Gordon McPherson
Encyclopedia
Gordon McPherson is a Scottish
composer. He studied at the University of York
, England
, returning there for his doctorate
, continuing with post-doctoral research at the Royal Northern College of Music
.
His work has been performed and broadcast widely throughout the world. Recent works have included a second work for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Kamperduin, commissioned to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Camperdown
; Friends in Strange Places, a new chamber work recorded for the inauguration of Dundee Contemporary Arts
; a second study for guitar
, Miami, premiered at the Wigmore Hall
in 1998 and Detours, commissioned by the Hebrides Ensemble.
The Baby Bear's Bed for Icebreaker
was premiered in Vienna
in October 1999 and has subsequently received performances in Belgium
, the Netherlands
, Slovakia
and the United Kingdom. It has also been recorded by Icebreaker on their Extraction album.
Other recent works include South for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
, a seventh movement for his Handguns, a suite for Psappha
, a third string quartet for the Salisbury Festival and a third study for the Bath International Guitar Festival.
He has been in demand both as a teacher and lecturer and is head of composition at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
.
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...
composer. He studied at the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, returning there for his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
, continuing with post-doctoral research at the Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music
The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...
.
His work has been performed and broadcast widely throughout the world. Recent works have included a second work for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
Kamperduin, commissioned to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Camperdown
Battle of Camperdown
The Battle of Camperdown was a major naval action fought on 11 October 1797 between a Royal Navy fleet under Admiral Adam Duncan and a Dutch Navy fleet under Vice-Admiral Jan de Winter...
; Friends in Strange Places, a new chamber work recorded for the inauguration of Dundee Contemporary Arts
Dundee Contemporary Arts
Dundee Contemporary Arts is an art centre in the city of Dundee, Scotland which houses two contemporary art galleries, a two-screen cinema, a print studio, a visual research centre and a café bar.- History :...
; a second study for guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Miami, premiered at the 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...
in 1998 and Detours, commissioned by the Hebrides Ensemble.
The Baby Bear's Bed for Icebreaker
Icebreaker (band)
Icebreaker is a UK-based new music ensemble founded by James Poke and John Godfrey. The group have established themselves as one of the UK's leading new music interpreters specializing particularly in post-minimal and "totalist" repertoire. They always play amplified and have a reputation for...
was premiered in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in October 1999 and has subsequently received performances in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
and the United Kingdom. It has also been recorded by Icebreaker on their Extraction album.
Other recent works include South for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland has provided music education and performance experience for young musicians throughout Scotland since its formation in 1979....
, a seventh movement for his Handguns, a suite for Psappha
Psappha New Music Ensemble
Psappha New Music Ensemble is an ensemble of contemporary classical musicians based in the North West of England, specialised in the performance of works by living composers. Founded in 1991, Psappha takes its name from the composition of the same name by Greek modernist composer Iannis Xenakis...
, a third string quartet for the Salisbury Festival and a third study for the Bath International Guitar Festival.
He has been in demand both as a teacher and lecturer and is head of composition 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...
.
External links
- Digitised scores of his musical works can be viewed through the Five Centuries of Scottish Music collection hosted by AHDS Performing Arts
- http://www.slowbabymusic.com