5.
ANDREW DOWNES PUBLISHED
WORKS
CANTATAS/ORATORIO
Soloists, choir and orchestra:-
THE MARSHES OF GLYNN Opus 33 (1985) 40'
View Score
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. This performance was recorded on LP record, and
re-released on CD in 2000. Extracts from this recording were broadcast on BBC
Radio 4 'Woman's Hour'. 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.
'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.
Review
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 in
April 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