James Whitbourn
James Whitbourn (born 17 August 1963) is a British composer and conductor.
| James Whitbourn | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 August 1963 Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England |
| Residence | Kent, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | University of Oxford |
| Occupation | Composer Conductor |
| Website | |
| jameswhitbourn.com | |
Contents |
[edit] Biography
James Whitbourn was born in Kent and educated at Magdalen College, Oxford,[1] where he was a choral scholar and gained a degree in Music. His international reputation as a composer for concert hall and screen, developed from his early career as a programme maker at the BBC, during which he produced many award-winning programmes. His close association with the BBC Philharmonic resulted in three large-scale commissions for voices and orchestra. His "Son of God Mass" has had many performances worldwide, especially in the USA and Europe. Television credits include music for the BBC’s coverage of the Queen Mother’s funeral, and major BBC series Son of God. In 2005, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with the Choir of Clare College Cambridge, under Leonard Slatkin, premiered his oratorio Annelies, based on the Diary of Anne Frank, at London's Cadogan Hall to wide critical acclaim. The work was later re-scored in an alternative chamber version which was premiered in The Netherlands on Anne Frank's 80th birthday by the British violinist Daniel Hope and the American soprano Arianna Zukerman. He wrote a number of works for the late British tenor Robert Tear, with whom he also collaborated as librettist, including a festal setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for King's College Cambridge, a cantata for the St Endellion Festival and three Christmas carols. Other major works include the choral work Luminosity, scored for choir, viola, organ, tanpura and percussion and written for the dance ensemble Archedream. Since 2006 his compositions have been performed in several major concerts devoted to his music at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, New Jersey with whom he continues to have a close association. In 2010 the Oxford-based chamber choir Commotio released a disc of his choral music on the Naxos label, Luminosity, which attracted much attention especially in the USA. In 2011, The Williamson Voices released the new Naxos choral disc, Living Voices with the Saxophonist Jeremy Powell, and Organist Ken Cowan under conductor James Jordan.
[edit] Career highlights
- 2000 - winner of Sandford St Martin Premier Award (with poet Michael Symmons Roberts).
- 2001 - A Finer Truth – debut album of choral works sung by Clare College Choir Cambridge – released by Et’cetera.
- 2001 - orchestral score of multi award-winning BBC1 series Son of God.
- 2002 - Living Voices premiered in New York concert on the first anniversary of 9/11.
- 2004 - set prayer by Desmond Tutu for the Commonwealth Observance, Westminster Abbey.
- 2005 - movements from Annelies performed at the National Holocaust Commemoration, Palace of Westminster.
- 2005 - World premiere of Annelies given in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin.
- 2007 - U. S. premiere of Annelies by Westminster Choir College's Williamson Voices under the direction of James Jordan (conductor).
- 2008 - Premiere of Luminosity in Philadelphia Cathedral, U.S. with Daniel Stewart (viola), Westminster Williamson Voices and Schola Cantorum and Blair Academy Singers under James Jordan with Archedream Dance Theater.
- 2009 - The Netherlands premiere of Annelies in The Hague on the 80th anniversary of Anne Frank's birthday, with Daniel Hope (violin) and Arianna Zukerman (soprano).
- 2010 - release of Naxos disc Luminosity.
- 2011 - release of Naxos disc Living Voices.
[edit] Key works
- Pika (2000; tenor, speaker, orchestra)
- Son of God Mass (2000; choir, saxophone, organ)
- The Wounds (2001; soprano, speaker, strings)
- Whirlwind (2002; tenor, speaker, choir, orchestra)
- Annelies (2004; soprano, choir, orchestra) (2006; soprano, choir, violin, cello, piano and clarinet)
- Missa Carolae (2004); choir, organ, piccolo, brass ensemble and percussion)
- Luminosity (2007; Choirs, viola, tam-tam, organ, tanpura)
[edit] References
- ^ JAMES WHITBOURN. naxos.com 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
