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Lowlands Away CD by Richard Gordon-Smith

Lowlands Away
The tragic true story of the loss at sea in 1895 of the composer's great grandfather and a bottle message (with poems by the distinguished Merseyside poet Adrian Henri) earned Richard the coveted Merseyside Arts and Entertainment Award 1996.

The CD is available | HERE |

"No audience can remain unmoved by this masterly composition"
Liverpool Echo

Richard Gordon-Smith with Clark Rundel the conductor
Richard with conductor Clark Rundel during a recording break.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra programme cover

Catalogue
( Click the title to read and hear more )

 

Orchestra

~Zoo Suite, Op.20 (1987), (Orchestral version of Op.13)

Orchestration Commissioned by Barry Wordsworth for the BBC Concert Orchestra. 5 movts:- 1. Introduction and Sea-lion Waltz 2. Jumbo Rumba 3. Kangaroo Hop 4. Tiger Tango 5. Monkey Rag.  ( Dur 20 mins) Orchn: W/W 2222 (2nd doub. Picc. Cor Ang. Bass Clt+Alto Sax, Contra Bn) Brass 4231, Timps, 2 Perc, Harp, Strings. 1st Comp. Perf: 26.5.92, MYO Cond. Edward Warren, Philharmonic Hall Liverpool.

~Soundcastle, Op.30 (1992)

Orchestral Drama for Children, commissioned by RLPS for children's concert (with optional workshop-based student participation) (Duration 25 minutes)  Orchn: W/W 3333, Brass 4631, Timps. 4 Perc, Harp, Strings.  1st Perf: 26.5.92, MYO Cond. Edward Warren, Philharmonic Hall Liverpool.

 

 

~Hot House, Op.33 (1994)
Orchestral 'swing number', commissioned by RLPS for children's concert, (Duration 7 minutes)  Orchn: W/W 3232, Brass 4331, Timps, 2 Perc, Strings.  1st Perf: 1.2.94, RLPO Cond. Edward Peak, Philharmonic Hall Liverpool.
~Hotfoot On Hope Street, Op.36 (1997)

Orchestral Suite based on a walk through the Liverpool Arts Quarter, commissioned by the Hope Street Association for the 1997 Midsummer Festival. (Duration 20 minutes)  Orchn: W/W 2222, Brass 3321, Timps, 2 Perc, Strings.  1st Perf: 21.6.97, Hopes Festival Orchestra Cond. RG-S, Philharmonic Hall Liverpool.

~Overture NOW!, Op.38 'A Tribute To British Orchestras' (1999)

overture NOWVirtuoso Orchestral Overture, written to celebrate National Orchestra Week 1999. (Duration 5 - 7 minutes)  Orchn: W/W Picc, Flt, 2 Obs, 2 Clts in Bb, Bn, Contra-Bn, Brass 4331, Timps, 2 Perc, Harp, Strings.  1st Perfs: 9+10.3.99 Preston Guild Hall & Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, RLPO Cond. Petr Altrichter.

 

~The Voice of This Calling, Op. 45 (2008)

A Journey of the Mind, inspired by ideas of the Young Musicians of Sefton, with quotations from T.S.Eliot: Four Quartets – Little Gidding.  Commissioned by Sefton Schools Music Service.  (Dur 19 mins)  Soprano Solo & Orchestra.  Orchn: W/W Picc, 2232, Bass Clt, 2 Alto Sax, 1 Ten Sax, 1 Bar Sax, Brass 2 Tpts, 1 Eb Sop Cornet, 3 Bb Cornet, 1 Flugelhorn, 1 Tenor Horn, 1 Baritone, 3 Tenor Tbn, 1 Bass Tbn, 1 Euphonium, 1 Tuba, Timps, 4 Perc, Piano & Strings.  1st Perf. 25.11.08, Philharmonic Hall, Sefton Schools Symphony Orchestra & Choirs, Jo Smith (Sop), Cond. James Taylor.

 

 

String Orchestra

~"Coventry Fiddle Dance", Op.8 (1975) 
Rustic dance for youth string orchestra - approx. Gd V Assoc. Board. (Dur 4 mins) (inc. Violin III to support violas.)  1st Perf: 12.12.75, Coventry School of Music, Coventry School Orchestra Cond. RG-S.

Choir and Orchestra

~"Welcome Carol", Op.22 (1988)

[Roberton Publications], (Dur 5 mins).  Version 1: (Roberton cat. no. 85277) SATB Choir, Children Choir, Full Orchestra, (or Piano).  Orchn: W/W 2232, Brass 4231, Timps, 2 Perc, Strings.  Version 2: (Roberton cat. no. 75349) Unison Voices, Small Orchestra, (or Piano).  Orchn: W/W Flt, Clt, Bn, Tpt,Timps, 2 Perc, Harp, Strings.  1st Perf: 17.12.88, Philharmonic Hall Liverpool, RLPO, RLPC, Cond. Prof. Ian Tracey.

