The Offical Edward Gregson Web Site

Edward Gregson

Edward Gregson (born 1945) is one of Britain's most respected composers, whose music has been performed, broadcast and recorded worldwide. He studied composition (with Alan Bush) and piano at the Royal Academy of Music from 1963-7, winning five prizes for composition. He received early success with his Brass Quintet, which was broadcast and recorded (by the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble and the Hallé Brass Consort). Since then he has written orchestral, chamber, instrumental and choral music, as well as music for the theatre, film and television.

Edward Gregson is Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, a post he has held since 1996. Before that he had an academic career in music, mainly at Goldsmiths College, University of London, where he eventually became Professor of Music in 1994. He is also Chairman of Conservatoires UK and sits on the Boards of the Performing Right Society, the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, and Chethams School of Music. Read more>>>

Work of the Day for Wednesday 9th July, 2008

Occasion

Occasion was written and published specially for the National Youth Brass Band Championship of Great Britain, held at the Royal Albert Hall, London in October 1986. It has four movements: Fanfare, Festivities, Elegy and Dance. The opening Fanfare was originally written as a wedding fanfare for Paul Patterson, a long time composer friend, in 1981, while the Elegy and Dance were commissioned as a test piece for the first Westsound/Ayrshire invitation contest in 1982 for the leading bands in Scotland. Festivities was therefore written last, both to complete the work and give it its essentially ‘festive’ character. Except for the Elegy which is contemplative, the music throughout is extrovert and joyful.