Mark Lansom

Compositions and Arrangements


Composition

Whilst at University I was known mostly for composing rather than my other musical studies. After a year of studying composition alone, under the inspirational Simon Holt, the compositional side of things went a bit dry. Life took over as they say, and I landed up in my present job. I've only finished one piece that I'm pleased with since then, and meanwhile with one exception I have decided to withdraw all my student works, until I have time to review them and re-present them for use. My very short portfolio therefore at present is as follows:



String Quartet No. 1 (1989)

Written whilst still an undergraduate at City University, it remains one of the works I am most proud of. Though no programme was intended, I see it now as almost autobiographical, portraying a happy and confident young man without a worry in the world. Retrospectively I know that it held me back as I was never as pleased with my other compositions from this era as I was with this one. It was shortlisted by the Society for Promotion of New Music for professional performance though no performance actually followed. Despite its particular rhythmic difficulties it was eventually performed with some aplomb on February 1st 1991 at City University by Christianne Evans and Richard Sizer (violin), Lucy Castle (viola) and Judith Robinson (cello).



Welsh Folk Song Suite (2011) for String Orchestra

I was co-founder and have conducted the Wrexham Schools String Ensemble since 1996, and as the group grew it began to enter competitions, finding itself playing several times in the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth at Symphony Hall, Birmingham. Performing a student composition with them prompted me to consider writing a piece for them myself. To suit the age range I needed it to be within their capabilities and be strong melodically too, so, whilst trying to maintain my own style I based each movement on an existing Welsh melody. All four movements were performed together for the first time in May 2012, and a second performance given by the Cambrian Orchestra took place on May 27th 2017. Score and parts are now available to purchase with this link.



Please find out more through the links, and do email me if you have any enquiries regarding performance or commission.



Arranging

Since moving back to Wrexham, I've been much more proficient as an arranger, and especially since 2000 when I first bought a copy of Sibelius for my new PC. Much of my arranging has been, out of necessity, for string orchestras and string quartet. My string orchestra arrangements have been mostly for school groups, with each part differentiated for the player or players concerned. I have many separate arrangements for each number, changing each as the players develop or change through the years.



Sheetmusicplus.com has recently made it possible for me to sell some of my arrangements of popular music that is still in copyright. I’ve sold quite a few already, and am interested in what happened to them next! If you bought one and have played it I would love to hear, and I’d love to put links to your performances on this site.



You can purchase them here. However, for pieces below in the public domain you can purchase them directly from me for a 25% discount. The process takes a little longer as it involves emailing me at this link and waiting for me to be next to the computer to send you the item (but usually within 24 hours). If you prefer to pay through PayPal (easier for non-UK) there is a 20% reduction. You can use this QR code for PayPal payments:


Abba - Slipping Through My Fingers for String Quartet

America (My Country Tis of Thee) for Full Orchestra

Angels from the Realms of Glory for String Quartet

Beatles - Eleanor Rigby for Saxophone Quintet

Beatles - Eleanor Rigby for String Quartet

Beatles - In My Life for String Quartet

Beatles - She’s Leaving Home for String Quartet

Beatles - When I’m Sixty-Four for String Quartet

Bartok Romanian Dances for String Orchestra

Bridgerton Main Title for String Quartet

Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star for String Quartet

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) for String Orchestra

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) for Orchestra

Coldplay - Viva La Vida for String Quartet

Coldplay - Viva La Vida for String Trio in A

Coldplay - Viva La Vida for String Trio in A flat (original key)

Coldplay - Viva La Vida for 2 Violins and Cello in A

Coldplay - Viva La Vida for 2 Violins and Cello in A flat (original key)

Coventry Carol for String Orchestra

Dance of the Mirlitons (from "The Nutcracker") for String Orchestra

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (from "The Nutcracker") for String Orchestra

Dolly Parton - Nine to Five for String Quartet

Einaudi - I Giorni for String Quartet

The Elephant from Carnival of the Animals for String Quintet or String Orchestra

Flower Song from Carmen for String Quartet

Genesis - Supper’s Ready for String Quartet

God Save The King for Full Orchestra

Going Home (theme from “Local Hero”) by Mark Knopfler for String Quartet

Habanera from Carmen for String Quartet

Hallelujah Chorus for String Quartet

Handel Arrival of the Queen of Sheba for two solo violins and String Orchestra

Handel Overture to the Royal Fireworks for String Orchestra

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas for SSATB Choir

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas for String Orchestra

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas for String Quartet

Haydn Serenade for String Orchestra or String Quartet

Iron Maiden - Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter - Waltz for String Quartet

Jazz Combo for Beginner Strings

Jazz Pizzicato by Leroy Anderson for String Orchestra

Jerusalem for solo piano

Jerusalem for String Quartet

Mahler 3 Children’s Chorus part

Mark Lansom - Welsh Folk Song Suite for String Orchestra

Londonderry Air (“Danny Boy”) for String Orchestra

Londonderry Air (“Danny Boy”) for String Quartet

Meditation for solo violin and string orchestra

A Million Dreams (from “The Greatest Showman”) for Flute, French Horn, Violin and Viola

A Million Dreams (from “The Greatest Showman”) for Flute, Trumpet, Violin and Cello

A Million Dreams (from “The Greatest Showman”) for String Quartet

Nimrod for String Quartet

Nine To Five by Dolly Parton for String Quartet

O Little Town of Bethlehem for String Trio

Over the Rainbow for four violas

Pachelbel Canon made easier for String ensemble

Pastorale from Corelli’s "Christmas Concerto" for String Quartet

Queen - Bicycle Race for String Quartet

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody for String Quartet

Queen - Don't Stop Me Now for String Quartet

Queen - Somebody To Love for String Quartet

Queen - We Are The Champions for String Quartet

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town for String Orchestra

Satie - Gymnopedie no. 1 for String Quartet

Silent Night for beginner String Orchestra

String Quartet Christmas Medley

Teddy Bears’ Picnic for String Quartet

Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partiro) for String Quartet

The Twelve Keys of Christmas - Christmas exercise for solo violin / treble clef instrument

The Twelve Keys of Christmas - Christmas exercise for solo viola / alto clef

Thunderbirds for Full Orchestra

Variations on "Suo Gan" for String Quartet

Violin scales Grade 1

Violin scales Grade 2

Violin scales Grade 3

Violin scales Grade 4

Violin scales Grade 5

Violin scales Grades 1 2 3

Violin scales Grades 4 5

Violin scales Grades 1 2 3 4 5

Vivaldi Sinfonia RV122 for String Orchestra without violas

Wagner Bridal Chorus (Here Comes The Bride) for String Quartet

When Christmas Comes To Town (from “The Polar Express”) for String Orchestra

When She Loved Me (from “Toy Story 2”) for String Orchestra

When She Loved Me (from “Toy Story 2”) for String Quartet

White Christmas for Junior String Orchestra


You can see and hear some of these scores at my YouTube page here.


Some more of my arrangements are for sale at SCORE EXCHANGE, which you can find by clicking here. If you need any tune arranged for your ensemble, or, for example, a group playing at your wedding, please get in touch.


My new arrangement of Gershwin’s “Fascinating Rhythm” was premiered by Wrexham Symphony Orchestra on February 28th 2016, conducted by myself. In December 2017, Wrexham Youth Orchestra premiered my new arrangement of Torme and Wells’s “The Christmas Song”.


Copyist

I have done much work as a copyist and can "Sibelius" almost all forms of nomenclature. If you have some music you need professionally typeset please get in touch.


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