About the composer John Gardner

John Gardner was born in Manchester on 2nd March 1917 and was brought up in Ilfracombe, North Devon. His father was a local GP and amateur composer who was killed in action in the last months of the First World War. Gardner was educated at Eagle House, Wellington College and Exeter College, Oxford. An important figure in his early life was Hubert Foss of Oxford University Press, who published the Intermezzo for Organ in 1936 and introduced him to the composer Arthur Benjamin to whom Gardner dedicated his Rhapsody for Oboe and String Quartet (1935). With the advent of the Second World War, Gardner enlisted in 1940 and working first as a Bandmaster and then as a Navigator with Transport Command. After the war Gardner treated the end of the War as a new start, set aside his juvenile works and began again from Opus 1. John Barbirolli discovered the First Symphony (op.2) when Gardner was given the opportunity of playing through his Nativity Opera. According to Gardner the work is ‘unperformable’, which fact was quickly grasped by Barbirolli; however, when Barbirolli asked to see other works, Gardner showed him the Symphony. The first movement needed some re-working because Barbirolli was not convinced it made sense in its original form. The work was scheduled for the 1951 Cheltenham Festival where it caused a minor sensation. Here was a huge, powerful work, brilliantly scored and masterfully structured, by a composer of whom almost no-one had heard! Many major commissions followed and Gardner was suddenly able to call himself ‘a composer’ He resigned the job at the Opera House and there followed a remarkable period of creativity. Gardner has composed prolifically throughout his life. His music, apart from Tomorrow shall be my dancing day has been grossly underrepresented on commercial releases, but in recent years a number of new recordings have been issued.

CDs and DVDs featuring the composer John Gardner

CATALOGUE NR: GMCD7314
RECORD LABEL: Guild
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: £ 12.50 including VAT, or £ 10.64 excluding VAT
RELEASE DATE: 05-Nov-2007

COMPOSER: Felix Mendelssohn  (other composers in brackets after works)
TITLE: Noel Nouvelet
TRACKS: Frohlokket ihr Volker auf Erden (Felix Mendelssohn). The Little Road to Bethlehem (Michael Head). Shepherd’s Carol (Bob Chilcott). Quem pastores laudevere (German 14th century arr. John Rutter). Mary's Lullaby (John Rutter). Coventry Carol (Kenneth Leighton). Corpus Christi Carol (Jonathan Rathbone). Illuminare Jersualem (Judith Weir). O magnum mysterium (Morten Lauridsen). Noel Nouvelet (French Trad arr. Stephen Jackson). Ding dong! Merrily on high (Naji Hakim). Love came down at Christmas (Humphrey Clucas). No small wonder (Paul Edwards). Silent Night (Franz Gruber arr. Jonathan Rathbone). Tomorrow shall be my dancing day (John Gardner). Away in a manger (arr. Nigel Short). Hawaiian Lullaby (arr. Malcolm Sargent). Christmas Song (Mel Torme arr. Ward Swingle). The Twelve Days of Christmas (English Trad arr. Andrew Carter).
CONDUCTOR: Jeremy Backhouse
ARTISTS: Vasari Singers   Jeremy Filsell    

Normally ships in 7-10 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: LC44301
RECORD LABEL: Leman Classics
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: £ 12.95 including VAT, or £ 11.02 excluding VAT
RELEASE DATE: 20-Jun-2005

COMPOSER: Gioachino Rossini  (other composers in brackets after works)
TRACKS: The Barber of Seville overture (Rossini arr. G Davies). Favola in Musica (John Woolrich). Trio in B minor for oboe clarinet and piano op.27 (Edouard Louis Bernard Destenay). Sunrise Sunset (John Linton Gardner). Trio in B minor for oboe clarinet and piano (Paul Gilson). Ecossaises (John Linton Gardner).
ARTISTS: Daniel Trio      

Normally ships in 10-15 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: PRCD828
RECORD LABEL: Priory
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: £ 12.50 including VAT, or £ 10.64 excluding VAT
RELEASE DATE: 22-Nov-2004

