Jump to content

James Whitbourn

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Junglecat (talk | contribs) at 22:56, 6 June 2008 (Reverted edits by 207.67.94.238 (talk) to last version by Tassedethe). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

James Whitbourn (born 17 August, 1963, Kent, UK) is a British composer and conductor.

Biography

James Whitbourn was educated at Magdalen College, University of Oxford, where he was a choral scholar. Now established as a composer for concert hall and screen, he began his career as a programme maker at the BBC, producing many award-winning programmes. His close association with the BBC Philharmonic resulted in three large-scale commissions for voices and orchestra. His Son of God Mass has had many performances worldwide, especially in the USA and Europe. Television credits include music for the BBC’s coverage of the Queen Mother’s funeral, and major BBC series ´Son of God´. In 2005, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, under Leonard Slatkin, premiered his oratorio Annelies, based on the Diary of Anne Frank, at London's Cadogan Hall to wide critical acclaim. He has written a number of works for the British tenor Robert Tear, with whom he has also collaborated as librettist, including a festal setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for King's College Cambridge and a cantata for the St Endellion Festival. Other vocal works include a set of songs commissioned by the BBC for the mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins.

Career highlights

  • 2000 - winner of Sandford St Martin Premier Award (with poet Michael Symmons Roberts).
  • 2001 - A Finer Truth – debut album of choral works – released by Et’cetera.
  • 2001 - orchestral score of multi award-winning BBC1 series Son of God.
  • 2002 - Living Voices premiered in New York concert on the first anniversary of 9/11.
  • 2004 - set prayer by Desmond Tutu for the Commonwealth Observance, Westminster Abbey.
  • 2005 - movements from Annelies performed at the National Holocaust Commemoration, Palace of Westminster.
  • 2005 - World premiere of Annelies given in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin.
  • 2007 - U. S. premiere of a new orchestration for Annelies by Westminster Choir College's Williamson Voices under the direction of James Jordan (conductor).
  • 2008 - Premiere of Luminosity in Philadelphia Cathedral, U.S. with Daniel Stewart (viola), Westminster Williamson Voice's and Schola Cantorum and Blair Academy Singers under James Jordan with Archedream Dance Theater.

Key works

  • Pika (2000; tenor, speaker, orchestra)
  • Son of God Mass (2000; choir, saxophone, organ)
  • The Wounds (2001; soprano, speaker, strings)
  • Whirlwind (2002; tenor, speaker, choir, orchestra)
  • Annelies (2004; soprano, choir, orchestra) (2006; soprano, choir, violin, cello, piano and clarinet)
  • Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (Collegium Regale) (2005; tenor, choir, organ)
  • Luminosity (2007; Choirs, viola, tam-tam, organ, tanpura)

- * James Whitbourn's homepage at Chester Music

- - * G Schirmer Inc Publisher homepage

- - * Encore publications home page

- - * Rider University composer podcast

-

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Whitbourn&oldid=217637097"