Andrew Downes (composer)

Andrew Downes (born 1950) is a British classical composer.

Downes was born in Handsworth, Birmingham. In 1969, he won a choral scholarship to St. John's College, Cambridge, where he gained an MA degree specializing in composition, and in 1974 went on to study with Herbert Howells [cite news |author = Staff writer |title = Piano recital includes Howells' work |work = The Citizen |publisher = Northcliffe Newspapers Group Ltd |page = 10 |date= 2005-06-10 |accessdate = 2006-09-10 ] at the Royal College of Music. Downes was head of the School of Composition and Creative Studies at the Birmingham Conservatoire from 1992 until 2005, when he retired due to ill health. [cite news |author = Staff writer |title = Leading pianist's recital |work = Newsquest Media Group Newspapers |publisher = Newsquest Digital Media |date= 2005-06-09 |accessdate = 2006-09-10 ] [cite news |author = Staff writer |title = Tribute to composer |work = Birmingham Evening Mail |publisher = Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd |page = 12 |date= 2005-06-14 |accessdate = 2006-09-10 ] Andrew Downes' music has been performed throughout the world, in many leading concert halls and cathedrals, and has been broadcast on BBC Radios 2, 3cite news |first = Christopher |last = Morley |title = Culture - Andrew on song with Czech mate |work = Birmingham Post |publisher = Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd |page = 16 |date= 2002-02-28 |accessdate = 2006-09-10 ] & 4, BBC TV, ‘France Musique’, Italian TV, Austrian Radio, Dutch Radio, Czech Radio and Central Peking Radio. 12 CDs have been made of his music.

His commissions have included "The Marshes of Glynn" for the Royal opening of the Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham in 1986;cite news |first = Terry |last = Grimley |title = Millennium is a new dawn for Birmingham composer |work = Birmingham Post |publisher = Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd |page = 13 |date= 2000-02-17 |accessdate = 2006-09-10 ] "Centenary Fire Dances" for the City of Birmingham’s Centenary Festival of Fireworks and Music; an "Overture" for the Three Choirs Festival; songs for the Cantamus Girls Choir; [cite news |author = Staff writer |title = Such an evocative evening |work = Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph |date= 1999-05-25 |accessdate = 2006-09-10 ] song cycles for mezzo-soprano Sarah Walker and tenor John Mitchinson for broadcast on BBC Radio 3; anthems for the BBC Radio 4 Daily Service; "Sonata for 8 Horns" for the Horn Octet of the University of New Mexico; "Suite for 6 Horns" for the Vienna Horn Society; "Song of the Eagle" for the James Madison University Flute Choir of Virginia; "Concerto for Two Pianos" for the Duo Scaramouche; "Sonata for 8 Pianists" for soloists from France, Italy and Britain; [cite news |author = Staff writer |title = Perfect eight |work = Birmingham Evening Mail |publisher = Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd |page = 8 |date= 2000-12-02 |accessdate = 2006-09-10 ] "Mela Kamavardhani" for performances by Indo-Jazz Fusions in Calcutta, Delhi and Bombay; "Fanfare" for Madam Speaker, for the Installation of the Rt Hon Betty Boothroyd MP as Chancellor of the Open University in 1994; "Concerto for Two Guitars" for Simon Dinnigan and Fred T. Baker with Strings from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; "Concert Overture 'Towards a New Age' "for the 150th anniversary of the British Institution of Mechanical Engineers, [cite news |author = Staff writer |title = Overture to a Celebration |work = Professional Engineering |publisher = Institution of Mechanical Engineers |page = 52 |date= 1997-02-26 |accessdate = 2006-09-10 ] premiered in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; and "Suite for Brass Sextet" for the Czech Philharmonic Brass Sextet.

As a result of the success of the CD recording of his "Sonata for 8 Horns" by the Horns of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew was commissioned to compose a "Concerto for 4 Horns and Orchestra" for the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, who gave two performances of the work in the Dvorak Hall, Prague, in February and March 2002. In March 2003, the work was recorded for broadcast by Czech Radio. Andrew returned to Prague in October 2005 to hear a performance by the Czech Philharmonic Horns of his "5 Dramatic Pieces for 8 Wagner Tubas".