 


~"Lowlands Away", Op.34 (1996)

*Merseyside Arts And Entertainment Award 1996*  Sea Oratorio on poems by Adrian Henri, commissioned by RLPS.  (Dur 40 mins) SATB Choir, Soprano and Tenor Solo, Full Orchestra.  Orchn: W/W 3333, Brass 4431, Timps, 4 Perc, Harp, Strings.   1st Perf: 27.4.96, Philharmonic Hall Liverpool, RLPO, RLPC, Rosemary Hardy (Sop), Martyn Hill (Tenor), Cond. Libor Pesek.

 

 

~Trade Winds, Op. 42 (2005)

Trade Winds by Richard Gordon-SmithA Masque of Liverpool and the Sea, Poetry by John Masefield & RG-S, celebrating the maritime history of Britain’s one-time principal trading port.  Commissioned by HOPES.  (Dur 40 mins)  SATB Choir, Children’s Choir, Mezzo Soprano & Baritone Solos & Orchestra.  Orchn: W/W Picc, 2222, Brass 4331, Timps, 3 Perc, Piano & Strings.  1st Perf. 13.06.05, Philharmonic Hall, HOPES Festival Orchestra & Choirs, Sarah Helsby Hughes (Sop), Tayo Aluko (Bar), Cond. Richard Gordon-Smith.

 

 

~Christmas Landscape, Op.43 (2006)

A setting of the poem by Laurie Lee for Liverpool Philharmonic Carol Concerts 2006.  (Dur 5 mins)  Children SATB Choir Orchn: Horn, Trumpet, Percussion & Strings.

 

 

~Liverpool First and Last Op.44(2007)

History Made on Merseyside, an Oratorio, Poetry and Music by RG-S with Merseyside school children, celebrating five occasions when history was made on the banks of the Mersey.  Commissioned by HOPES.  (Dur 20 mins)  Children’s Choir and Instrumental Ensemble & Orchestra.  Orchn: W/W Picc, 3222, Bass Clt & 2 Alto Sax, Brass 4331, Timps, 3 Perc, Piano & Strings.  1st Perf. 22.07.07, Philharmonic Hall, Merseyside Children’s Choir, HOPES Festival Orchestra, Cond. Richard Gordon-Smith.

 

 

~Café Europe, Op. 46 (2008)

Towards a Capital of Multiculture, an Oratorio, Poetry and Music by RG-S and children of 4 Merseyside schools, asking, “What does Europe mean to us?” in Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture Year 2008Commissioned by HOPES.  (Dur 31 mins) Children’s Choir, Soprano Solo & Orchestra.  Orchn: W/W Picc, 2222 & Bass Clt, Brass 3331, Timps, 3 Perc, Piano & Strings.  1st Perf. 07.09.08, Philharmonic Hall, Sarah Helsby Hughes (Sop), Merseyside Children’s Choir, HOPES Festival Orchestra, Cond. Richard Gordon-Smith.

 

 

Wind Orchestra/Ballet

~The Bacchae, Op.32 (1993)

Ballet Score for Wind Orchestra, after Euripides. Commissioned by Sefton Youth Wind Orchestra, and Dancers of Chesterfield High School, Crosby. (Dur 21 mins)  Orchn: W/W Picc, 6 Flts (2 parts), 2 Obs, Eb Clt, 9 Bb Clts (3 parts), Eb Alto Clt, Bb Bass Clt, Bn; Brass 4 Fr Hns, 3 Tpts, 2 Ten Tbns, Bass Tbn, Euphonium, Tuba; Timps, 2 Perc. (All parts may be doubled.)  1st Perf: 17.9.93, RNCM, Manchester, SYWO, Cond. Geoffrey Reed, and Dancers of "Chiasmus").

 

 

Chamber Ensemble (Brass)

~The Age Of Bronze, Op.9 (1977)

Brass Quintet, 3 movts after a Rodin sculpture. Commissioned by The Encore Brass Ensemble, Belfast. (Dur 15 mins).  Instr: 2 Tpts, Fr Hn, Tbn, Tuba.  1st Perf: 12.11.81, Neston Town Hall, Liverpool Brass Ensemble, Cond. RG-S

 

 

~Zoo Suite, Op.13 (1983)

Brass Octet, 5 movts (as in Op.20). Commissioned by The Liverpool Brass Ensemble. (Dur 20 mins)  Instr: 2 Tpts, 2 Fr Hns, 3 Tbns, Tuba.  1st Perf: 18.3.83, Frodsham Town Hall, Liverpool Brass Ensemble, Cond. RG-S.

