Classical Music on the Web
Chairman: Matthew Eve
Alice in Wonderland
Op 144 (1 July 1985 - 12 Apnl 1988)
Children's opera
First performance: 6 August 1990, Harrogate Festival
Libretto by the composer, based on Lewis Carroll (English)
Orchestration - as in "Through the Looking Glass"
Commissioned by the Harrogate Festival with Arts Council funds
Dedication: Basil Ramsey
Novello
c.65'
The Appointment
Op. 63 (February - 6 September 1968)
Television opera
Libretto: Bernard Kops (English)
1 soprano, 1 mezzo, 1 alto, 1 tenor, and 2 baritone roles, 1 or 2 'radio singers'; silent roles; 2)1 = a.fl, II = picc).2111 = corAl.2111 = bcll.2(ll = dbnl -4.3.3.0 - 3 perc - harp - cel 1= unol - strings (5.4.3.3.2)
Commissioned by BBC TV
ms.
c.58'
A Child of the Universe
Op. 80 (9 February - 9 December 1971)
Text: written and compiled by the composer (English)
Narrator; alto, tenor, baritone, and bass soloists (adults or senior choristers); 7 actors (boys, or boys and men); dancers, mimes, corps de ballet; senior chorus, S.A.T.Bar.B. (adults or 15-17 year-old choristers); junior chorus, S.A.; symphonic band(s), (each) comprising: 3 flutes (or multiples of 3)(111 = piccolo), 2 oboes, 3-20 clarinets Igrouped 1,11,111), bassoon ad lib, 4 or more saxophones (grouped SATBar), 3 horns, 3 trumpets (or comets, or mixed), 3 tenor trombones, 2 tubas (orchestral range), 1 timpanist, 3 or more percussionists; orchestra (professional, student, or children's, or mixed): 2(11 = picc).2(ll = corA, optional oboe d'amore).2(ll = bcll.2(ll = dbn) - 4.3.3.1 - timp. 3 perc - cel - harp -strings; piano duet (rehearsal only)
Dedication: 'In memory of my nephew David Josephs'
Novello
c.90' including interval
Cyrano de Bergerac
Op161 (23 August 1989 - 2 February 1991)
Ballet in 3 Acts.
Scenario and choreography by David Bintley to whom score is dedicated,
Commissioned by the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden.
World premiere 2nd May 1991 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden conducted by Barry Wordsworth.
ms.
c.2 hours
Equus - the ballet
Opu.116(4 February - 9 March 1980)
Choreography by Domy Reiter Soffer; based on the play by Peter Shaffer
First performance: 21 March 1980, Mechanic Theatre, Baltimore, USA. Maryland Ballet
Commissioned by the Maryland Ballet
Novello
c.40'
Henry IV (Parts 1 and 2) - incidental music
(1964)
Commissioned by Caedmon Records
ma.
The King of the Coast
(1962 - 5 January 1967)
Children's musical in 3 acts
Libretto: Gwen Marsh (English)
1 soprano/treble, 2 treble/tenor, 1 alto/mezzo, 1 alto, 1 tenor/treble, and 1 baritone/tenor roles; orchestra (can be children's, school, or youth orchestra; percussion should be played by children): flutes, 3 clarinets (or more), horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, up to 9 percussion, piano duet, strings without violas
Awarded Arts Council/Guardian Prize, 1967
Mornington
The Magical Being
(c.1961)
Ballet in 1 act
4 solo dancers; flute, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, percussion, piano duet
First performance: 31 May 1963, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Commissioned by Walter Gore
ms.
c.30'
The Montgolfiers' Famous Flying Globe
Op 128 (16 June - 1 July 1982)
Operetta for schools
Libretto: David Self (English)
First performance: 1983, BBC
Commissioned by Peter Hutchings
Mornington
The Nottingham Captain
(12-19 July 1962)
A moral for narrator, voices, and seven instruments
Text: Arnold Wesker (English)
3 actors (or singers); clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, 1 percussion, violin, double bass First performance: 11 September 1962, Wellingborough, England. Centre 42 Ensemble conducted by Derek Hudson; producer Cohn Graham
Commissioned by Centre 42 with Arts Council of Great Britain funds
Mornington.
c.30'
Pathelin
(completed 1963)
Opera-entertainment in 1 act
Libretto: Edward Marsh (English)
1 soprano, 4 tenor, 1 bass-baritone, and 1 bass 1.1.1.1 - 3.1.1.0 - harp - 1 perc - strings (1.1.1.1.1
minimum)
First performance: 6 October 1990, Norrlands Operan, conducted by Terje Boye Hansen
Novello.
c.52'
Rebecca
Op. 126 (1981 - 1983)
Opera in 3 acts
Libretto: Edward Marsh, based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier (English)
2 sopranos, 1 alto/mezzo, 1 mezzo, 1 alto, 1 tenor, 2 baritones, 1 bass-baritone, 2 basses (11 singers). 2(2 = picc), alto fl.2(2 = corA).2. bass cl.2, contra bassoon. - 4.3.3.1 - timp, 2 perc - harp -celesta - 10.8.6.5.3.
First performance by Opera North, Grand theatre. Leeds (England), 15 October 1983, with five subsequent performances in Leeds, Nottingham, Manchester. Birmingham.
Composed on Arts Council of Great Britain bursary and commissioned by Opera North; sponsored by Schweppes
Dedication: David Lloyd-Jones, Graham Marchant and Cohn Graham
Novello
La Répétition de Phèdre
(17-27 February 1964; orchestral version September-October 1965)
Ballet in 1 act
Scenario by Norman McDowell; choreography by Janine Charrat
Ensemble version: flute, clarinet, percussion, harp, piano (= celesta), double bass
Medium orchestral version: 1.1.2.1 - 2.2.1.0 - 1 perc - harp - piano (= cel) - strings 15.3.1.2.1) Full orchestral version: 2.2.2.2 - 4.2.3.0 - 2 perc - harp - piano (- cal) - strings (10.8.8.6.4)
First performance (ensemble version): 22 June 1964, Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. London Dance Theatre
Commissioned by London Dance Theatre
ms.
c.28'
Samson Agonistes - incidental music
(completed 1965)
Commissioned by Caedmon Records
ms.
The Tempest - 4 Songs and Incidental music
(1963)
High voice, oboe (= cor Anglais). harp, 1 percussion
Commissioned by Caedmon Records
ms.
Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There
Op 101 (4 October 1977 - 26 May 1978)
Children's opera
Libretto by the composer, based on Lewis Carroll (English)
Flute (= piccolo), clarinet, bassoon (or cello II), cornet (or trumpet), 1 professional percussionist, 3 percussionists (or more ad lib.), piano duet, strings (1.1.1.1.1)
First performance: 3 August 1978. Lounge Hall, Harrogate, England. Leeds Youth Opera Group conducted by Michael Grady; producer Sheila Rex Commissioned by the Harrogate Festival with Arts Council of Great Britain funds
Dedication: Clive Wilson Mornington
c.64'
see also Alice's Reverie - Instrumental
William and the Bomb - see Vocal
The Wilfred Josephs Index page
Classical Music on the Web