13.
ANDREW DOWNES PUBLISHED
WORKS
SOLO INSTRUMENTS WITH ORCHESTRA
with string
orchestra:
1 piano; 2 pianos; 2 guitars;
native American flute (or alto flute);
with symphony orchestra:
piano; 4
horns
FIVE MOVEMENTS FOR PIANO AND STRING ORCHESTRA Opus 10
(1976) 20'
First performed by Malcolm Wilson and the Birmingham Conservatoire String
Orchestra, conducted by Geoffrey Duggan, at Birmingham Conservatoire on December
12th 1977.
' This work...has emotional strength displayed in short
movements of well developed structure. The lay-out, clear and unfussed, uses string textures with a solo piano part of
effective proportions. Melodic ideas bearing a broad family
relationship tie the five parts, varied though they are, in a
bond of dramatic unity.'
THE BIRMINGHAM POST
Arrangement of the work for Piano Quartet, by Cynthia Downes,
first performed at the Friends' Meeting House, Hertford in
October, 1997, by 'Contrasts', with subsequent performances in Birmingham and
Holland.
'This proved to be constantly interesting music and
delightfully approachable. It has many beauties - melodies and
fascinating rhythms - and makes the most of each of the
instruments. The performance was vigorous, sensitive and
confident, and in response to the audience's enthusiastic
appreciation, the last movement was repeated as an encore at the
end of the recital. It confirmed the first impression that
further hearings would reveal even greater beauties in the music.'
HERTFORDSHIRE MERCURY
CONCERTO FOR TWO PIANOS AND STRING ORCHESTRA Opus 61 (1997)
25'
View Score
Commissioned by the Bishop of Naples to celebrate the restoration
of the Cathedral of Barletta, S.Italy. Piano parts written
especially for the Duo Scaramouche. The Italian premiere has had
to be postponed because of tragic earthquake damage to the
restored cathedral. At the British premiere, in November 1997 in
the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham, and at the French premiere in
March 1998 in the Salle Cortot, Paris, the Avison Chamber
Orchestra, conducted by Steven Lloyd, accompanied the Duo
Scaramouche.The first London performance by the same players took
place at St.James, Piccadilly,
in August 1999. A video recording was made of this concert and is
available from Lynwood Music.
'Appropriately, much of its thematic material derives from
the close scalic nature of plainsong; rhythms and textures
reflect the composer's interest in World Music. Within these
parameters the work strikes as another example of Downes'
craftsmanship.'
THE BIRMINGHAM POST
CONCERTO FOR GUITAR, BASS GUITAR AND STRINGS Opus 62 (1997)
25'
View Score
PLAY sample
track : movement 2 - Simon Dinnigan, Fred T Baker and Strings of
the City of Birmingham
Commissioned by guitarists Simon Dinnigan and Fred T.Baker. The
premiere took place on l8th November 1997 in the Adrian Boult
Hall, Birmingham. The guitarists were accompanied by the Thallein ensemble
conducted by the composer. The concerto was subsequently performed on June
16th 2002 at the Phoenix Arts Centre, Exeter, Devon, by guitarists Steve Gordon
and Fred T Baker, with the Western Sinfonia conducted by Scott Stroman.
'Andrew Downes' Concerto.. was full of delightful music.'
THE BIRMINGHAM POST
This work was recorded for CD in July 1999, by Simon Dinnigan and
Fred T.Baker together with String players from the City of
Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the composer. The CD,
entitled Concerto for Two Guitars (Classicprint label -
CPVP013CD), has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and several times on Dutch Radio.
The CD received an excellent review on MusicWeb International in September 2001
Read Review
Recorded
samples of Andrew Downes' music and how to order CDs and videos
CONCERTO FOR NATIVE AMERICAN (OR ALTO FLUTE) AND STRINGS Opus 64 (1998) 20' View Score
First performed at the Music Xtra Festival at Birmingham Conservatoire on 25th March 2003 by Rebecca Massey with the Strings of the Central England Ensemble conducted by Richard Laing. A second performance by the same players took place in St.Saviour's Church, Hagley, Worcestershire, on 6th April 2003.
'Typically for this composer, it conveys a sense of some huge, pervasive spiritual force.' THE BIRMINGHAM POST
CONCERTO FOR FOUR SOLO HORNS AND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Opus 77 (2000) 25' View Score
Composed for the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and first performed by them with soloists Radek Baborak, Zdenek Divoky, Stanislav Suchanek and Ondrej Vrabek, conducted by Vladimir Valek, on 28th February 2002. A second performance took place the following evening, 1st March, and the work was recorded for and broadcast on Czech Radio in March 2003.
The following extract is from the programmes note to the first performance:-
'The British composer Andrew Downes (born 1950) ranks today among the internationally acclaimed personalities. He has produced compositions of all genres: song cycles, choirs, cantatas, chamber pieces for various ensembles, symphonic compositions as well as church music. Downes's chamber pieces are often written for the woodwinds - Downes pays special attention chiefly to flute and French horn ... Downes made a successful debut in Prague with his Sonata for 8 French Horns, and the horn section of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Horns, recorded this sonata for Czech Radio and a CD, which was well received and highly appreciated by experts. In February 2001, another Downes composition for brass instruments interpreted by members of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra was heard in the Dvorak Hall - Sonata for Brass Sextet. The premiere tonight - Concerto for 4 French Horns and Orchestra - was directly inspired by the interpretational art of the horn section of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.'
'In my forty five years of listening to music seriously there have been some notable and unforgettable milestones. These include the first hearings of such masterworks as Beethoven's Symphony no. 7, Dvorak's Carnival Overture, Humphrey Searle's The Riverrun (and, indeed, all else that he wrote) Irving Fine's The Hour Glass, the music of Webern and now, Andrew Downes's Concerto for four horns and orchestra Op.77, a truly staggering piece.' DR DAVID WRIGHT, MUSICWEB (for the whole article click on link)
CONCERTO FOR PIANO AND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Opus 98 (2008) 25'
Composed for pianist Duncan Honeybourne, the Central England Ensemble and Music Director Anthony Bradbury, and first performed by them at Birmingham Town Hall on 1st March 2009. The work was recorded for CD at the first performance, and copies are available by sending an email to Lynwood Music.
There was a great audience reaction to the premiere of the concerto, and written comments included:
'Andrew's composition, Concerto for Piano and Symphony Orchestra was wonderful. I felt so uplifted after the performance.'
'We thought the second movement particularly wonderful.'
'So many people said wonderful things about the evening - we thought the music was superb - you really are a great composer Andrew. ... Have you begun the next one Andrew, because you now have a captive audience?'
'Congratulations on a wonderful composition. Keep them coming!'
'The piano concerto was real success!'
We loved the Piano Concerto - I'd love to hear it again!'
'It was a great privilege to be present at the premiere of your piano concerto. It was an unforgettable experience. Several people around us said it should be in the general repertoire. It is such an exciting work that it deserves many more performances. You seem to go from strength to strength! Do continue to excite and entertain your friends and supporters with your music.'
'Wow, what can I say?! We all thoroughly enjoyed the concert last night, especially the piano concerto.'
'The piano concerto was fantastic ---- hearing the concerto at the first performance is something that I will remember for a long time.'