Gordon Cree
Encyclopedia
Gordon Cree is a Scottish
arranger
, orchestrator
, conductor
and composer
.
and singing
at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
in Glasgow
, before studying orchestral scoring and arranging with Brian Fahey.
. Noted for his expertise in writing for strings sections, and has been acclaimed for his ability to recreate the sound of the legendary Mantovani Orchestra.
Performed compositions include: Valse Triste, Scotland - My Song, Pastorale, Romance for Cello and Orchestra, Baby Bossa Nova, Peggy's Overture, Suite for Saw and Orchestra, Petite Marche Nuptial, Luna Sopra Capri, Three Miniatures for String Orchestra and many others.
His arrangements of existing music run into thousands, and he has provided arrangements to some of the top musical artistes in the country.
He has also achieved varying, but respectable, degrees of success as a theatre and silent movie organist, a comedian, an actor, a writer and a voice-over artist. His competence in a such a variety of areas has led to him being regarded as a unique, eccentric but much-loved individual.
He has named Angela Morley
as his great heroine and influence as well as Robert Farnon
and Peter Knight.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
, orchestrator
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and 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...
.
Life
Gordon Cree was classically trained in pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and singing
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, before studying orchestral scoring and arranging with Brian Fahey.
Works
As well as a notable career as a singer, entertainer and pianist, he has gathered a reputation as an expert arranger in the styles of bygone times, especially active in the areas of light musicLight music
Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music, which originated in the 19th century and had its heyday during the early to mid part of the 20th century, although arguably it lasts to the present day....
. Noted for his expertise in writing for strings sections, and has been acclaimed for his ability to recreate the sound of the legendary Mantovani Orchestra.
Performed compositions include: Valse Triste, Scotland - My Song, Pastorale, Romance for Cello and Orchestra, Baby Bossa Nova, Peggy's Overture, Suite for Saw and Orchestra, Petite Marche Nuptial, Luna Sopra Capri, Three Miniatures for String Orchestra and many others.
His arrangements of existing music run into thousands, and he has provided arrangements to some of the top musical artistes in the country.
He has also achieved varying, but respectable, degrees of success as a theatre and silent movie organist, a comedian, an actor, a writer and a voice-over artist. His competence in a such a variety of areas has led to him being regarded as a unique, eccentric but much-loved individual.
He has named Angela Morley
Angela Morley
Angela Morley was an English composer and conductor. Morley was born in Leeds, Yorkshire in 1924, and played saxophone in a number of dance bands, and in 1944 became a member of Geraldo's band....
as his great heroine and influence as well as Robert Farnon
Robert Farnon
Robert Joseph Farnon was a Canadian-born composer, conductor, musical arranger and trumpet player. As well as being a famous composer of original works , he was recognised as one of the finest arrangers of his generation...
and Peter Knight.