Julian Philips 2022
New Music
Biography
Julian Philips Born in Wales in 1969 and brought up in Warwickshire, Julian Philips studied music at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and is one of Britain’s most versatile composers. His music has been performed across the world at major festivals and venues including the BBC Proms, Tanglewood Music Festival, Welsh National Opera, Glyndebourne and Wigmore Hall, by international artists including Gerald Finley, Dawn Upshaw, Sir Thomas Allen, the Vertavo String Quartet and BBC orchestras. With a particular affinity for music for voice, Philips has been critically acclaimed for song settings of Emily Dickinson, e e cummings, Dylan Thomas and Langston Hughes among others, most recently a new cycle for baritone, cello and harp, Turning Fifty (2019) based on the poetry of Judith Wright. Love Songs for Mary Joyce (2016), commissioned by Wigmore Hall for tenor James Gilchrist and pianist Anna Tilbrook, sets a series of late love poems by John Clare. His choral music is similarly celebrated and is included in the Choirbook for the Queen (Church Music) as well as being commissioned for the BBC Proms (Sorrowfull Songes). As Glyndebourne Opera’s first ever Composer-in-Residence, Philips completed two chamber operas in 2006-9: Followers, a site-specific promenade opera with a libretto by Simon Christmas, and The Yellow Sofa with a libretto by Edward Kemp, subsequently featured in Glyndebourne’s tour and shortlisted for a British Composer Award. The year-long development of Knight Crew was filmed by BBC Television and the resulting series, Gareth goes to Glyndebourne, aired in June 2010. Philips’ opera How the Whale Became, a collaboration with Edward Kemp, was based on Ted Hughes’s The Dreamfighter and other creation tales, and was written for the Royal Opera House’s Christmas 2013/14 season. His most recent full-length opera, The Tale of Januarie, was staged by the Guildhall School in Spring 2017, boasting perhaps the first libretto in Middle English by Stephen Plaice, and based on Chaucer’s The Merchant’s Tale. A new primary school children’s opera, Henny Penny (2021), offers its participants an immersive experience both in music and modern language learning, with versions in French (Cocotte Chocotte), German (Hennig Pfennig) and Spanish (Pollita Chiquita). Ballet and opera are natural progressions for Philips, who already has an impressive track-record in composing for the theatre and has written two full-length ballets for choreographer Michael Corder and English National Ballet; a ballet based on Les Liaisons Dangereuses was followed by The Snow Queen in 2007. Symphonic works also form Philips’ oeuvre with All that remains commissioned to commemorate the centenary of the beginning of World War I receiving its world premiere by the National Orchestra of Belgium. Ballades Concertantes, for solo viola and double bass with chamber orchestra, premiered with Virginia Slater, Stacey Watton, and the Orchestra of the Swan in 2017, conducted by David Curtis. A vital force in education, Philips is the Head of Composition at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama where he was made Honorary Fellow in 2007, and conferred a Professorship in 2014. He was responsible for the creation of both a new Masters Programme in Opera-Making & Writing and a Doctoral Composer-in-Residence scheme in association with the Royal Opera House. Recent projects include a new oboe quintet, Through Silence (2020) for Wigmore Hall, and a set of folk song creative transcriptions, Melodys of Earth and Sky (2021), for violin and clarinet that draw on the two books of fiddle tunes collected by poet John Clare. The work was released on NMC Recordings in March 2022, reaching no 10 in the classical charts. In October 2022, The Country of Larks for tenor, horn and piano – a setting of Robert Louis Stevenson – receives its third performance at the Oxford Lieder Festival. In August 2022, Julian Philips is featured composer at the Presteigne Festival, with six works featured including performances of Barcarola for solo piano, and Divertissement for chamber orchestra, based on his ballet score for Les Liaisons Dangereuses. The residency also includes a performance of Looking West, a large-scale dramatic cantata for voices, actors and ensemble, with a libretto by Rebecca Hurst, commissioned to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams. For further information:
