Gary Carpenter
Professor of Composition
FRNCM, HonRAM, LRAM, ARCM
Email: [email protected]
Research Portal: Gary Carpenter
Gary Carpenter (born 1951, Hackney, London) was educated at Sir George Monoux Grammar School, Walthamstow and studied composition initially with Dennis Carney and subsequently with Humphrey Searle, Thea Musgrave and (principally) John Lambert at the Royal College of Music (1969-72). He has lived in Holland and Germany and has written six operas (The Snow Queen Blewbury 1982, Le Grand Meaulnes Bracknell 1984, Mythologies Wakefield 1988 [all with Ian Barnett] and for Tête à Tête Opera: Doggone, Nyanyushka, Sparklepuff [all with Simon Nicholson), five musicals (including The Streets Of London with Ian Barnett, China Song with Simon Nicholson and Goodnight Mister Tom with Michelle Magorian) and a radio music drama – The One Alone – with Dame Iris Murdoch as well as animated and live action film scores, several ballets including Greyzone (Graz 2000, chor. Christina Comtesse), Kinderspelen (Nederlands Dans Theater 1978, chor. Jiri Kylian, – revived 2014/15 IntroDans, Arnhem) Interactions (NDT 2 1980 chor. Christopher Bruce) and a large amount of concert music including a Horn Concerto for Stephen Stirling and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Sonatinas (a concerto for alto saxophone and chamber orchestra) for Christian Forshaw and Ensemble 10:10, Liverpool.
He has been musical director and/or arranger-orchestrator on many films including The Wicker Man (1973) and The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. His Van Assendelft’s Vermeer for clavichord won the British Clavichord Society Composition Competition (2004) and was shortlisted for a British Composer Award (2005), whilst his Azaleas for harp, violin and ‘cello received a Victor Salvi Award in Venice (2004) and won the British Composer Award (2006) in the chamber category. He has also won prizes in Monaco and Vienna and received bursaries and awards from the Arts Council and the Holst and Gulbenkian Foundations.
A portrait CD, Die Flimmerkiste, is released on NMC. His Songs Of Sadness And Piety for voices, saxophone, organ & percussion appears on Christian Forshaw’s CD Renouncement and his Marking Time for basset clarinet appears on Mark Simpson’s Prism CD, also for NMC. Pantomimefor 13 winds (in a version woodwind orchestra) forms part of the Twisted Skyscapes CD project with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Winds conducted by Shea Lolin
Principal works include The Listening Project Symphony (Radio 4, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, [2012] – nominated for Prix Europa 2013), Fred and Ginger (LSO, Daniel Harding [2011]), Bassoon Concerto (Alan Pendlebury, RLPO, Vasily Petrenko [2011], Piano Trio [Fournier Trio, Wigmore Hall 2011, RPS Prize nomination 2012)] and Niederau (2011) which its commissioner, Tempest Flute Trio, have performed internationally over 30 times. His SET – Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Orchestra was premiered in Manchester with Iain Ballamy (sax), Martin France (kit) and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by HK Gruber [February 2014] – repeated in Strasbourg [July 2015] and Liverpool [May 2018]. In a new departure, Gary arranged and directed Satie In Blue, an evening long entertainment for big band first performed in Manchester (June 2014). Dadaville, a BBC commissioned orchestral work (after Max Ernst’s sculpture of the same name) received its premiere at the First Night Of The Proms 2015 (BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sakari Oramo). Last year (2016), The Food Of Love – a sequence of Shakespeare songs in four books for choirs and piano commissioned by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust – celebrated the anniversaries of the Shakespeare’s birth (1564/2014) and death (1616/2016) whilst an Aldeburgh Music/14-18 NOW orchestral commission Willie Stock commemorating the two Battles of The Somme (1916 and 1918) received its premiere with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Oliver Knussen at the Aldeburgh Festival. He contributed orchestral material (BBCSO) to David Sedaris’s ‘Death Knows No Season’ broadcast (BBC Radios 3 and 4, December 2016) and is writing incidental music for Sedaris’s upcoming audiobook ‘Theft By Finding’.
His most recent activity includes:
Book Publications
Gary Carpenter/Michelle Magorian, Goodnight Mister Tom (MTI 2023) newly revised and engraved edition released by MTI Europe on behalf of Josef Weinberger Ltd.
Gary Carpenter, Speakeasy for trumpet and piano (Camden Music 2023)
CD Releases
Everything Is Connected for tenor sax & contrabass. CD ‘Anthology’
Anthony Brown/Grant Russell. Divine Art MEX77101. Release date: 12/05/2023
Speakeasy for trumpet and piano. CD ‘Nexus’ – Oscar Whight/Zeynep Özsuca
Willowwhayne Records WAR093. Release date: 10/05/2024
Ballad 12 track ‘dark folk’ album. A collaboration with Matthew Deighton for the reformed band, Magnet. Release to be confirmed; performance on London South Bank 2026 (tbc)
Mondrian for harpsichord and ensemble – CD release Rubicon October 2026. Mahan Esfahani, Ensemble 10/10, Clark Rundell
Compositions
Masques and Muses – song cycle/cabaret for mezzo and freebass accordion (2021 – in progress). Texts by Eva Salzman. Current duration: 23’.
