5.
ANDREW DOWNES PUBLISHED
WORKS
CANTATAS/ORATORIO
Soloists, choir and
orchestra:-
THE MARSHES OF GLYNN Opus 33 (1985) 40' View
Score See
CD review To order CD click here
To hear the World Premiere performance of The Marshes of Glynn on
YouTube, click on: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Cantata for tenor solo, SATB choir and symphony orchestra.
A setting of the poem by Sydney Lanier.
Commissioned by Birmingham Conservatoire to commemorate the Royal Opening of
the Adrian Boult Concert Hall.
First performed in the Adrian Boult Hall on February 20th 1986 by John
Mitchinson, tenor, with the Birmingham Conservatoire Choir and Symphony
Orchestra conducted by Damian Cranmer, in the presence of HRH the Duchess of
Gloucester. A repeat performance of the work, by popular demand, took place within
one month. The first performance outside Birmingham Conservatoire was by the
Birmingham Festival Choral Society in 1987.
The first performance was recorded on LP, and re-released on CD in 2000. To order CD click here To order original LP email downlyn@globalnet.co.uk
Extracts from this recording were broadcast on BBC Radio 4 'Woman's Hour'. The recording has also been broadcast many times on Musicians Page Radio, Los Angeles, USA.
'Downes, not frightened by writing melodically, and realising the impact of
lush harmonic sound, has created and
structured a major choral work of
imaginative stature.' THE BIRMINGHAM POST
'What a lovely piece of music that is. A marvellous way to end our programme!'
BBC RADIO 4 WOMAN'S HOUR
Recorded
samples of Andrew Downes' music and how to order CDs and videos.
SONG OF THE PRAIRIES Opus 44 (1988)
35'
Poem by William Cullen Bryant set to music for SATB soloists, semi-choir of
high voices, full chorus and orchestra.
Commissioned by the Shrewsbury School Sixth Singing Weekend and first performed
in the Alington Hall of Shrewsbury School on April 3rd 1989 by soloists,
Jacqueline Parker (soprano), Sally Burchell (mezzo soprano), Elfred James
(tenor), Darron Moore (bass), Cantamus Girls' Choir (director Pamela Cook), a
massed chorus from all over Britain and Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony
Orchestra under the direction of John Rutter.
Second performance took place in March 1991 in the Adrian Boult Hall,
Birmingham:
'...the Polytechnic Chorus, Conservatoire Singers and Sinfonia under Peter
Johnson performed Andrew Downes's Song of the Prairies with a warmth of sincerity
to match that of this popular composer.
'In Downes's typically jazzy/pastoral/reflective style, this major work
topically deals with man's destructive influence upon innocent nature, and
strikes a chord in us all.'
THE BIRMINGHAM POST
Soloists
with choir and string orchestra:- See page 6
Soloists
with choir and brass band:- See page 6