Edward Gregson (b. 1945) is an English composer. Gregson was born in Sunderland, and studied composition at the Royal Academy of Music with Alan Bush, from 1963 to 1967. Better known in recent years for his concertos for various instruments, the main thread running through his early career was a series of innovative works for brass. His brass quintet (1967) won him one of the five composition prizes he received from the Royal Academy of Music, London. Tthe success of this work led to a string of commissions for brass band, each one developing the artistic range of that ensemble in differing ways. Within this period came the tuba concerto (1976), now a worldwide repertoire standard with subsequent versions for both symphony and wind orchestra. The clarinet concerto (1994) is a substantial work constructed in two large symphonic sections. As with so many of his large-scale pieces (in many genres: orchestra, choral, and chamber), the journey undertaken is one of detailed exploration that gradually focuses in towards a concluding goal. With a tonal language underpinning Gregson’s music, his pieces naturally retain a strong harmonic structure. His sound also lends itself well to two long-established compositional influences: the dance, and the fanfare. Equale Dances (1983, brass quintet), Dances and Arias (1984, brass band), and The Dance, Forever the Dance (1999, mezzo-soprano, chorus and orchestra) all instantly convey the spirit of movement within; and titles such as Flourish (1978, orchestra), Festivo (1985, wind orchestra), and Occasion (1986, brass band) suggest both the joyful and militaristic connotations of the fanfarel. One can hear the influence of the great composers of the twentieth century in Gregson’s music: the formal structures of Tippett, the aleatoric techniques of Lutosławski, the orchestral colours of Stravinsky, and the drive and lightness of touch of John Adams. Currently writing a new concerto for alto saxophone and orchestra to be premiered by Noboya Sugawa and the BBC Philharmonic in May 2006 (and to receive its Japanese premiere with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra in September), Edward Gregson continues to run two demanding musical careers in parallel – composing music of international renown and great appeal, whilst retaining his long-standing position of Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He is a fellow there, as well as at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music. He has held the position of Professor of Music at Goldsmiths College, University of London. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.