Paul Spicer (musician)
Encyclopedia
Paul Spicer is an English composer, conductor and organist. He has worked as a music teacher, at the Royal College of Music
and the Birmingham Conservatoire, as a producer for BBC Radio 3
, and as artistic director of the Lichfield Festival
. He conducts the Birmingham Bach Choir, the Finzi Singers and the Whitehall Choir. His compositions include two oratorios with libretti by the Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom Wright.
Spicer is a champion of early 20th century British composers. He founded the Finzi
Singers and is a trustee of the Finzi Trust
. He is vice-president of the Herbert Howells
Society and author of a biography of Howells. He is also an advisor to the Sir George Dyson
Trust and is working on a biography of Dyson.
, Greater Manchester
, and became a chorister at New College, Oxford
. He then attended the Royal College of Music
in London, where he studied with the composer Herbert Howells
and the organist Richard Popplewell
.
He taught music at Uppingham School
and Ellesmere College
from 1974 until 1984, and was then Senior Producer for BBC Radio 3
in the Midlands until 1990.
From 1990 to 2001, Spicer was Artistic Director of the Lichfield Festival
. He introduced a number of innovations, including staging opera at the festival, and having a composer-in-residence, among whom were William Mathias
and Robert Saxton
.
From 1995 to 2008 he taught at the Royal College of Music
, latterly as a professor of choral conducting, and he now teaches choral conducting at the Birmingham Conservatoire. He has recorded many CDs of choral music, including over 15 with the Finzi Singers for Chandos Records
.
. Spicer's Easter Oratorio (2005) was written in collaboration with the Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom Wright, as was his Advent Oratorio (2009).
- Border Lines, was published in 1998 by Seren Books. He is working on a biography of the composer George Dyson
.
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
and the Birmingham Conservatoire, as a producer for BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
, and as artistic director of the Lichfield Festival
The Lichfield Festival
The Lichfield Festival is an annual multi-art-form festival held in Lichfield, Staffordshire, which aims to combine high quality, challenging and diverse events of an international calibre, alongside community-based, locally-sourced activities. Performances include drama, dance, film, literature,...
. He conducts the Birmingham Bach Choir, the Finzi Singers and the Whitehall Choir. His compositions include two oratorios with libretti by the Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom Wright.
Spicer is a champion of early 20th century British composers. He founded the Finzi
Gerald Finzi
Gerald Raphael Finzi was a British composer. Finzi is best known as a song-writer, but also wrote in other genres...
Singers and is a trustee of the Finzi Trust
Finzi Trust
The Finzi Trust was founded in 1969 and seeks to further the music, ideals and work of Gerald Finzi. It has assisted individuals and organisations in a variety of ways and has initiated many projects reflecting the Trust's policy of encouraging young artists and composers.Recording projects have...
. He is vice-president of the Herbert Howells
Herbert Howells
Herbert Norman Howells CH was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music.-Life:...
Society and author of a biography of Howells. He is also an advisor to the Sir George Dyson
George Dyson (composer)
Sir George Dyson KCVO was a well-known English musician and composer. His son is the physicist and mathematician Freeman Dyson and among his grandchildren are the science historian George Dyson and Esther Dyson...
Trust and is working on a biography of Dyson.
Biography
Spicer was born in BowdonBowdon, Greater Manchester
Bowdon is a suburban village and electoral ward in the Altrincham area of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England.-History:...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, and became a chorister at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. He then attended the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
in London, where he studied with the composer Herbert Howells
Herbert Howells
Herbert Norman Howells CH was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music.-Life:...
and the organist Richard Popplewell
Richard Popplewell
Richard Popplewell LVO is an English organist and composer who served at the Chapel Royal.-Background:He was born in Halifax, Yorkshire on 18 October 1935...
.
He taught music at Uppingham School
Uppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
and Ellesmere College
Ellesmere College
Ellesmere College is an independent co-educational English independent school located in Ellesmere and based in rural northern Shropshire, England.-History:...
from 1974 until 1984, and was then Senior Producer for BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
in the Midlands until 1990.
From 1990 to 2001, Spicer was Artistic Director of the Lichfield Festival
The Lichfield Festival
The Lichfield Festival is an annual multi-art-form festival held in Lichfield, Staffordshire, which aims to combine high quality, challenging and diverse events of an international calibre, alongside community-based, locally-sourced activities. Performances include drama, dance, film, literature,...
. He introduced a number of innovations, including staging opera at the festival, and having a composer-in-residence, among whom were William Mathias
William Mathias
William Mathias CBE was a Welsh composer.-Brief biography:Mathias was born in Whitland, Carmarthenshire. A child prodigy, he started playing the piano at the age of three and composing at the age of five. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music under Lennox Berkeley, where he was elected a fellow...
and Robert Saxton
Robert Saxton
-Biography:After early advice and encouragement from Benjamin Britten, Robert Saxton took private composition lessons with Elisabeth Lutyens. He went on to study with Robin Holloway at Cambridge University, with Robert Sherlaw Johnson as a post-graduate at Oxford University, and later with Berio....
.
From 1995 to 2008 he taught at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, latterly as a professor of choral conducting, and he now teaches choral conducting at the Birmingham Conservatoire. He has recorded many CDs of choral music, including over 15 with the Finzi Singers for Chandos Records
Chandos Records
Chandos Records is an independent classical music recording company based in Colchester, Essex, in the United Kingdom, founded in 1979 by Brian Couzens.- Background :...
.
Compositions
Spicer has written chamber music and works for organ and piano, and is best known for his choral compositions. The Deciduous Cross (2003) is a choral setting of poems by the Welsh poet and priest R. S. ThomasR. S. Thomas
Ronald Stuart Thomas was a Welsh poet and Anglican clergyman, noted for his nationalism, spirituality and deep dislike of the anglicisation of Wales...
. Spicer's Easter Oratorio (2005) was written in collaboration with the Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom Wright, as was his Advent Oratorio (2009).
Writings
Spicer's biography of his former teacher, Herbert HowellsHerbert Howells
Herbert Norman Howells CH was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music.-Life:...
- Border Lines, was published in 1998 by Seren Books. He is working on a biography of the composer George Dyson
George Dyson (composer)
Sir George Dyson KCVO was a well-known English musician and composer. His son is the physicist and mathematician Freeman Dyson and among his grandchildren are the science historian George Dyson and Esther Dyson...
.