Recent projects have included Songs of Autumn and Songs of the Skies, (both commissioned by Symphony Hall Birmingham, premiered in 2003 and 2005 respectively with 1200 children and players from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Central England Ensemble); Songs of Love for Paula Downes and David Trippett, (world premiere at University Hall, Harvard University Cambridge, Mass. USA on February 1st 2007); Sonata for Organ (premiered by Robert Green at St David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, Wales on August 22nd 2007); the opera, Far from the Madding Crowd, premièred at the Thomas Hardy Festival in July 2006; Mass for Unaccompanied Solo Voice, premiered by soprano Paula Downes at the MIT Chapel, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on March 6th 2008 and Sonata for Horn, Violin and Piano for the Brahms Trio Prague (Monica Vrabcová, violin; Ondrej Vrabec, [principal Horn Czech Philharmonic Orchestra] and Daniel Wiesner, piano), premiered at the Suk Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague on February 5th 2008. A CD of this work has now been released on the Czech Philharmonic Artesmon label. Current projects include a song cycle for bass-baritone Jonathan Pugsley and pianist Duncan Honeybourne (to be premiered in November 2008); Concerto for Piano and Orchestra for pianist Duncan Honeybourne and the Central England Ensemble (to be premiered in 2009); and Sonata for Contrabass Flute and Piano for Peter Sheridan (to be premiered in 2009). 
Faber Music include Andrew Downes' motet O Vos Omnes in their compilation entitled Thirty Choral Masterworks for Upper Voices. Andrew Downes is a Life Fellow of the RSA and of the International Biographical Association and President of the Central Composers' Alliance and Leading Patronof the Midland Chamber Players.

He has a wife, Cynthia, two daughters, Anna and Paula (both married), and a grandson, Oscar.

Selected Performances during 2008 and 2009

Tuesday 5th February 2008, 7.30pmSuk Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague, Czech RepublicAndrew Downes: Sonata for Violin, Horn and Piano opus 93 (world premiere)Performed by the Brahms Trio PragueMonika Vrabcova violinOndrej Vrabec hornDaniel Wiesner piano

Saturday 16th February 2008, 7.30pmChrist Church, Leatherhead, SurreyAndrew Downes: The Forest at DawnAnthony Cairns organ

Thursday 6th March 2008, 12.00noon
MIT Chapel, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USAAndrew Downes: Mass for Unaccompanied Solo Voice (world premiere)Paula Downes soprano

Thursday 6th March 2008, 12.00noon
MIT Chapel, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USAAndrew Downes: Sacred Mass for Unaccompanied Solo Violin (USA premiere)Anna Downes - violin

Sunday 16th March 2008, 11amHarvard Memorial Church, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USAAndrew Downes: I Was GladHarvard University Choir conducted by Edward E JonesThis performance is being broadcast, and can be accessed via the internet at www.whrb.org

Saturday April 5th, 7pmAmes High School, Ames, Iowa, USAAndrew Downes: Sonata for 8 Flutes or Flute Choir (1st movement)Ames Youth Flute Choir Conductor Mary Peterson

Sunday April 6th 7.30pmSeattle Town Hall, Seattle, Washington, USAAndrew Downes: Sonata for 8 Flutes or Flute Choir (1st movement and 3rd movement)Seattle Flute Society Flute Choir conducted by Kate Kralik

Saturday April 26th 7.30pmSt Cecilia Music Center, Royce Auditorium, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USAAndrew Downes: Sonata for 8 Flutes or Flute Choir (2nd, 4th and 5th movements)West Michigan Flute Association Flute Choir conducted by Darlene Dugan

Sunday April 27th, 7pmAmes High School, Ames, Iowa, USAAndrew Downes: Sonata for 8 Flutes or Flute Choir (1st movement)Ames Youth Flute Choir Conductor Mary Peterson

Wednesday 30th April 2008 Church of St John the Evangelist, Bowdain Street, Boston, MA, USA.Andrew Downes: Songs from Spoon RiverPaula Downes - sopranoDavid Trippett – piano

Wednesday May 14th 7.30pmOur Lady of the Magnificat Church, Kinnelon,
New Jersey, USA.Andrew Downes: Sonata for 8 FlutesUptown FlutesDirected by Virginia Schulz-Johnson

Tuesday 20th May 2008, 7.30pm
CBSO Centre, Berkley Street, BirminghamAndrew Downes: Sonata for 2 PianosJulian Hellaby, Peter Noke pianos

Tuesday 20th May 2008, 8pm
Marlborough College Concert Hall, MarlboroughAndrew Downes: Sonata for Double Bass and Piano (second movement)David Daly - Double Bass
Duncan Honeybourne - Piano

Wednesday July 2nd 2008St Mary's Church, Oldswinford, Stourbridge, West Midlands7.30pmAndrew Downes: 5 Movements for Piano and String Orchestra (excerpts)Kevin Robson (piano)Oldswinford Hospital Chamber OrchestraConductor Anna Downes

