GWYN PRITCHARD

ORCHESTRAL WORKS

LA SETTIMA BOLGIA     Listen: extract 1     extract 2     extract 3     extract 4 
     3.3.3.3:4.3.3.1:5perc:2hrps:strings (14') 1989
            1st perf: Southampton International New Music Week 1989; Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, 
            conducted by Kees Bakels
            .. always in fluctuating, often turbulent motion...brilliantly scored. (The Guardian) 
           A firm sense of direction...vividly imagined and realised. (Independent)

MERCURIUS     Listen: extract 1     extract 2
     1.1.1.1:1.0.0.0:hrp:strings (12') 1989 (from chamber ensemble version of 1979)  

            1st perf: Southampton International New Music Week 1989; Bournemouth Sinfonietta, conducted by Kees Bakels
            A piece of many layers, shades, contrasts and transformations, as unpredictable as quicksilver, and just as
            captivating in its elusive manner (Contact)
            Austere, delicate patterns... (Sunday Times)

SPRING MUSIC
      1.1.1.1:0.2.1.0:3perc:pno:hrp:strings (16') 1972

            Commissioned by The BBC

CONCERTO FOR VIOLA AND ORCHESTRA
     viola solo:2.1.2.1:2.1.0.0:timp:celesta:strings (16') 1967, revised 1984

            1st perf: Royal Scottish Academy of Music 1968; soloist James Durrant

INSTRUMENTAL CHAMBER ENSEMBLES: MIXED

THE FRUIT OF CHANCE AND NECESSITY     Listen: extract 1     extract 2     extract 3    View pages
     solo 'cello:1.1.1.1:1.1.1.0:accrdn.:solo strings (16') 2004 

            Commissioned by Hotwells Music Workshop
            1st perf: Alive and Composing, London 1980; conducted by Buxton Orr

ENSEMBLE MUSIC FOR SIX
     flute, clarinet, piano, violin, viola, 'cello (6') 1976

            1st perf: Arnolfini, Bristol 1976; conducted by Peter Wiegold

NEPHALAUXIS
     string quartet, 2 percussionists (15') 1977

            1st perf: Warsaw Autumn Festival 1979; Royal Lazienki Quartet, Marta Ptaszynska, Hubert Rutkowski
            A striking piece (Contact)

THE VISIONS OF ZOSIMOS
     flute/alto, clarinet/bass, percussion, string trio (18') 1981

            Commissioned by Angela Malsbury
            1st perf: Arnolfini, Bristol 1982; Angela Malsbury, Uroboros Ensemble, conducted by Gwyn Pritchard
            ..ranged from deeply lyrical solos to frenzied 'Pierrot Lunaire' atmospheres, encapsulating in music everything 
            one could associate with nocturnal adventure. Most definitely the highlight...successfully captivated the 
            audience. (Venue)

CHAMBER CONCERTO
     solo piano, flute/piccolo, clarinet, violin, 'cello (14') 1985

            Commissioned for Allan Schiller
            1st perf: St John's Smith Square, London 1986; Allan Schiller, Uroboros Ensemble, conducted by Gwyn Pritchard
             ..an accomplished work (Tempo)

MADRIGAL     Listen: extract 1     extract 2 
     flute/piccolo/alto, oboe/cor anglais, clarinet/bass, percussion, harp (12') 1987/8

            Commissioned by Uroboros Ensemble
            1st perf: The Michael Tippett Centre, Bath 1989; Uroboros Ensemble, conducted by Gwyn Pritchard
            ..discipline and formal simplicity ... dryly expressive, like neo-classical Stravinsky. (The Times)

            1st perf: The Warehouse, London 2007; Uroboros Ensemble, conducted by Gwyn Pritchard
            ...as the music breathed gently...it found an elusive dialogue... (New Notes)

DEMISE     Listen: extract 1     extract 2    extract 3
     percussion trio, piano, live electronics (20') 1994

            Commissioned by The Basle Percussion Trio
            1st perf: Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 1994; The Basle Percussion Trio, Daniel Cholette & 
            Alex Buess
            ..made a strong case for further airings. (The Independent)

FEATURES AND FORMATIONS     Listen     View pages
     solo violin, flute, clarinet, 'cello (10') 2003

            Commissioned by the 1st Reggello International Festival of Music, Italy
            1st perf: Reggello International Festival of Music, Italy 2003; Darragh Morgan solo violin with Uroboros Ensemble,
            conducted by Gwyn Pritchard

OBJECTS IN SPACE     Listen: extract 1     extract 2
     clarinet, harp, percussion (10') 1978

            1st perf: Purcell Room, London 1978; Gemini, conducted by Peter Wiegold
            ..a taught and well pointed structure, and sonorities that were never arbitrary or redundant. (The Guardian) 

INSTRUMENTAL CHAMBER ENSEMBLES: HOMOGENEOUS

            Commissioned by International Percussion Workshops, Poland
            1st perf: Bydgoszcz, Poland 1990; directed by Stephen Schick

            Commissioned by Quadriga Bassoon Quartet
            1st perf: Rheinsberg, Germany, 2008

INSTRUMENTAL DUOS

MUSIC FOR DOUBLE BASS AND HARP     Listen: extract 1     extract 2
     (6'30") 1969

            1st perf: BBC Christchurch Studios, Bristol 1972; Jack Goldzweig & Meinir Heulyn

DUO WITH A YOUNG GIRL
     viola & piano (12') 1980

            Commissioned by Philip Clark
            1st perf: Auckland, New Zealand 1981; Philip Clark & Brian Sayer

CANZONETTA ELUSIVA
          mandolin & doublebass (4') 1995

            Commissioned by Sandy Mills

IN PASSING
     flute & marimba (6') 2005

            Commissioned by The Corsham Festival
            1st perf: Corsham Festival 2005; Kate Kelly & Amy Kelly

SONG FOR ICARUS    View pages
     flute & violin (15') 2006

            Commissioned by Carin Levine & David Alberman
            1st perf: Weimar Spring Contemporary Music Days 2006, Germany; Carin Levine & David Alberman

GAME
     flute & percussion (open form 2' to 3') 2007

            Composed for Jeremy Woodruff & Hjörleifur Jónsson

INSTRUMENTAL SOLOS

FIVE MINIATURES
     solo violin (8'30") 1969

            Commissioned by Gail Harvey
            1st perf: Arbroath, Scotland 1969; Gail Harvey

CONTOURS
     solo violin (7') 1972 revised 2002

            1st perf: Bush Hall, London 2002; Darragh Morgan

FIVE SHORT PIECES FOR PIANO    Listen: Piece 1    Piece 2    Piece 3    Piece 4    Piece 5
     solo piano (7') 1975

            1st perf: Brno, Czechoslovakia 1979; Jaroslav Pokorny

NOCTURNE
     solo clarinet (6') 1982

SONATA FOR GUITAR    Listen
     solo guitar (13') 1982

TWO MOVEMENTS FOR SOLO VIOLA
     solo viola (6') 2007
            1st perf: Sala Filarmonica, Trento, Italy 2007; Maurizio Barbetti

WORKS WITH VOICE(S)

LUCHNOS
     6 solo voices (s.s.a.t.bar.b.) (3') 2007
      Text: Paulus Silentiarius