The Other Masquerades for clarinet and string quartet (2022). Commissioned and recorded by Linda Merrick with the Kreuzer String Quartet (release date TBC). Duration: c.13’30”
Speakeasy for trumpet and piano (2021). Commissioned by Oscar Whight. Performers: Oscar Whight/Zeynep Özsuca CD (see above). Duration: 10′. publisher: Camden Music.
Bauhausmusik for 16 players (2022). Commissioned by GSMD for John Harle’s Bauhaus project. 1st perf: May 20th 2022 duration: 16’
The Golden Limonaire for organ (2022). Private commission inaugurating the Griffiths Aubertin Organ, Buxted, E.Sussex. Premiere Stephen Farr (organ) July 2023 dur: 6’
E – scherzo for bassoon, piano and string trio (2023). Supported by Swedish Arts Grants Committee and Visby International Composers’ Centre – Gotland. 1st performance: Amy Harman and the Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, October 2024, Tetbury Festival. Broadcast BBC Radio 3, December 2024.
New Work: Flute and percussion commission for Helen Wilson and Matthew Brett – April 2027
Gary is a Professor at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) and until August 2025, taught composition at the Royal Academy of Music where he was elected an Honorary Member (HonRAM) in 2015. He received a Fellowship of the Royal Northern College of Music (FRNCM) in December 2016, and served as a director of The Ivors Academy where he chaired the Classical Executive Committee. He was a recipient of the 2017 PRS Composers’ Fund award for a portrait CD with the RLPO.
Current and Future Research
- Orchestral work consolidation and penetration: Portrait CD (see Professional Activity)
- Fischietto è Morto: exploring the relationship between trombone, clowns and Fellini’s cinema (I Clowns Finale). The Soprano Saxophone Sonata for John Harle further extends this by exploring circus themes.
- Theft By Finding (Audible audiobook): Underpinning David Sedaris’s memoirs with incidental music, musical commentary and underscore with reference to American popular music trends from 1977-2002.
Research Funding
SET for Tenor Saxophone and Orchestra performance + Orchestral works recording: funding to date from PRS Resonate (2016) and PRS Composers’ Fund (2017).
Undergraduate Teaching
UG one-to-one tuition
Postgraduate Teaching
- PG one-to-one tuition
- PG Composition seminars
Research Supervision
- Amir Sadhegi – PhD: Performance Art and Postdramatic Theatre: An exploration of performativity and the development of an experimental approach to music composition.
- Dr Laura Bowler – PhD: Music of Cruelty: Exploring the application of Antonin Artaud’s ‘Theatre of Cruelty manifesto to musical composition and performance. (Royal Academy of Music)
- Dr Brian Mark – PhD: Preserving Historical Artifacts: Borrowing Materials for Contemporary Musical Landscapes (RAM)
Selected Outputs
- Gary Carpenter Blue (unaccompanied flute), 2012, Holly Melia Solo Flute,
- Gary Carpenter Bassoon Concerto, 2011, Solo Bassoon/Orchestra,
- Gary Carpenter After Braque – for 20 players, 2007, Ensemble 10/10, Clark Rundell, Mixed Ensemble, NMC, Birkenhead, September 2006
- Gary Carpenter Gary Carpenter Death Knows No Season – Front Row Centre Overture etc., Giancarlo Guerrero, David Sedaris Orchestra, 20th September 2016
- Gary Carpenter Food Of Love (The) Book 2, NYCoS National Girls’ Choir, Christopher Bell, SSA Piano, Signum, RSNO Centre, Glasgow, 8th to 10th May 2015
- Gary Carpenter Marking Time, Mark Simpson, Ian Buckle Basset Clarinet and Piano, NMC, Liverpool Hope University, Capstone Building, 9-11 August 2010
- Gary Carpenter Pantomime (Prague Version) for woodwind orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Winds, Shea Lolin, 2 oboes, 4 clarinets (4th dbl bass), 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 saxophones., Legni Classics, Prague, March 24-26th 2014
- Gary Carpenter Die Flimmerkiste, Ensemble 10/10, Clark Rundell/Gary Carpenter, Pamela Nash Chamber – various, NMC, Birkenhead/London, 2006
- Gary Carpenter Marking Time (basset clarinet/piano) published by Cadenza Music, 2010, 2017
- Gary Carpenter Willie Stock for large orchestra published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2016
- Gary Carpenter Dadaville for orchestra published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2015
- Gary Carpenter Closing Time for tenor and ensemble published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2015
- Gary Carpenter Listening Project Symphony published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2015
- Gary Carpenter SET – Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Orchestra published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2015
- Gary Carpenter Food of Love (The) published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2014
- Gary Carpenter Pantomime (2014) for woodwind orchestra (and for 13 winds 1995) published by Camden Music, England, 2014
- Gary Carpenter The North (saxophone quartet) published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2014
- Gary Carpenter Two Hart Crane Songs published by Cadenza Music, 2013
- Gary Carpenter Runcorn Bridge for Wind Orchestra published by Studio Music, England, 2013
- Gary Carpenter Horn Concerto – Horn and Orchestra published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2011
- Gary Carpenter Niederau (3 flutes) published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2011
- Gary Carpenter Piano Trio published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2011
- Gary Carpenter Dioscuri (2 cellos) published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2010
- Gary Carpenter Doubles (concerto for oboe, clarinet and wind band) published by Studio Music, England, 2010
- Gary Carpenter Fred & Ginger for orchestra published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2010
- Gary Carpenter Go-Slow – (guitar quartet) published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2010
- Gary Carpenter Sonatinas for alto sax and small orchestra or piano published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2010
- Gary Carpenter Van Assendelft’s Vermeer (clavichord) published by Cadenza Music, Wales, 2008
Compositions
Performances
Recordings
Composition(All Details – Simplified)s
Professional Activity
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Concert Performances
As Dreams Are Made On for strings (2019). Premiere: Presteigne Festival 29th August 2022
German premiere: Kölner Philharmonie 22nd May 2023. Rodenkirchener Kammerorchester/ Presteigne Festival co-commission. Duration: 10’publisher Chester Music.Saxophone Sonata – Swedish tour 2022-23 by Theo Hillborg and Julia Isaksson. Over 25 performances + broadcast on Swedish National Radio.
