Short bio John Gardner
Full biography John Gardner
John Gardner was a renowned British composer born in Manchester on March 11, 1917. He started his musical journey as a chorister in the choir of Manchester Cathedral. He later enrolled at the Royal Manchester College of Music, where he studied composition, piano, and conducting.
Gardner's musical work spanned over four decades and included many diverse styles, such as orchestral, choral, chamber, and operatic music. He is best known for his choral music, including his cantata "The Ballad of Heroes," which was commissioned for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
Some of Gardner's other notable works include his Piano Concerto, which was premiered by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1955, and his String Quartet No. 2, which was written in the early 1970s. He also composed operas, such as "The Visitors" and "The Betrothal," and his music has been performed by many renowned musicians, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Gardner was also a respected music educator, having taught at the Royal Manchester College of Music and later at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Gardner was awarded numerous honors throughout his career, including a CBE in 1976 and a knighthood in 1992. He died on December 12, 2011, in Oxford at the age of 94, leaving behind a rich legacy of musical compositions that continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.
Compositions featuring John Gardner
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petite Suite, for recorder & orchestra, Op. 245 | 11:28 min | Concerto | 2001 |
| 2 | Ecossaises, for oboe, clarinet & piano, Op. 205 | 4:06 min | Chamber Music | 1992 |
| 3 | Symphony No. 3, Op. 189 | 4:28 min | Symphony | 1989 |
| 4 | Six by Four, for countertenor, recorder, cello & harpsichord, Op. 181 | 12:29 min | Vocal Music | 1988 |
| 5 | Dances (5), for organ, Op. 179 | 17:11 min | Keyboard | 1988 |
| 6 | Tetrad, for lute, Op. 170 | 4:48 min | Chamber Music | 1986 |
| 7 | O Little Town of Bethlehem, carol for chorus & piano, Op. 149 | 4:38 min | Choral | 1979 |
| 8 | Sunny Bank Carol, for chorus, Op. 141 | 0:52 min | Choral | 1977 |
| 9 | Sonata da Chiesa sopra un tema di Claudio Monteverdi, for 2 trumpets & organ, Op. 136 | 13:41 min | Chamber Music | 1976 |
| 10 | Sonata Secolare, for trumpet, ensemble & organ, Op. 117 | 15:18 min | Chamber Music | 1973 |
| 11 | A Song for St Cecilia's Day, for chorus & organ, Op. 119 | 4:14 min | Choral | 1973 |
| 12 | A Gallery Carol, for soprano, chorus, organ & percussion, Op. 109/4 | 2:13 min | Choral | 1970 |
| 13 | Sailor Songs (4), for 6 voices, Op. 108 | 8:24 min | Vocal | 1970 |
| 14 | An English Ballad, for orchestra, Op. 99 | 16:05 min | Orchestral | 1969 |
| 15 | Hymn Tunes (4), for male chorus (unpublished), Op. 101 | 8:39 min | Choral | 1969 |
| 16 | Partita for cello, Op. 98 | Chamber Music | 1968 | |
| 17 | Cantata for Christmas, for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 82 | 24:15 min | Choral | 1966 |
| 18 | Good King Wenceslas, carol for female chorus & piano, Op. 75/1 | 1:58 min | Choral | 1965 |
| 19 | Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, for chorus, Op. 75/2 | 2:13 min | Choral | 1965 |
| 20 | Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, carol for chorus, percussion & organ, Op. 75/2 | 1:53 min | Choral | 1965 |
| 21 | Magnificat, for chorus & organ, Op. 72ii | 3:17 min | Choral | 1965 |
| 22 | Midsummer Ale, overture for orchestra, Op. 73 | 5:34 min | Orchestral | 1965 |
| 23 | We have a strong city, for chorus & organ, Op. 62 | 3:18 min | Choral | 1964 |
| 24 | We Wish You A Merry Christmas, for chorus & piano | 1:56 min | Choral | 1964 |
| 25 | O how amiable, for chorus & organ, Op. 65 | 5:26 min | Choral | 1964 |
| 26 | I will lift up mine eyes, for soprano & female chorus, Op. 63 | 5:24 min | Choral | 1964 |
| 27 | The Shout, for double chorus, Op. 67 | 3:52 min | Choral | 1964 |
| 28 | Angels from the Realms of Glory, carol for female chorus, Op. 58/1 | 2:23 min | Choral | 1963 |
| 29 | Carols (3), for various ensembles, Op. 58 | 10:49 min | Choral | 1963 |
| 30 | The Holly and the Ivy, for chorus & piano or orchestra, Op. 58/2 | 2:14 min | Choral | 1963 |
| 31 | When Christ was born of Mary free, for chorus, Op. 55 | 1:51 min | Choral | 1962 |
| 32 | Half holiday, overture, Op. 52 | 3:20 min | Orchestral | 1962 |
| 33 | Waltz (All's Well That End's Well), Op. 41 | 1:02 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1959 |
| 34 | The Ballad of the White Horse, for baritone, chorus & orchestra, Op. 40 | 48:25 min | Choral | 1958 |
| 35 | Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 34 | 25:35 min | Concerto | 1956 |
| 36 | Theme and Variations, for brass quartet, Op. 7 | 10:28 min | Chamber Music | 1951 |
| 37 | Easter Fantasy, for 2 trumpets, 2 trombones & organ, Op. 232 | 6:40 min | Chamber Music | 1951 |
| 38 | Flourish for a Wedding, for organ & brass ensemble, Op. 162 | 2:54 min | Chamber Music | 1951 |
| 39 | Entry of the Three Kings, carol for oboe & chorus | 5:06 min | Choral | 1950 |
| 40 | And when the day of Pentecost, for chorus, Op. 4 | Choral | 1950 | |
| 41 | Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 2 | 40:38 min | Symphony | 1947 |
| 42 | A Scots Overture, for orchestra, Op. 25 | 6:05 min | Orchestral | 1941 |
| 43 | Quartet for saxophones, Op. 168 | 8:21 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 44 | Flute Concerto, Op. 220 | 16:00 min | Concerto | - |
| 45 | Concerto for oboe & strings, Op. 193 | 15:15 min | Concerto | - |
| 46 | Chamber Concerto, for organ & 10 players, Op. 102 | 15:01 min | Concerto | - |
| 47 | Sunrise, Sunset | 4:24 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 48 | Balulalow, for soprano, chorus, organ & percussion, Op. 109/2 | 2:37 min | Choral | - |
| 49 | Springhead Christmas play | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
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