Geoffrey Poole
Geoffrey Poole is a contemporary classical composer with a bold and independent outlook. Much of his most characteristic work has been inspired by the mutual interrogation of classical tradition and high folk traditions from Europe, Africa and Asia. English by birth (b.1949), he has lived in East Africa (1985-7), the USA as Visiting Fellow in Composition at Princeton (1997-8), and studied traditional performance in Korea (2008) and The Gambia (2009). After a substantial career at the University of Manchester he was made Professor of Composition at Bristol University, a position from which he retired in 2009. He was married to composer Beth Wiseman from 1977 until her death in 2007, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts the same year.
His works include three string quartets commissioned by The Lindsay String Quartet, orchestral music performed by the Halle, RLPO, BBCSO, BBC Philharmonic and others, choral music broadcast by The King’s Singers, the Tavener Consort / BCMG and a major concerto for vocalities, The Colour of My Song, which was commissioned in 2006 by the BBC Singers. Other colourful large-scale compositions are the Sheherazade-like voyage Sailing With Archangels for Wind Orchestra and some unusual concertos: Two-Way Talking for Ghanean Drummer and 5 ensembles, Swans Reflecting Elephants for Javanese Gamelan and chamber orchestra, and Lucifer a black comedy for piano and 21 loud instruments. He has written several works for amateurs or younger players, including the widely known recorder pieces Skally Skarekrow’s Whistling Book, and Look Behind You!
A recorded pianist and conductor on occasion, Poole has also established a body of work as a critic and theorist, and has served on the North West Arts Board, BBC and SPNM Reading Panels, SPNM Board of Directors, and ISCM Board of Directors, and as advisor to RAE2008.
Geoffrey Poole’s music has been performed and broadcast worldwide. It is represented on Metier, ASC, Serendipity, RCA, Forsyth, Klavier, Art Fusion, Divine Art, and NMC recording labels and almost fifty of his eighty titles are published by Edition Peters.
For further information:
Leipzig
London
C. F. Peters Ltd. & Co. KG Peters Edition Ltd
New York
C. F. Peters Corporation
Talstraße 10 2 – 6 Baches Street 520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2005 D-04103 Leipzig London N1 6DN New York, NY 10018 Deutschland UK USA
( +49 (0) 341 989 792 ( +44 (0) 20 7553 4000 * stefan.conradi@editionpeters.com * newmusic@editionpeters.com
* gene.caprioglio@editionpeters.com
WORK LIST
Solos
Commodo Dragonfly (2005) 6 minutes
Solo Bass Clarinet Musings on fragments from Dao Qian
First performed 21 October 2005, Rotterdam International Bass Clarinet Festival, Rotterdam, by Ian Mitchell EP 71550
Dogs Bark, the Caravan Rolls On (2007) 4 minutes Solo Violin
First performed 19 March 2007, Sheffield University as part of a Western Australian (Perth) exchange EP 71586
Nocturnes (1984) 10 minutes Solo Piano EP 71570
On the High Wire (1996) 12 minutes
Solo Cello
First performed 21 March 1996, Manchester, by Betsy Taylor EP 71572
Ricercare (1980/1999) 7 minutes
Cello Solo after J.S. Bach
First performed 11 June 1995, Manchester St. Anne’s, by Betsy Taylor EP 71557
TEN (1981) 14 minutes Solo Piano
First performed 22 April 1982, Lancaster University, by Peter Lawson EP 71553
Duos
Fibonacci Fizz (2015) 5.5 minutes Marimba & Pf EP 73387
Firefinch (1999) 9 minutes Ob & Pf
Commissioned by Chester Summer Music Festival
First performed 27 July 1999, Chester, by Jinny Shaw (ob) and Anne-Marie Hastings (pf) EP 71581
Kakemono (2004) 11 minutes
2Hp
Commissioned by Park Lane Group
First performed 13 January 2005, Purcell Room, by Double Action EP 71555
Lovesong to my bird (1981) 2 minutes
Voice and any instrument Dedicated to Beth at 30 EP 72570
Twain (2000) 8 minutes
2Fl or 2Rec or 2Ob
First performed 6 September 2003, St Ives, by Jinny Shaw and Lucy Wakeford EP 71562
Wild Goose Weeping Widow (1984) 22 minutes 2 Guitars
Commissioned by Aguado Guitar Duo
First performed 1984-5, Asian-Australian International Tour, by Aguado Guitar Duo EP 71566
Chamber Ensemble (3-20 Players)
After Long Silence (2007) 6 minutes
Soprano, Recorder and Cello
Text: W.B. Yeats
Commissioned by Ida Carroll Trust, written in memory of Basil Deane