Mondrian – concerto for harpsichord and 6 players. Mahan Esfahani and players from Gürzenich Orchestra, Cologne. March 11th2023
Mahan Esfahani + Kammerorchester Elbe cond: Yalda Zamani. Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg. December 12th 2023The North for saxophone quartet – Olias Saxophone Quartet. Wigmore Hall. June 2023
Fred and Ginger for orchestra. Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra cond. Duncan Ward
Hessische Rundfunk, Frankfurt. 21st June 2023 Broadcast 16th October 2023Bauhausmusik for 16 players (2022). Commissioned by GSMD for John Harle’s Bauhaus project. 1st perf: May 20th 2022
Dioscuri for two ‘cellos (2010) – UK premiere: Alex Holladay/Mark Lindley – Wirral Chamber Music Festival July 2024
The Golden Limonaire for organ (2022). Private commission inaugurating the Griffiths Aubertin Organ, Buxted, E.Sussex. Premiere Stephen Farr (organ) July 2023
Dadaville for orchestra – Barbican London, LSO cond. Duncan Ward 16th October 2023
The Lamplighter for children’s choir and orchestra: St Cecilia Orchestra cond: Xenophon Kelsey Ripon Cathedral with local school choirs. January 2024
Ein Musikalisches Snookerspiel – Bläserensemble Stephan Britt. performances in Italy and Switzerland: 19th May 2024, Kirche St. Ulrich, Stilfs. 20th May 2024 Katholische Kirche, Valchava. 29th June 2024, Kapuzinerkirche, Stans
Piano Trio Leonore Piano Trio. Wigmore Hall November 2024
Berliner for sop sax and piano – First performance Duo Theo and Julia (Theo Hillborg and Julia Isaksson), Visby, Gotland, Sweden July 2024, Visby, Gotland, Sweden
UK premiere, GSMD: Lydia Kenny, Steven Neugarten. March 2025Chi for brass band. Regent Brass cond, Alan Duigud. St Silas Church, Islington. June 22nd 2025
Flying God Suite for wind orchestra. St Silas Church, Islington. October 5th, 2025. Alan Duigud
For Example for alto recorder and string quartet. 1st performance, John Turner and Victoria String Quartet: Commissioned by The Douglas Steele Foundation for Edward Gregson’s 80th Birthday concert, St. Elizabeth’s Church, Ashley, Cheshire duration 5’
Pantomime for 13 winds Mark Simpson Wind Ensemble, The Tung Auditorium, Liverpool: January 14th 2026
Mondrian for harpsichord and ensemble, Mahan Esfahani, Ensemble 10:10 cond. Clark Rundell, The Tung Auditorium, Liverpool:25th February 2026
Dioscuri for two ‘cellos (2010) – Alex Holladay/Mark Lindley. Music Room, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool: Monday 9th March 2026
Clarinet Sonata, Mark Simpson/Ian Buckle. Music Room, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool: Monday 11th May 2026
Conferences or lectures
10th International Iris Murdoch Conference. Guest speaker on The One Alone a radio music drama for which I composed the music. 25th June 2022. Chichester University
External Public Engagement
The Wicker Man – 50th anniversary events including: 4k restoration video interviews, ‘live streamed’ presentation in West End with Edith Bowman, subsequent showings across UK with interview. May 2023
- 2014 SET – Concerto for Tenor Sax and Orchestra: 1st perf. February 2014. Iain Ballamy, BBCPO, HK Gruber (cond). The Food Of Love – four choral song books commissioned by Shakespeare Birthplace Trust commemorating 450th anniversary of WS’s birth (1564) and 400th of his death (1616), 1st perf. of Book 1, Stratford-upon-Avon, April 2014. The North for saxophone quartet. Borealis Quartet commission. 1st perf. St John’s Smith Square, February 27th 2014.
- GSMD External Examiner: MMus Composition/Opera Makers.
- Composition Professor: Royal Academy of Music,
