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 Sunday 11th May, 2008

An Age of Kings

The origins of this work date back to 1988, when I was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company to write the music for The Plantagenets trilogy, directed by Adrian Noble in Stratford-upon-Avon. These plays take us from the death of Henry V to the death of Richard III. Later, in 1991, I wrote the music for Henry IV parts 1 and 2, again in Stratford. All of these plays are concerned with the struggle for the throne, and they portray one of the most turbulent periods in the history of the British monarchy.

Much of the music used in these productions was adapted into two large symphonic suites for wind band - The Sword and the Crown (1991) and The Kings Go Forth (1996). An Age of Kings is the version for brass band, written specially for this recording (2004). It incorporates music from both the symphonic suites for wind band.