John Pickard (composer)
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John Pickard (11 September, 1963 - ) is a British classical composer.
Pickard studied music and composition at the University of Wales, with composer William Mathias and later in The Netherlands with Louis Andriessen. Since 1993 he has been Senior Lecturer in Music at the University of Bristol.
Pickard has composed a number of critically well-received orchestral and instrumental works, among them four symphonies a number of symphonic works (including perhaps his best-known piece, The Flight of Icarus which San Francisco Chronicle called a translucent and achingly lovely memorial to the fallen Icarus… a serious contender for the most exciting musical premiere of 2006. In addition he has composed a Piano Concerto, a Trombone Concerto The Spindle of Necessity and four string quartets. The Strad opined that the fourth quartet was one of the best pieces of British chamber music to be heard for years, while Tempo, reviewing a recording of all four quartets offered the opinion that “ if Pickard were never to write another quartet in his life, his place among the greats is secure”.
JohnPIckard is also the General Editor of the Elgar Complete Edition.
[edit] Selected Works
- Symphony No. 2 (1989);
- Sea-Change (1989),
- The Flight of Icarus (1990)
- String Quartet No. 1 (1991)
- Channel Firing (1992-93)
- String Quartet No. 2 (1993)
- String Quartet No. 3 (1994)
- Symphony No. 3 (1997)
- String Quartet No. 4 (1998)
- Piano Concerto (2000)
- The Borders of Sleep: song cycle for baritone and piano (2001)
- Gaia Symphony (1991-2003) for brass band
- Sonata for Violin and Piano (2004)