Friday July 4th 2008 St Johns Church, Hagley, Worcestershire7.30pmAndrew Downes: 5 Movements for Piano and String Orchestra (excerpts)Kevin Robson (piano)Oldswinford Hospital Chamber OrchestraConductor Anna Downes

Friday July 11th 2008, 8pmSt Mary's Church, Lydney, GloucestershireAndrew Downes: In Memoriam Herbert Howells (world premiere performance)
Duncan Honeybourne (piano)New work composed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of Howells, Andrew Downes' teacher(part of the 2008 Lydney Festival)

Sunday July 20th 2008 2.30pmAll Saints Church, Newland, Glos.Andrew Downes: In Memoriam Herbert HowellsDuncan Honeybourne (piano)

Saturday 20th September 2008, 5pmVilla Bertramka, Prague, Czech RepublicAndrew Downes: Sonata for Horn & Piano (Czech premiere)Ondrej Vrabec - french hornDaniel Wiesner - piano

Saturday 20th September 2008, 5pm Villa Bertramka, Prague, Czech RepublicAndrew Downes: Sonata for Violin, Horn & Piano Brahms Trio Prague (Monika Vrabcova - violin, Ondrej Vrabec - horn, Daniel Wiesner - piano)

Wednesday 24th September 2008 5.30pm Church of St John the Evangelist, Bowdain Street,
Boston, MA, USA.Andrew Downes: Old Loves' DomainPaula Downes - sopranoDavid Trippett – piano

Saturday September 27th 2008 7.30pmEngelbert Schmidt GmbH Concert HallMindelzell, GermanyAndrew Downes:Sonata for 8 HornsHorns of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Sunday 28th September 2008 4pmSt Clements Church, Hawthorne, New Jersey, USAAndrew Downes: Sonata for 8 FlutesUptown Flutes conducted by Virginia Schulze-Johnson

Sunday 5th October 2008, 11amHarvard Memorial Church
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USAAndrew Downes: I Was GladHarvard University Choir (cond. Edward E Jones)This performance will be broadcast live, and can be accessed in the UK via internet at www.whrb.org at 4pm (UK time)

Tuesday 28th October 2008 7.30pm
Eastern Nazarene College, Quincy, Massachusetts, USAAndrew Downes: Songs from Spoon RiverPaula Downes - sopranoDavid Trippett - piano

Wednesday November 12th 2008 1pmSt Mary's Church, Weymouth, Dorset(Weymouth Lunchtime Chamber Concerts Series)Andrew Downes: Finished Fields (cycle of songs to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the death of Wilfred Owen) (world premiere)Jonathan Pugsley: bass-baritone
Duncan Honeybourne: piano

Friday November 14th 2008 7.30pmHoly Trinity Church, Eccleshall, StaffsAndrew Downes: Finished Fields (cycle of songs to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the death of Wilfred Owen)Jonathan Pugsley: bass-baritone
Duncan Honeybourne: piano

Sunday December 21st 2008 6.30pmSt Saviour's Church, Hagley, WorcestershireAndrew Downes: Jesus Was Born in Bethlehem (from Christmas Cantata)St Saviour's Church Orchestra and Haybridge Community Orchestra conducted by Cynthia Downes

Thursday January 29th 2009 7.30pmMorphy Hall, University of Wisconsin-MadisonWisconsin, USAAndrew Downes:Idyll,In the Gardens of BurdwanMarc Fink,oboe Sunday March 1st 2009, 7.30pm
Birmingham Town Hall, England.Andrew Downes: Concerto for Piano and Symphony Orchestra (world premiere)
Duncan Honeybourne pianoCentral England Ensemble Anna Downes leaderAnthony Bradbury conductor

Friday May 1st 2009, 7.30pmSt John's Church, Hagley, WorcestershireAndrew Downes: Concert Overture Towards a New AgeHagley Community Orchestra conducted by Cynthia Downes

Friday November 13th 2009, 7.30pm Baptist Church, Lydney, Gloucestershire"'Andrew Downes Lecture:"Influences on my composition, including by my teacher, Herbert Howells, as well as Plainsong, Folk music, Rock music and Non-Western Music"'The English composer Andrew Downes talks about his musical heritage, and the influences of many styles on his compositions with recorded illustrations from the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, John Mitchinson, Sarah Walker, the strings of the CBSO and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.This event is hosted by the Royal Forest of Dean Herbert Howells Society.

References

External links

* [http://www.andrewdownes.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.artistnation.org/artist-689.php Andrew Downes on ArtistNation.org]
* [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~downlyn] Lynwood Music