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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  (barcode: 0795754731422)
RECORD LABEL: Guild
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: including VAT £ 12.95
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: including VAT £ 13.22
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: REGCD231  (barcode: 0802561023128)
RECORD LABEL: Regent
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: including VAT £ 11.99
RELEASE DATE: 10-Apr-2006

COMPOSER: Henry John Gauntlett  (other composers in brackets after works)
TITLE: The Bethlehem Star
TRACKS: Once in royal David's City (Gauntlett harm. Mann). Veni veni Emmanuel (13th century French). Adam lay ybounden (Ord). Of the Father's Heart begotten (Piae Cantiones arr. Willcocks). The Crown of Roses (Tchaikovsky). Torches (Joubert). Away in a manger (Kirkpatrick arr. Willcocks). Zion hort die Wachter singen (Bach). The Bethlehem Star (Walker). Riu riu chiu (attrib. Flecha the elder). In dulci jubilo BWV729 (Bach). Tomorrow shall be my dancing day (Gardner). A maiden most gentle (French traditional arr. Carter). Glory to God No.14-No.17 from Messiah (Handel). Still still still (German carol arr. Ledger). I saw three ships (English traditional arr. Willcocks). Iona Walters Hodie Christus natus est (Palestrina). Hark! The herald angels sing (Mendelssohn arr. Willcocks).
CONDUCTOR: Edward Whiting
ARTISTS: Choir of All Saints' Church Northampton   Ronald Gates   Roger Palmer  

Normally ships in 6-7 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: HAVP196
RECORD LABEL: Herald
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: including VAT £ 9.19

COMPOSER: Herbert Howells  (other composers in brackets after works)
TITLE: One Cold Dark Night - Christmas Carols
TRACKS: A spotless rose (Herbert Howells). Vigilate (William Byrd). Once in royal David's city (H J Gauntlett arr. Ledger). The Sussex Carol (David Gabe). In the bleak midwinter (Harold Darke). Hark! the herald angels sing (Mendelssohn arr. Gabe). The Lamb (John Tavener). Silent Night (Gruber arr. Rose/Jacot). The holly and the ivy (John Gardner). O come all ye faithful (J F Wade arr. Gabe). The Coventry Caro (Original tune 1591). One cold dark night (Peter White). Whence is that goodly fragrance (George McPhee). The Three Kings (Cornelius arr. Atkins). Follow that star (Peter Gritton). Sir Christemas (William Mathias). Tomorrow shall be my dancing day (John Gardner).
CONDUCTOR: David Swinson
ARTISTS: Choir of St Thomas on the Bourne   Jeremy Filsell    

Normally ships in 5-6 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: PRCD828
RECORD LABEL: Priory
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: including VAT £ 12.95
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      

Normally ships in 7-10 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: REGCD332  (barcode: 0802561033226)
RECORD LABEL: Regent
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: including VAT £ 11.99
RELEASE DATE: 22-Feb-2010

COMPOSER: Herbert Howells  (other composers in brackets after works)
TITLE: One thing have I desired
TRACKS: One thing have I desired (Herbert Howells). Songs of Farewell : I know my soul hath power / Never weather-beaten sail (Hubert Parry). Behold the tabernacle of God (William H Harris). Magnificat for double choir op.164 (Charles Villiers Stanford). Ecce beatam lucem (Jonathan Dove). The Three Kings (Jonathan Dove). Coventry Antiphon (Herbert Howells). Nunc dimittis (Gustav Holst). We have a strong city (John Gardner). I will lift up mine eyes (Jonathan Dove). In mystery veiled (Jackson Hill). Bring us O Lord God (William H Harris).
CONDUCTOR: Alistair Reid
ARTISTS: Chapel Choir of Exeter College Oxford   Richard Moore    

Normally ships in 6-7 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: AV2122  (barcode: 0822252212228)
RECORD LABEL: Avie
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: including VAT £ 12.65
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 7-10 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: HAVP223  (barcode: 0794638022328)
RECORD LABEL: Herald
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: including VAT £ 9.19

COMPOSER: John Gardner  (other composers in brackets after works)
TITLE: A Christmas Carol
TRACKS: Tomorrow shall be my dancing day (John Gardner). A spotless rose (Herbert Howells). Of the Father's heart begotten (arr. David Willcocks). Reading - A Christmas Dinner from Sketches by Boz (Charles Dickens). Sussex Carol (arr. Philip Ledger). O come O come Emmanuel (arr. David Wilcocks). Adam lay y-bounden (Boris Ord). Organ - Fiat lux (Francois Dubois). Bethlehem Down (Peter Warlock). A Child is born in Bethlehem (Samuel Scheidt). Reading - Christmas from The Pickwick Papers (Dickens). Good King Wenceslas (arr. Reginald Jacques). Organ - La nativite (Jean Langlais). People look East (arr. Barry Ferguson). What sweeter music can we bring (John Rutter). Reading - Blindman's Buff from A Christmas Carol (Dickens). Away in a manger (arr. Reginald Jacques). God rest you merry gentlemen (arr. David Willcocks). Out of your sleep arise and wake (Anthony Milner). Reading - The end of it from A Christmas Carol (Dickens). Make we joy now in this fest (David Morgan).
CONDUCTOR: Roger Sayer
ARTISTS: Rochester Cathedral Choir   William Whitehead   Gerald Dickens  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Carols and readings for Christmas

Normally ships in 5-6 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: 8570406  (barcode: 0747313040674)
RECORD LABEL: Naxos
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: including VAT £ 5.75
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. - Penguin Guide 3 star

Normally ships in 24-48 hours after order

CATALOGUE NR: TOCC0048  (barcode: 5060113440488)
RECORD LABEL: Toccata Classics
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: including VAT £ 12.65
RELEASE DATE: 21-Feb-2011

COMPOSER: John Gardner
TITLE: Music for Brass and Organ
TRACKS: Flourish for a Wedding op.162. Easter Fantasy op.232. Theme and Variations for Brass Quartet op.7. Five Dances for Organ op.179. Sonata da Chiesa sopra un Tema di Claudio Monteverdi op.136. Sonata Secolare op.117.
ARTISTS: Paul Archibald   Cosmopolitan Brass   Stephen King  

Normally ships in 4-5 complete working days after order

CATALOGUE NR: DOR93240  (barcode: 0053479324023)
RECORD LABEL: Dorian
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: including VAT £ 12.77
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      

Details for information only as this item is no longer available to order

CATALOGUE NR: SRCD307  (barcode: 5020926030726)
RECORD LABEL: Lyrita
FORMAT: CD
PRICE: including VAT £ 12.95
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

- Penguin Guide 3 star

Normally ships in 3-4 complete working days after order

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