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:
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
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
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 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.