COMPOSER: Herbert Howells  (other composers in brackets after works)
TITLE: On Christmas Night
TRACKS: A spotless rose (Herbert Howells). While shepherds watched (Este's Psalter). Coventry Carol (Pageant of the Shearman and Tailors arr. Shaw). Tomorrow shall be may dancing day (John Gardner). O come all ye faithful (Wade). Quem pastores laudavere (14th century German arr. John Rutter). Ding Dong! Merrily on high (16th century French arr. Wood). There is a flow'r (John Rutter). Once in royal David's city (Gauntlett). In dulci jubilo (Old German arr. Pearsall). The Cherry Tree carol (English Traditional arr. Willcocks). Jesus Christ the apple tree (Elizabeth Poston). In the bleak midwinter (Harold Darke). Mary's boy child (Jester Hairston arr. Peter Gritton). O little town of Bethlehem (English Trad. arr. Vaughan Williams). Christmas Night (arr. John Rutter). Have yourself a merry little Christmas (Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane). Sussex Carol (English Trad. arr. Willcocks). Hark the Herald Angels sing (Felix Mendelssohn). Of the Father's heart begotten (Piae Cantoines arr Willcocks).
CONDUCTOR: Howard Ionascu
ARTISTS: Laudate      

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CATALOGUE NR: AV2122
RECORD LABEL: Avie
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: £ 12.50 including VAT, or £ 10.64 excluding VAT
RELEASE DATE: 24-Sep-2007

COMPOSER: Jean Mouton  (other composers in brackets after works)
TITLE: I Saw Three Ships
TRACKS: Nesciens Mater (Jean Mouton). Ave Maria (Rachmaninov). E'en so Lord Jesus quickly come (Paul Manz). A Spotless Rose (Howells). There is no rose (Elizabeth Maconchy). Virga Jesse (Anton Bruckner). Tomorrow shall be my dancing day (John Gardner). Tryste Noel (Howells). The Lamb (John Tavener). On Christmas night (arr. Philip Ledger). Away in a manger (arr. David Willcocks). I saw three ships (Richard Rodney Bennett). A babe is born (William Mathias). Silent Night (arr. Mark Blatchly). Sleep Little Jesus Sleep (arr. Roxanna Panufnik). Noel Nouvelet (arr. Stephen Jackson). Torches (John Joubert). Bethlehem Down (Peter Warlock). Ding dong merrily on high (arr. Charles Wood). The Blessed Son of God (Ralph Vaughan Williams). We wish you a merry Christmas (arr. Arthur Warrell). In the bleak midwinter (Harold Darke). O come all ye faithful (arr. David Willcocks). Deck the hall (arr. David Willcocks).
CONDUCTOR: Andrew Nethsingha
ARTISTS: Gloucester Cathedral Choir   Robert Houssart    

Normally ships in 5-6 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: LAMM149D
RECORD LABEL: Lammas
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: £ 12.95 including VAT, or £ 11.02 excluding VAT
RELEASE DATE: 28-Apr-2003

COMPOSER: John Gardner  (other composers in brackets after works)
TITLE: More Than Hymns
TRACKS: Fight the good fight (John Gardner). Let all mortal flesh keep silence (arr Rogers Covey-Crump). Be still for the presence of the Lord (David J Evans arr Indra Hughes). King of glory King of peace (Henry Walford Davies). When I needed a neighbour were you there? (Sydney Carter arr Barry Rose). Blesséd are the pure in heart (Henry Walford Davies). Let all mortal flesh keep silence (arr Stephen Jackson). Christ be with you (Barry Rose). Brightest and best of the sons of the morning (Eric Thiman). Jesus is the brightest light (Johann Freylinghausen arr Gavin Williams). A Hymn for St Cecilia (Herbert Howells). There is a green hill far away (William Horsley arr Barry Rose). Now is the bitter time (Johann Wolfgang Franck arr Gavin Williams). Morning glory starlit sky - Love’s endeavour Love’s expense (Barry Rose). Come down O Love divine (William Harris). O perfect Love all human thought transcending (Joseph Barnby). Thou art the way (Christopher Steel). Crossing the bar - Sunset and evening star (CHH Parry). Lord of all hopefulness Lord of all joy (arr Barry Rose). Let all the world in every corner sing (George Dyson).
CONDUCTOR: Malcolm Archer
ARTISTS: Wells Cathedral Choir   Rupert Gough    