Leipzig New York London
C. F. Peters Ltd. & Co. KG C. F. Peters Corporation Peters Edition Ltd Talstraße 10 520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2005 2 – 6 Baches Street D-04103 Leipzig New York, NY 10018 London N1 6DN Deutschland USA UK ( +49 (0) 341 989 792 31 ( +44 (0) 20 7553 4000 * stefan.conradi@editionpeters.com * gene.caprioglio@editionpeters.com * newmusic@editionpeters.com
WORK LIST
Instrumental Barcarola (2022) 9 minutes Solo Piano First performed 25 November 2019 by Dominic Devagino at Milton Court, London EP 73673 Four Characters (2003) c. 12 minutes Viola and Piano Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for violist Lawrence Power, one of the station’s New Generation Artists. First performed 2 July 2003, St Mary’s Abchurch, the City of London Festival, by Lawrence Power (viola) and Jonathan Biss (piano). EP 7991 Winter Music (2016) 9 minutes Solo Harp Commissioned with funds made available by the Tanza Trust First performed by Oliver Wass at St John’s Smith Square, London, on 26 October 2017. EP 73563
Chamber Ensemble Maxamorphosis (2012) c. 22 minutes Solo Viola and Ensemble Commissioned by Aurora Orchestra with funding from the RPS Drummond Fund and the PRS Foundation. First performed 13 July 2012, LSO St Luke’s, as part of the City of London Festival, by Aurora Orchestra conducted by Nicholas Collon. EP 72297 Sextet (1999, revised 2011) c. 15 minutes Wind Quintet and Piano Commissioned by Warwick and Leamington Festival, with funds from West Midlands Arts. Revised version commissioned by the New London Chamber Ensemble. First performed (revised version) 12 June 2011, The Forge, Camden, by New London Chamber Ensemble EP 72193 Sweet love remembered (2011) c. 25 minutes (Goodison Quartet No. 2) Baritone and String Quartet Text: Various Commissioned by Sir Nicholas and Lady Judith Goodison as part of the Goodison Quartet series for Wigmore Hall. First performed 30 April 2011, Wigmore Hall, London, by Gerald Finley and the Vertavo Quartet EP 72212
WORK LIST
Orchestral / Instrumental All that remains (2014) 7 minutes 3.3.Ca.3.Bcl.3-2.2.3.1-2Perc-Hp-Str First performed on 19 October 2014 at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Belgium, by the National Orchestra of Belgium conducted by Hugh Wolff.. EP 72620 Ballades Concertantes (2017) 20 minutes For Solo Viola and Solo Double Bass, 2 Horns, 2 Oboes/Cor Anglais and Strings 1. Dame, ne regardes pas 2. Sanz cuer m’en vois 3. Je ne cuit pas qu’onques a creature 4. Dame, se vous m’estes lonteinne Commissioned by the Orchestra of the Swan First performed by Virginia Slater (viola) and Stacey Watton (double bass) with the Orchestra of the Swan, conducted by David Curtis, on 20 June 2017 at Stratford Arts House, Stratford upon Avon EP 73105 Come Forth to Play (2013) 6 minutes Concert Fanfare For 2 Brass Choirs, Organ and Percussion Group 1: 4 horns in F, 1 Trumpet in D, 2 Trumpets in B flat, 2 Tenor trombones, 1 Bass trombone, 1 Tuba in E flat Group 2: 4 horns in F, 1 Trumpet in D, 2 Trumpets in B flat, 2 Tenor trombones, 1 Bass trombone, 1 Tuba in E flat Group 3: Organ, Percussion (3 Players) 3 Tubular Bells (G, B flat, F), Triangle, Suspended Cymbal, Tam Tam, Bass Drum Written for the opening of Milton Court Concert Hall and first performed by Guildhall School Brass and Organ Students and