First performed 11 September 2007, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, by Lesley-Jane Rogers (soprano) and John Turner (recorder) EP 72568
Canto 2 (Dante’s Eagle) (2001) 4 minutes
Soprano, Recorder, Cello and Piano
Dedicated to David Lumsdaine at 70
First performed 11 November 2001, Manchester, by Eleanor Meynell (soprano), John Turner (recorder), Jonathan Price (cello) and Peter Lawson (piano) EP 72569
Carved in Stone (2006) 14 minutes Fl, Cl(B-cl), Hp, Pf, 2Perc, Str (1.0.0.1.0)
Dedicated to Keith Nimmo
Commissioned by Bournemouth SO, Corsham Festival, and friends of Wiltshire Music Centre
First performed 18 June 2006, Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon, by Kokoro/Mark Forkgen
Carved in Stone (recomposed 2011) 14 minutes
Sextet version for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion
First performed 9 February 2011, Elektrostatic Series, Colston Hall 2, Bristol, by Bristol Ensemble, directed by Geoffrey Poole EP 72141a
Crossing Ohashi Bridge (1995) 18 minutes
Strings
Commissioned by the Goldberg Ensemble
First performance 21 January 1995, Royal Northern College of Music, by the Goldberg Ensemble, directed by Malcolm Layfield EP 71561
Fragments (1974) 8 minutes
Strings (min. 4.4.3.2.1)
First performed March 1992, Manchester International Festival of Expressionism, Royal Northern College of Music, by the Goldberg Ensemble, directed by Malcolm Layfield EP 71577
Hanami Sanjo (2008 arr. 2011) 8-9 minutes
Vla, Vc & Pf
Commissioned by Ahn Jae Sook
First performed 9 February 2011, Elektrostatic Series, Colston Hall 2, Bristol, by The Bristol Ensemble EP 72140
Harmonice Mundi (1978) 32 minutes
Piano Quintet (string quartet and piano)
Commissioned by The Lindsay String Quartet funded by RVW Trust
First performed 9 March 1979, Manchester, by Lindsay Quartet and Maurice Aitchison EP 72567
The Impersonal Touch (1995) 9 minutes
2 Pianos/4 Hands
First performed 9 January 1996, Purcell Room, by Yana Polyanovskaya and Irina Feoktistova EP 71551
Look Behind You! (2002) 5 minutes
Vln, Vc & Pf
Commissioned by Chamber Music 2000 Education Project
First performed 12 February 2003, Purcell Room, by Salisbury students EP 71568
Qigong (Chi Kun) (1999) 12 minutes
Strings (3.3.2.2.1)
First performed 24 November 1999, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, by the Goldberg Ensemble EP 71578
Septembral for mixed ensemble (1993, rev. 1998) 16 minutes
B-cl, Vln, Vc, Pf
Commissioned by ICA Live Arts
First performed 31 October 1993, ICA, London, by Gemini EP 71560
The Sheltering Bell (2009) 10 minutes
String Quartet
Commissioned by the University of Bristol in celebration of its Centenary
First performed 8 May 2009, the Vice-Chancellor’s Banquet, Great Hall, Wills Memorial Building, Bristol, by the Brodowski Quartet EP 72181
Slow - Music (1982) 13 minutes
Ob, Cl, Bsn, Hn, Pf
Commissioned by Chester Summer Music Festival
First performed 28 July 1982, Chester, by Endymion EP 71584
String Quartet No.1 (Saranghi) (1983) 18 minutes
String quartet
Commissioned by Birmingham Chamber Concerts Society
First performed 21 January 1984, Birmingham Cathedral, by Lindsay Quartet EP 71583
String Quartet No.2 (The Gambia) (1990) 21 minutes
String quartet
Commissioned by Sheffield City Polytechnic
First performed 9 October 1990, Sheffield, by Lindsay Quartet EP 71585
String Quartet No.3 (1997/99) 20 minutes
String quartet
Commissioned by Keele Concerts Society
First performed 27 October 1997, Keele, by Lindsay Quartet EP 71587
Two-Way Talking (1991) 32 minutes
Concerto for Ghanean Drummer and five ensembles 1.1.1.1—1.1.1.0—Hp—Perc—Str(1.0.1.1.1)
Commissioned by Focus 1991 African Arts Festival
First performed 1991, Royal Northern College of Music, Kwasi Asare with Polyphonia, conducted by Geoffrey Poole EP 71579
Vocal and Choral Works
Angels Also Die (2013) c. 6 minutes
SATB a cappella choir
Dedicated to Jonathan Harvey (1939-2013) in loving memory Commissioned by Severnside Composers Alliance
First performed 11 May 2013, Arnos Vale Anglican Chapel, Bristol, by The New Bristol Voices, directed by Steven Kings EP 72501
Ave, Rex Angelorum (1970, rev. 1998) 16 minutes
From ‘Wymondham Choruses’
SATB Chorus
Text: Medieval English carols and lyrics Commissioned by The Kings Singers EP 72160