Normally ships in 5-6 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: G49220
RECORD LABEL: Gothic
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: £ 12.50 including VAT, or £ 10.64 excluding VAT
RELEASE DATE: 15-Dec-2003

COMPOSER: John Gardner  (other composers in brackets after works)
TITLE: Glorious Splendor
TRACKS: Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day (John Gardner). Lo! How A Rose E’er Blooming (Distler). Welcome All Wonders (Richard Wayne Dirksen). Magnificat (Robert Shafer). Torches (Joubert). Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Leo Nestor). Der Tag der ist so freudenreich - organ solo (JS Bach). Ubi Caritas (Imant Raminsh). Jesu as Thou art our Saviour (Britten). Prelude : Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance? - organ solo (Harrison Oxley). What Sweeter Music (John Rutter). Magnificat (Nicholas White). Ave Maria - soprano solo (Bach arr. Charles Gounod). Pastoral Dance on 'On Christmas Night' - organ solo (Robin Milford). Joy to the World (Joseph Willcox Jenkins).
CONDUCTOR: Robert Shafer
ARTISTS: Washington Chorus      

Normally ships in 7-10 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: 8570406
RECORD LABEL: Naxos
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: £ 4.88 including VAT, or £ 4.15 excluding VAT
RELEASE DATE: 28-Aug-2007

COMPOSER: John Gardner
TRACKS: Overture - Midsummer Ale op.73. Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat major op.34. Symphony No.1 in D minor op.2.
ORCHESTRA: Royal Scottish National Orchestra
CONDUCTOR: David Lloyd-Jones
ARTISTS: Peter Donohoe      

- Feb-2008 4 star BBC Music Mag.

Normally ships in 3-4 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: DOR93240
RECORD LABEL: Dorian
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: £ 8.99 including VAT, or £ 7.65 excluding VAT
RELEASE DATE: 01-Nov-2001

COMPOSER: John Rutter  (other composers in brackets after works)
TITLE: A Choral Christmas
TRACKS: Sing we to this merry company (John Rutter). Still Still Still (Norman Luboff). Ding! Dong! Merrily on High (Gerald Near). In dulci jubilo (R L Pearsall). What sweeter music (John Rutter). Tomorrow shall be my dancing day (John Gardner). The holly and the ivy (Shaw/Robinson). Jesus Christ the apple tree (Elizabeth Poston). Go tell it on the mountain (Alan Murchie). Mid-winter (Bob Chilcott). I saw three ships (John Rutter). Coventry Carol (men) (Norman Gilbert). Before the marvel of this Night (Carl Schalk). Once as I remember (Charles Wood). A stable in Bethlehem (Peter Taylor). Noel nouvelet (Stephen Jackson). O Magnum Mysterium (Francis Poulenc). On This Day Earth Shall Ring (Gustav Holst). The Little Road to Bethlehem (Michael Head). O Little Town of Bethlehem arr. By Vaughan Williams (descant by Thomas Armstrong). God Is With Us (John Tavener).
CONDUCTOR: Brian Jones
ARTISTS: Trinity Choir of Boston      

Normally ships in 4-5 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: SRCD307
RECORD LABEL: Lyrita
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: £ 12.85 including VAT, or £ 10.94 excluding VAT
RELEASE DATE: 28-Apr-2008

COMPOSER: Nicholas Maw  (other composers in brackets after works)
TRACKS: Sinfonia (Nicholas Maw). Divertimento for Brass Quartet op.9 (John Addison). Theme and Variations for Brass Quartet op.7 (John Gardner). Sonata for Brass Quintet (Stephen Dodgson).
ORCHESTRA: English Chamber Orchestra
CONDUCTOR: Norman Del Mar
ARTISTS: Philip Jones Brass Ensemble   Philip Jones   Ifor James   John Fletcher

Normally ships in 5-6 complete working days after order

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