James Wilshire (organ) in September 2013 Out of Light (2001) 20 minutes Symphony Poem for Large Orchestra 3(II=Picc, III=Picc&A-fl).2.Ca.3(III=B-cl).2.Cbsn – 4.3(I=Picc)2.B-cl – Timp – 3Perc – 2Hp – Pf/Cel – Str Commissioned by the BBC for the 2011 Proms Season First performed 2 September 2001, The Proms, Royal Albert Hall, London, BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tadaaki Otaka. EP 7800 Ricochets Between (2010) 11 minutes Clarinet in B- / Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn in F, 2 Violins, Viola, Piano Commissioned for the At Lunch series by Britten Sinfonia and Wigmore Hall. First performed 14 December 2010, West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, by members of the Britten Sinfonia EP 72117
WORK LIST
Vocal An Amherst Bestiary High Voice and Piano Text: Emily Dickinson Dedicated to Graham Johnson EP 71019 Blist’s Hill (2009) c. 3 minutes Baritone and Piano Text: Simon Christmas Commissioned by NMC for the NMC Songbook EP 71778 Cantos de Sonho (2013) 25 minutes Soprano, Tenor and Piano Trio Settings of poetry by Alexander Search (Fernando Pessoa) (1888-1935) Dedicated to Ricardo da Silva Esteves Commissioned for the 2013 Ludlow Weekend of English Song with funds provided by Finzi Friends and specifically by John Crumlish, Richard Hall, John Sammons and Adrian and Norma Williams First performance 2 June 2013, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, Shropshire, UK, by Rowan Pierce (soprano), Nicholas Mulroy (tenor), Matthew Denton (violin), Emma Denton (cello) and Gavin Roberts (piano) EP 72470 Coronach (1995) 8½ minutes Mezzo-Soprano and Viola Text: Olive Fraser Commissioned by the BBC for the Fairest Isle Songbook First performed 2 April 1995, Helen Lothian (mezzo-soprano), Simon Roland-Jones (viola) EP 7992 The Country of Larks (2021) 9 minutes Tenor, Horn and Piano Text from Autumn Effect by Robert Louis Stevenson 1. Recitative 2. Walking song 3. Cloud and Sun 4. Lark Song Commissioned by Oxford Lieder Four Sonnets of John Clare (2002, revised 2015) 10 minutes Baritone and Piano 1. Fame 2. The Death of Beauty 3. Memory 4. The Shepherd’s Tree Commissioned by Wigmore Hall, with funds made available by the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust. First performed by for Sir Thomas Allen and Graham Johnson on 16 July 2002 at Wigmore Hall. EP 73506 Love is more thicker than forget (1997) 3 minutes Soprano, Trumpet and Organ Text: E.E. Cummings EP 7985 Love songs of Amy Lowell (2011) c. 11 minutes Voice and Piano Text: Amy Lowell Commissioned by Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts Ltd. with funding from the Arts Council of Wales First performed 26 August 2011, Presteigne Festival, by Helen-Jane Howells (soprano) and Huw Watkins (piano) EP 72206
WORK LIST
Love Songs for Mary Joyce (2016) 35 minutes Tenor and Piano Text: John Clare Commissioned by the Wigmore Hall with the support of André Hoffmann, President of the Fondation Hoffman and first performed by James Gilchrist (tenor) and Anna Tilbrook (piano) at the Wigmore Hall, 20 September, 2016 EP 72960 Swift Partitions (1998) 13 minutes Baritone and Piano Poems by Emily Dickinson EP 73505 There is a morn by men unseen (2002, revised 2015) 3 minutes 30 seconds Baritone and Piano Poems by Emily Dickinson Commissioned by William Lyne CBE, AM in memory of Jonathan Webb First performed by Gerald Finley (baritone) and Julius Drake (piano) in the Director’s Festival Gala concert at Wigmore Hall on 10 May 2003 EP 73507
