British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors

pizzicatoman

Member


Biography

Born 10.11.1938 in Birmingham, Graham studied music at Durham University. He graduated in 1960.  As a Post-graduate Scholar from 1960 to 1963 he pursued his interest in the structural functions of harmony, with particular reference to the works of Schoenberg, Berg, Webern and associated composers.

While a student, Graham conducted the Durham Colleges Light Opera Group for three years, the Durham Colleges Orchestra for a season, and was organist and choirmaster of St. Mary-le-Bow, Durham.

He worked as a Stipendiary Minister in the Church of England from 1965 to 2002 and was precentor of Manchester cathedral from 1975 to 1978. Since retiring he has been writing music in various genres for a wide range of ensembles, including works for solo piano, organ, string quartet, wind quintet, and small and large orchestras, as well as choral pieces and arrangements. 

Medlock Way, a symphonic suite for orchestra, was written for and performed by the Oldham Symphony Orchestra in 2005. His String Hosanna for String Quartet was performed in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral by the Ensemble Liverpool. Eloi - a meditation on the death of Jesus written for the Organist, Richard Lea, and the organ of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, was given its world première in September 2008. 

 

Photo of pizzicatoman
 

Important Works

  1. WIND QUINTET
  2. LAMENT for Violin and orchestra
  3. CONCERTO FOR JOHN (Concerto Capriccioso) for Piano and Orchestra
  4. AFTER THE DAZZLE OF DAY for Orchestra
  5. A PINHEAD SCHERZO for organ
  6. CINDERELLA for orchestra
  7. LANDSCAPES OF ROCHDALE for orchestra
  8. Isabella Maddalena's Christmasses 1-4 for orchestra
  9. BALADES DANS PARIS - Suite for Cello and Piano
  10. A FINGER BUFFET for Pianists
  11. ELOI - a Meditation for Organ
  12. DURHAM DAYS 1957-63, Suite for orchestra
  13. SQUIRRELS RUN ALONG THE FENCE TOP
  14. MERRY HELL a Fantasy for organ
  15. PIETA an Icon for organ
  16. AFTER THE DAZZLE OF DAY Poem for orchestra after Walt Whitman
  17. THE SWALLOW'S NEST Poem for orchestra after Psalm 84

Performances

  1. 08/10/2008: My Mayoral Procession (2005) is included in the programme of music to be performed by members of the Rochdale Light Orchestra for the Rochdale Music Society at 7.30pm in the Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Toad Lane, Rochdale (first performance)
  2. 06/09/2008: Eloi performed in Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral by Richard Lea (Organist, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral) (first performance)
  3. 31/03/2008: SQUIRRELS RUN ALONG THE FENCE TOP performed by the FELL CLARINET QUARTET in Peel Hall, Salford University (first performance)