 

 

~Festival Fanfare, Op.25 (1990)

Brass Octet, commissioned by the Swedish Seamen's Church in Liverpool. (Dur 1 min)  Instr: 2 Tpts, 2 Fr Hns, 3 Tbns, Tuba.   1st Perf: 20.5.90, Swedish Seamen's Church, Liverpool Brass Ensemble, Cond. RG-S

 

 

~Fantasia, On A Theme of J. Cruger, Op.26 (1990)

Brass Octet, commissioned by the Swedish Seamen's Church in Liverpool. (Dur 5 mins)  Instr: 2 Tpts, 2 Fr Hns, 3 Tbns, Tuba.  1st Perf: 20.5.90, Swedish Seamen's Church, Liverpool Brass Ensemble, Cond. RG-S

 

 

~Fanfare For Peter Moores, Op.31 (1992) 

Trumpet Fanfare, commissioned for the opening of the Peter Moores Wing of Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. (Dur 1.5 mins)  Instr: 3 Tpts in Bb.   1st Perf: 1.5.92, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, Philharmonic Trumpet Section.

 

Chamber Ensemble (Various)

~Dream Time, Op.14 (1984) 
Four Dream Preludes, commissioned by the Apollo Trust for use in educational workshops. (Dur 7 mins)  Instr: Flt. (doub Alto + Picc), Mid-Range Instrument (eg. Vla, Cello, Clt, etc.), and Piano.
~String Quartet, Op.16 (1985)

Four movts. (Dur 26 mins)  Instr: 2 Vlns, Vla, Cello.

 


~Summer Sketches, Op.18 (1986)

Clarinet Quartet, 6 movts. (Dur 15 mins)  Instr: Clt in Bb, Vln, Cello, DB.  1st Perf: 2.7.86, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, RLPO members.

 


~Four Drum Quartet Studies, Op.19 (1987) 
For RNCM Percussion Ensemble (Dur 8 mins)  Instr: any 4 different drums.
~Engineerium, Op.24 (1989)

Percussion Sextet on the History of Engineering, 3 movts. Commissioned by the RNCM Perc. Ensemble (Dur 25 mins)  Instr: 6 Players, with 90 instruments.   1st Perf: Rodewald Series, LIHE, RNCM Perc. Ensemble, Cond Prof. Ian Wright.

 


~Psalm, Op.35 (1997) 
Trumpet Solo, in one movement (approx. GdV) with Piano accomp. (Dur 4 mins)
~Orison To The Wind, Op.37 (1998)

Flute Quartet in one movt. (approx. Gd III - IV), containing simple "multiphonics" and pitch-bending, commissioned by Wade Deacon High School. (Dur 5 mins)  Instr: 4 Flutes.  1st Perf: W.D. Sch. Hall, Wade Deacon Flute Quartet.

 

 

~Epithalamium, Op. 44a(2007)

Violin and Piano Duet on a theme by Lucy Hammersley, celebrating her marriage to Ben Gordon-Smith 01.09.07 (Dur 4.5 mins).

 

 

~Thus Spoke Tagore, Op. 48 (2010)

Six Quartet Movements based on poems of Rabindranath Tagore  (Bengali Poet 1861 – 1941).  String Quartet with Flute and Percussion.  Commissioned by Planet Art eXchange (PAX) for the West Bengali Chau Dancers.  (Dur 25 mins)  Instrumentation: 2 Violins, Viola, ‘Cello Flute & Percussion.  1st Perf: 20.11.10 at Black-E, Liverpool, Live-A-Music Quartet & Chau Musicians and Dancers.

 

 

Unaccompanied Solo

~Paths of the Mystic Rose, Op.11 (1980)

Violin Solo, in one movt. (Dur 10 mins)  1st Perf: 2.7.86, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, Clifford Bibby, Violin.

 

~Seascape, Op.12 (1982)

Clarinet Solo in Bb, in one movt, (contains multiphonics). (Dur 3 mins)  1st Perf: 2.7.86, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, John Fuest, Clarinet.

 


~Solo Cello Sonata, Op.15 (1985)

2 movts: Largo, and Theme and 5 Variations. (Dur 15 mins)  1st Perf: 2.7.86, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

 

 

~Salamander, Op.17 (1985)

Double Bass Solo, in one movt, commissioned by Jan Wallin. (Dur 2 mins)  1st Perf: 2.7.86, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, Jan Wallin, Double Bass.

 

 

Stage

~Brother Rock!, Op.21(1988) 
Musical Stage Show on the life of St. Peter. Large singing/acting/dancing cast, SATB Choir, Chamber Orchestra.  Instr: Flt, Ob, Clt, Tpt, Piano, Guitar, 1 Perc, Strings (22211). (Dur 2 hours with interval)  1st Perf: 24.3.88, 25.3.88, 26.3.88, St. Peter's Church, Woolton. Liverpool, Cast, Chorus, Dancers and Orchestra of St. Peter's, Cond. Richard Gordon-Smith.
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