Choral Autumn Songs (2021) 25 minutes Soprano, Baritone, Children’s Voices and Piano Text: Ted Hughes The Leaves; The Seven Sorrows; The Defenders; There came a day; The Stag Commissioned by Little Missenden Festival First performed on 9 October 2021 at Little Missenden Church Body of Water (2012) 16 minutes Solo Tenor, Chorus, Brass Quintet (2 Tpt, Hn, Trbn, Tuba) and Organ Text: Simon Christmas Commissioned by JAM in memory of Russ Patrick. First performed 22 March 2012, St. Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, London, by the Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge and Onyx Brass conducted by Nicholas Cleobury. EP 72264 Church Music (2011) 6 minutes Text: George Herbert Anthem for choir and organ commissioned for the Choirbook for the Queen EP 73313 Fantasy on O Waly, Waly (2007) Composed for Of Water and Tears Chorus and Ensemble Of Water and Tears first performed in The Jerwood Studio, Glyndebourne Festival Opera as part of the Jerwood Chorus Development Scheme, with soloists from the Glyndebourne Chorus. EP 72102 Fern Hill (2014) 18 minutes Soprano Chorus, Flute, Viola & Harp Poem by Dylan Thomas Commissioned by Rhian Hutchings for Welsh National Opera. EP 72566 I sing of a maiden (2013) 5 minutes Treble Solo and SATB a cappella Text: Anon EP 72586
WORKI LIST
The Promised Child (2018) 4 minutes SATB and Piano Words by Stephen Plaice Commissioned by InterOpera First performed by The Ushaw Choir on 13 October 2018, at Pugin Chapel, Ushaw College, Durham EP 73286 Reach for Andromeda (1995) c. 5½ minutes SSAATTBB Text: Olive Fraser Dedicated to Sir Michael Tippett Commissioned by Paul Spicer and the Finzi Singers First performed 30 April 1995, Wigmore Hall, by the Finzi Singers, conducted by Paul Spicer EP 71031 Sea and Stars (2012) c. 25 minutes Soprano, Baritone, Chorus and Orchestra Text: Simon Christmas Commissioned by Ealing Choral Society as part of its 50th Anniversary season First performed 16 June 2012, Cadogan Hall, London, by Ealing Choral Society EP 72282 So gently darkness falls (2014) 12 minutes Words by John Masefield Treble Solo-SATB Chorus-2.2.2.2-2.1.0.0-Timp-Perc-Hp-Str Commissioned by Warwick School in celebration of the School’s 1100th Anniversary in 2014 EP 72553 Song’s Eternity (2002) c. 8 minutes SSATB Choir and Organ Text: John Clare Commissioned by the Musician’s Benevolent Fund in the name of Sir Thomas Armstrong First performed 20 November 2002, Westminster Cathedral, by the combined choirs of Westminster Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey under the direction of Martin Baker. EP 7886 Sorrowfull Songes (2012) 10 minutes SATB Choir Text: Thomas Wyatt Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 First performed 23 July 2012, Cadogan Hall as part of the BBC Proms, by Tenebrae, conducted by Nigel Short. EP 72301 Vertue (1988) 8 minutes SATB Chorus and Organ Text: George Herbert Commissioned by the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge First performed June 1988, Clare College Chapel, Cambridge, by Clare College Choir and Tim Brown EP 7990
WORKI LIST
Opera/Music Theatre Dolffin (2007) c. 40 minutes Percussion, harp and children’s chorus Libretto: Gwyneth Lewis Commissioned by Welsh National Opera MAX in 2006, the second in the WNO trilogy Land, Sea and Sky. EP 72068 Followers (2011) c. 60 minutes Cast of 3 (Soprano, Tenor, Baritone) Libretto: Simon Christmas Chamber ensemble (Clarinet/Bass Clarinet, Cello, Harpsichord/Piano, Percussion) Commissioned as part of Julian Philip’s doctoral award as Composer in Residence with Glyndebourne Festival Opera and the University of Sussex, supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council Collaborative Doctoral Award Scheme and the Alan and Karen Grieve Charitable Trust. First performed 21 August 2011, Organ Room, Glyndebourne by Gabriela Istoc (soprano), Andrew Dickinson (tenor), Alexander Hargreaves (baritone), Alice Jones, (cello), Fred Beer (percussion), Lucy Downer (clarinet), and Geoffrey Paterson (Music Director & Harpsichord, Piano & Keyboard) EP 72101 Good Intentions (2012) 70 minutes An Operetta Libretto: Simon Christmas Commissioned by W11 Opera First performed 15 December 2012, Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London, by W11 Opera EP 72401c