Julian Wagstaff

Julian Wagstaff

Julian lives in his native Edinburgh, where he is an active as a composer, arranger and musician. He graduated with 1st class honours in German and Politics from Reading University in 1993, and worked as a translator, programmer and television researcher before turning to music as a profession in the late 1990s. His interest in language, political history and the sciences continues to be reflected in much of his music and in his theatre libretti.

He came to public attention with the musical John Paul Jones (2001), based on the life of the Scots-born sailor and hero of the American Revolution. Premiered in Edinburgh in 2001, this was the first of the composer's works to reach a significant audience.The musical was revived as a concert version in 2010 in association with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

The composer began to study musical composition at the University of Edinburgh with Professor Nigel Osborne in 2001, earning a Masters degree in music in 2002 and a PhD in 2008.

Julian's specific interest in German history is reflected in Treptow for string orchestra (2005), his most-performed work. This piece, which won the 2005 Emre Araci Prize, was inspired by the Soviet War Memorial in Treptow Park in east Berlin.

In August 2007, Julian Wagstaff presented his hour-long chamber opera The Turing Test on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, to sell-out audiences. The opera was cited by the novelist Alexander McCall Smith as his cultural highlight of the year in the Daily Telegraph's Review of 2007. A professional UK tour is planned for October 2012, to be conducted by James Lowe.

His Piano Quintet was released on Circular Records on November 1st 2007, on an album entitled Frontiers and Bridges recorded by the Edinburgh Quartet and produced by Calum Malcolm.

Julian Wagstaff was appointed Composer in Residence at King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, in 2011. In the same year he was commissioned by the Royal Society of Chemistry to write a new trio to celebrate International Year of Chemistry. The work, entitled A Persistent Illusion was premiered by Hebrides Ensemble in December 2011.

Julian enjoys close connections with many of Scotland's leading musicians, and his compositions and arrangements have been performed by the country's top ensembles, including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Sottish National Orchestra, the Edinburgh Quartet, Consort of Voices and Hebrides Ensemble.

He is published by Europa Edition. More information and music is available from the composer's website at julianwagstaff.com.

List of Works

1. John Paul Jones - a musical play in two acts (2001)

2. Fuer Anothai - for solo piano (2001)

3. Piano Quintet - for piano and string quartet (2002)

4. Symphonic Overture from John Paul Jones (2004)

5. What Goes Around - a musical play in one act, libretto by Mike Gibb (2004)

6. Orchestral Medley from John Paul Jones (2004)

7. Treptow - version for string quartet (2005)

8. Treptow - version for string orchestra (2005)

9. Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano (2005)

10. Symphony for Chamber Orchestra (2005)

11. Hebridean Sunset Rag - for violin and piano (2006)

12. The Turing Test - a chamber opera in one act (2007)

13. Two songs from People - musical play with libretto by David Levin (2009)

14. John Paul Jones - Concert Version (of revised stage musical) (2010)

15. In Extremis - for string trio (2011)

16. Hebridean Sunset Rag - version for flute and guitar (2011)

17. A Persistent Illusion - for clarinet, cello and piano (2011)

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