David Earl
Encyclopedia
David Earl is a South Africa
n composer
and pianist
. He was educated at Rondebosch Boys' High School
. He made his professional debut at the age of sixteen when he broadcast Bach
, Chopin and Chabrier on the SABC. In 1968, he performed Felix Mendelssohn
's Piano Concerto No 1 with the Cape Town
Symphony Orchestra. In 1971, he moved to London
where he studied at Trinity College of Music
. He studied under Jacob Kaletsky and Richard Arnell
. His first recital at Wigmore Hall
was reported as “stylish and powerful” by The Times
. In 1975, he was selected as one the Young Musicians of the Year by the Greater London Arts Association. He also won first prize in the 1976 SABC Piano Competition. He was described by the Daily Telegraph as having “remarkable gifts of style, technical mastery and artistry”. He made his debut as a composer in the 1977 when he premiered his own Piano Suite No 1 Mosaics at Wigmore Hall.
He was introduced to the world of writing music for television by the director David Puttnam
and wrote for a number of programmes between 1982 and 1987.
In 2001 he became a Buddhist.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. He was educated at Rondebosch Boys' High School
Rondebosch Boys' High School
Rondebosch Boys' High School is a state secondary school in Rondebosch, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It was founded in 1897 and is known by the acronym "RBHS".-Academics:...
. He made his professional debut at the age of sixteen when he broadcast Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
, Chopin and Chabrier on the SABC. In 1968, he performed Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
's Piano Concerto No 1 with the Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
Symphony Orchestra. In 1971, he moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he studied at Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
. He studied under Jacob Kaletsky and Richard Arnell
Richard Arnell
Richard Anthony Sayer Arnell was an English composer of classical music. Arnell composed in all the established genres for the concert stage, and his list of works includes six completed symphonies and six string quartets.-Biography:Arnell was born in Hampstead, London...
. His first recital at Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
was reported as “stylish and powerful” by The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
. In 1975, he was selected as one the Young Musicians of the Year by the Greater London Arts Association. He also won first prize in the 1976 SABC Piano Competition. He was described by the Daily Telegraph as having “remarkable gifts of style, technical mastery and artistry”. He made his debut as a composer in the 1977 when he premiered his own Piano Suite No 1 Mosaics at Wigmore Hall.
He was introduced to the world of writing music for television by the director David Puttnam
David Puttnam
David Terence Puttnam, Baron Puttnam, CBE, FRSA is a British film producer. He sits on the Labour benches in the House of Lords, although he is not principally a politician.-Early life:...
and wrote for a number of programmes between 1982 and 1987.
In 2001 he became a Buddhist.
Ballets
- Ballet in one act: ChériChéri (novel)Chéri is a novel by Colette first published in French in 1920. The title character's true name is Fred Peloux, but he is known as Chéri to almost everyone, except, usually, to his wife...
(1978) - Ballet in one act: Return of the Soldier (1980–81)
- Ballet in one act: Abelard and Heloise (1983)
- Ballet in one act: The Nightingale and the Rose (1983)
- Ballet in two acts: MacbethMacbethThe Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
(1991)
Other works
- Piano Suite No 1 Mosaics (1977)
- Piano Concerto No 1 (1977–78)
- Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace - setting of St Francis of Assisi for SATB (1979)
- Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra (1983)
- Incidental music for Dance of the Defectors (Lot's Wife) (1983–84)
- I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills - Psalm 121 for soprano and piano (1984)
- Violin Concerto (1985)
- Piano Suite No 2 Gargoyles (1986–89)
- Choral Symphony Trumpets from the Steep (1987)
- 3 Intermezzi for Piano Caryatids (1991)
- Sonata No 1 for Violin and Piano (1991)
- 24 Preludes for Piano Oxymorons (1993)
- Man's Medley - choral and orchestral settings of George Herbert (1993)
- Cello Concerto (1994)
- Highland Journal - dance/theatre score with piano, tenor roles (1995)
- Piano Suite No 3 Mandalas (1996)
- To a Nobleman in Kyoto - settings of Kukai for baritone and piano (1997)
- Sonata No 2 for Violin and Piano (1997)
- Sonata for Cello and Piano (1998)
- Invocation to Manjughosa - Violin and Piano (2002)
- Theme and Variations - transcription for piano of the 4th movement from Tchaikovsky's Suite No 3 Op 55 (2002)
- Trumpet Concerto (2005)
- Piano Concerto No 2 (2006)