How the Whale Became (2013) c. 90 minutes Opera - after the creation tales of Ted Hughes Libretto: Edward Kemp, based on The Dreamfighter and other creation tales by Ted Hughes Commissioned by the Royal Opera House First performed 6 December 2013, Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, London, directed by Natalie Abrahami EP 72523 Knight Crew (2010) Act 1: 70 minutes, Act 2: 55 minutes Cast of 6–Chorus of 50 Young Performers–Boy’s Chorus–Chorus of 15 Professional players (Flt–Sax–Bsn, Tpt–Hn–Tbn, 2Perc, 2Gtr, Keyboards, 2vln–vla–vlc–db) Youth Orchestra (2Flt–2Ob–3Cl–Sax–Bsn, 3Tpt–3Hn–2Tbn–Tba, Strings 11.9.7.5.3, 3Perc) Libretto: Nicky Singer Dedicated to Katie Tearle Commissioned by Glyndebourne Opera House in 2007 First performed March 2010, Glyndebourne main stage EP 71995 Looking West (2022) 75 minutes Cantata for Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Actors and Ensemble (8 Players) Libretto by Rebecca Hurst Flute (doubling Alto & Piccolo), Clarinet (doubling Bass Clarinet), Harp, Percussion, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass Sound (seven sound cues) Specially commissioned by the Nova Music Trust and the Presteigne Festival to commemorate the 150th anniversary year of Ralph Vaughan Williams with generous funding from the RVW Trust and the John S Cohen Foundation First performances 30 July 2022 at the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Pickering as part of the 2022 Ryedale Festival 25 August 2022, Presteigne Festival, St Andrew’s Church, Presteigne EP 73672 Full score EP 73672a Vocal score EP 73673b Libretto
WORKI LIST
Save the Diva (2011) 15 minutes A Street Opera Libretto: Simon Christmas Accordion, Trombone, Soprano, Baritone, Street Performer Commissioned by The Opera Group The Tale of Januarie (2016) 120 minutes Actor-S,3Mz.2T.3Bar.B Soli-Full Chorus Orchestra 3(II&III=Picc).2.Ca.2.B-cl.2.Cbsn-4.3.3.1-Timp-3Perc-Hp-Pf-Org-Str On stage: Flute, Viola, Harp Stage Band: 3 Bagpipes (doubling Fiddle, 2 Recorders), Percussion (2 players) Commissioned by the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, with funding from the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) through the ‘Cross-Language Dynamics’ OWRI Project led by the University of Manchester Libretto: Stephen Plaice, based on The Merchant’s Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer First performed on 27 February 2017 at Silk Street Theatre, Guildhall School conducted by Dominic Wheeler EP 73017 Varjak Paw (2008) Libretto: Kit Hesketh-Harvey Commissioned by The Opera Group First performed September 2008, Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, London, by The Opera Group, John Fulljames (director) EP 71751 Wild Cat (2007) c. 50 minutes Opera in One Act Libretto: Berlie Docherty Adult singers, children’s chorus and small ensemble (piano–triple wind–percussion) Commissioned by WNO MAX First performed 25 April 2007, Galari Caernarfon, then on tour to Holyhead, Harlech, Mold, Cilycwm and the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. EP 71016 The Yellow Sofa (2009) c. 70 minutes Chamber Opera in One Act Libretto: Edward Kemp Cast of 10 and Chamber Ensemble (6vln.2vla.2vlc.1db–Piano–Guitar–Portugese Guitar) Dedicated to Ricardo Da Silva Esteves First performed 20 August 2009, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, with the Britten Sinfonia, conducted by Leo McFall, directed by Freddie Wake-Walker EP 71987
WORKI LIST
WORKI LIST
For further information:
Leipzig New York London
C. F. Peters Ltd. & Co. KG C. F. Peters Corporation Peters Edition Ltd Talstraße 10 520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2005 2 – 6 Baches Street D-04103 Leipzig New York, NY 10018 London N1 6DN Deutschland USA UK ( +49 (0) 341 989 792 0 ( +44 (0) 20 7553 4000 * stefan.conradi@editionpeters.com * gene.caprioglio@editionpeters.com * newmusic@editionpeters.com