The Ballad of Halloween Hag (2013) 5 minutes
SATB and piano
Text: ‘The Hag’, Robert Herrick
Dedicated to Andrew Hopwood and The Painswick Singers
First performed 26 October 2013, Painswick, by the Painswick Singers, directed by Andrew Hopwood, Geoffrey Poole (keyboard) EP 72493
Behind the Arras (2012) c. 15 minutes
Male vocal consort ATBarB
Text: Anonymous authors of the Tudor period
Dedicated to Betty Poole at 90 Commissioned by New York Polyphony EP 72429
Calligrammes d’Apollinaire (1984) 10 minutes
Soprano, Clarinet & Piano
Text: G. Apollinaire
First performed 24 November 1984, Purcell Room, London, by Triple Echo, Jane Ginsborg (soprano), Philip Edwards (clarinet), George Nicholson (piano) EP 71573
The Colour of my Song (2006) 36 minutes
SATB Choir - Semi-chorus - 2Perc - Hp
BBC commission, for BBC singers in commemoration of Luciano Berio
First performed 10 November 2006, St. Paul’s, Knightsbridge, by the BBC, conducted by James Morgan EP 71549
Five Brecht Songs (Fünf Brecht Lieder) (1983) 13 minutes
Baritone & Piano
For Leeds Contemporary Music Festival
First performed 3 March 1983, Leeds Festival, by Philip O’Reilly (baritone) and Graham Barber (piano) EP 71582
Heynonnynonny Smallprint (2008) 3 minutes
Voice (any)
Text: Geoffrey Poole
Commissioned by NMC records for the 40th anniversary songbook
First performed 1 April 2009, Kings Place, London, by David Stout (baritone) EP 71776
Imerina (1986)
SATB chorus
Text: J-J Rabearivelo
First performed 1988, Manchester University, by Manchester Singers, directed by Rowena Brown EP 71552
WORKI LIST
The Magnification of the Virgin (1992) 16 minutes
Small SSA choir and 12 players: 0.2(+1).0.2 - 0.2.3.0 - 2Perc
Commissioned by Sound Investments
First performed 9 February 1992, Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham, by Tavener Consort and Birmingham Contemporary Music Ensemble, conducted by Andrew Parrott EP 71565
Rune Labyrinth (1997) 15 minutes
Oboist/narrator – Hp - actress/dancer
Text: adapted by the composer from Anglo-Saxon Rune Alphabet poems and related literature Commissioned by Okeanos, directed by Virginia Shaw, with funds from the A4E First performed 5 October 1997, Newport theatre, Wight, by Okeanos EP 71558
Wymondham Choruses (1988) SATB chorus Commissioned by King’s Singers EP 71563
Orchestra and Large Ensemble
Lucifer (2001) 28 minutes
Concerto for piano and 21 loud instruments Pf solo - 0.0.0.0.S-sax.A-sax.T-sax.Bar-sax - 4.3.3.1 – Timp - 4Perc - Db
Commissioned by Thames Valley University for Philip Mead’s Piano and Brass project
First performed 17 November 2002, Royal Northern College of Music, by RNCM Brass, Philip Mead (piano), conducted by James Gourlay EP 71567
Schubert’s “Reliquie” (1997) 40 minutes String Orchestra Completion and arrangement of Schubert’s Sonata in C, D.840 First performed 26 November 1999, Royal Northern College of Music, by the Goldberg Ensemble, Malcolm Layfield EP 71559
Shumei, Shumei (2011) 14 minutes 2.Picc.2.CA.2.B-cl.2.Cbsn – 4.4.3.Btbn.1 – Timp – 5Perc – Clavinova – 2Hp – Str Commissioned by the New Bristol Sinfonia with funds from the Britten-Pears Foundation and PRS for Music Foundation
First performed 26 November 2011, Victoria Rooms, Bristol, by New Bristol Sinfonia EP 72214
Song of The Gambia (2000) 10 minutes
String Orchestra
Arranged from third movement of String Quartet No. 2 (The Gambia) EP 71580
Swans Reflecting Elephants (1998) 18 minutes
Gamelan soli—3(I=Picc, III=A-fl).2(II=Ca).Ob-d’a.0. 3.0.3(III=B-tbn).0—Perc—Hp—Str (0.0.3.0.3)
Commissioned by Halle
First performed 27 February 2004, BBC “Swans Reflecting Elephants” series, by BBCSO, South Bank Gamelan, conducted by Jason Lai EP 71554
Woodscapes (1986) 18 minutes
2(II=A-fl).2(II=Ca).2(II=B-cl).1—2.2.0.0— Timp—Perc—Str
First performed 23 June 1988, Aix-en-Provence Festival, by RNCM Sinfonia, conducted by Michel Brandt EP 71564
For further information:
Leipzig London New York
C. F. Peters Ltd. & Co. KG
Peters Edition Ltd
C. F. Peters Corporation
Talstraße 10 2 – 6 Baches Street 520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2005 D-04103 Leipzig London N1 6DN New York, NY 10018 Deutschland UK USA ( +49 (0) 341 989 792 ( +44 (0) 20 7553 4000 * stefan.conradi@editionpeters.com * katie.tearle@editionpeters.com
* gene.caprioglio@editionpeters.com