Adrian
A. Smith
b. Kingston-upon-Hull,
28 October 1931
d. Huddersfield,
6 December 2005
Contributions from
John Quinn
Paul Serotsky
Sir Malcolm
Arnold, CBE
Arthur
Butterworth MBE
Mathew
Curtis
Keith
Llewellyn
Elaine
Carter
Marilyn
and Dick Myers, Edgewood Symphony
Orchestra
Stuart
Marsden, SPO Trumpeter
From Matthew
Curtis, composer -
Unlike writers or visual
artists, whose finished works can be
appreciated instantly, composers like
myself rely on others to bring their
creations to life. Quite possibly my
own work would have never seen the light
of day but for the active support over
the last quarter century or so of a
relative handful of people, of whom
Adrian was one of the most important.On
Adrian's retirement as conductor of
Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO)
in 2001, the orchestra's President,
Edward Kelly, remarked that the SPO
owed Adrian a debt that could never
be repaid, and I could say much the
same of
myself.
Adrian and the SPO
came into my life in 1987 just as the
BBC was all but closing its doors to
me and other composers not of the "squeaky
gate" tendency. Over the next decade
or so until Adrian's retirement, I was
given the chance to write and hear performed
a considerable number of new works,
including four substantial concert suites,
which formed the foundation of the recent
revival in my musical fortunes through
commercially-issued CDs. I wonder how
much of this music would even have
been written, let alone played, but
for Adrian's encouragement and support.
What I particularly appreciated about
working with Adrian was that he gave
me that opportunity most valuable to
any creative artist - the chance
to fail, without which the risk
of settling into a too-comfortable rut
is ever present. Even when Adrian had
personal doubts about a work (doubts
which, as I am sure will come as no
surprise to those who knew him, he never
hesitated to share with me frankly,
but never unkindly), he never wavered
in his public commitment to securing
the best possible performance of it.
How refreshingly different from so many
conductors, both professional and amateur,
who seem only to want to deal with "racing
certainties".
May he rest in peace. He has more than
deserved his place in the sun.
