in Trinity and Queen's Colleges, and in the USA, notably at King's Chapel, Boston by Paula Downes (soprano), David Trippett (harpsichord), Arielle Hansen (flute) and Elizabeth Main (cello) in October 2006.   Recorded for CD by Paula Downes with David Trippett (piano), Debbie Martin (flute) and Yvonne Parsons (cello) in July 2000.
Recorded samples of Andrew Downes' music and how to order CDs and videos

DREAM-LAND Opus 42 (1988) 20' 

Poem by Edgar Allen Poe set to music for soprano voice, soprano saxophone and piano (the soprano saxophone can be substituted with clarinet in Bb or violin, for which parts are available).

Commissioned by 'Saxtet', with funds from West Midlands Arts, and first performed by Antonietta Pelosi (soprano), Nigel Wood (saxophone) and Caroline Costello (piano) in the Recital Hall of Birmingham Conservatoire on 7th December 1988.  Numerous subsequent performances by different artists have taken place in Birmingham, London, other UK venues and the USA.  The US premiere was given on 2nd November 2003 in New York by New York Metropolitan Opera soprano, Deborah Saverance, with Paul Cohen, saxophone, and David Maiullo, piano, in a concert entitled ‘Poe as Parlor Music’, in honour of the publication of Edgar Allan Poe - Poems and Poetics by the Library of America, produced by the New York Literary Roundtable for the New York Historical Society and presented by TimeOut New York.

‘The most striking examples of otherworldliness were in Andrew Downes’ Dream-Land (US premier), sung by Deborah Saverance with Paul Cohen on saxophone and David Maiullo on piano, and Leonard Bernstein’s Israfel… These two pieces, in their emotionally astute and beautifully sung arrangements, took Poe’s words far into the realm of the spirit.'                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   PLYMOUTH STATE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL, FALL 2003 (Volume IV, no 2)

The first performance with violin (instead of soprano saxophone) was given by Paula Downes (soprano), Anna Downes (violin) and David Trippett (piano) on October 26th 2005 at Adams House, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Soprano Soloist with Symphony Orchestra

CELTIC RHAPSODY Opus 81 (2002) 20'  View Score

Three Celtic Poems: The Land Oversea, poem by unknown author from ancient Irish legend; The Meeting of the Waters by Thomas Moore; and Celtic Twilight by William Butler Yeats - set to music for Soprano Solo and Symphony Orchestra. Composed especially for Paula Downes, Anthony Bradbury and the Midland Youth Orchestra, who gave the first performance on 8th March 2003 in the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham.

'That an internationally recognised composer should wish to write a work as a present for his local youth orchestra is indeed an astonishing and deeply gratifying gesture... In fact the connections between the Downes family and the MYO go back to the very beginnings of this orchestra... Frank Downes, father of Andrew.. was the inspiration behind many of the MYO's early horn sections... Frank..taught horn-playing to so many of those players covering, perhaps, the first 20 years of the orchestra's history... Then, some 4 decades later, Frank's two granddaughters Paula and Anna both became violinists in the MYO. Each has had the opportunity to be leader of the orchestra, both very much on merit, and Anna (the current leader) has also been able to make an invaluable contribution to the health and well-being of the orchestra behind the scenes... Andrew, father of Anna and Paula, has been moved to give to the orchestra still more by composing Celtic Rhapsody for Soprano and Orchestra specially for it. His Celtic Rhapsody now links three generations of the Downes family to the Midland Youth Orchestra... It will be a great honour for all involved this evening that, with Paula, the orchestra will bring its own work to life for the very first time. Andrew, on behalf of the MYO, I give you my heartfelt thanks.' - Programme tribute from Stephen Williams, Chairman of the Midland Youth Orchestra.

'Gaelic culture..., pastoralism... and fairy tales... were given an engaging reworking in Saturday's premiere of Andrew Downes' Celtic Rhapsody. Musically, the Celtic influence was most obvious in the high, sustained soprano lines of the three poem settings. Written for the composer's daughter, soloist Paula Downes, the cool beauty of her voice projected the atmospheric phrases... true and clear against the accompaniment. Authoritatively conducted by Anthony Bradbury, a generally confident orchestra was at its best in the first song (a simple, eloquent cello opening and arresting juxtapositions of lyricism with rollicking motifs) and the third's rousing close. This was preceded by a poignant duet which skilfully set Paula's pure timbres against the warm, moving violin playing of her sister (and MYO leader), Anna.' - THE BIRMINGHAM POST
 

Performances of this work in Bremen, Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven, North Germany, were given, in March 2005, by Paula Downes and the Central England Ensemble conducted by Anthony Bradbury.

'Der Solopart der Keltische Rhapsodie...erwies sich als genau zugeschnitten.  Paula Downes...führte mit klarer Stimmführung und makelloser Intonation in eine anrührende vergangene Welt der Poesie. Die sanften Melismen wurden vom Orchester mitatmend begleitet.

'The solo part of the Celtic Rhapsody...proved to be...perfectly tailor made.  Paula Downes...led with clear vocal projection and immaculate intonation into a moving bygone world of poetry.  The orchestra accompanied as one the gentle melismas.'  NORDSEE-ZEITUNG

RETURN TO CONTENTS PAGE

Return to biography / Next page