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Opera
Wat Tyler
Opera in two acts with prologue.
Year: 1948-50
Duration: 135 minutes
Text: Nancy Bush
Dedication: "To Hyman Fagan, author of the historical study Nine Days that Shook England, whose instigation and encourage-ment led me to write the work."
Commission:
The Arts Council of Great Britain in the 1951 Festival of Britain Opera Competition.
Instrumentation:
3.2.2.3/4.3.3.1/timpani/percussion(2)/harp/strings (+2 stage trumpets)
Manuscript:
British Library, London. MSS Mus. 367-376: Draft short score in pencil; Vocal score - copies of the ink score of the piano reduction; Full score in ink.
First Performance:
Soloists with the Leipzig Opera Chorus and Gewandhaus Orchestra, conducted by Helmut Seidelmann. Produced by Heinrich Voigt. Opera House, Leipzig, 6 September 1953.
Notes:
Subject: The English Peasant Rebellion of 1381.
Publication:
Henschelverlag, Berlin, 1954. Vocal score (German).
Novello, London, 1959. Vocal score (German and English).
Joseph Williams (now Stainer & Bell), London, 1956. Libretto.
Men of Blackmoor
Opera in three acts.
Year: 1954-55
Duration: 130 minutes
Text: Nancy Bush
Commission:
Commissioned by the Leipzig Municipal Opera.
Instrumentation:
3.3.3.3/4.3.3.1/timpani/percussion(2)/strings
Manuscript:
British Library, London. MSS Mus. 377-379: Full score in ink; Sketch of Act III in Deposit 2005/32.
First Performance:
German National Theatre, Weimar, 18 November 1956.
Notes:
Subject: The struggle of Northumbrian coal miners in the early 19th century.
German translation by Marianne Graefe.
Publication:
Henschelverlag, Berlin, 1959. Vocal score.
Stainer & Bell, 1959. Vocal score.
The Sugar Reapers
Opera in two acts.
Year: 1962-65
Duration: 130 minutes
Text: Nancy Bush
Commission:
Commissioned by Karl Keyser.
Instrumentation:
3.3.3.3(+alto/ten. sax)/4.3.3.1/timpani/percussion(2)/guitar(2)/piano/harp/strings
Manuscript:
British Library, London. MSS Mus. 380-387: Draft score in pencil; Vocal score in ink (words in English and German); Full score in ink.
First Performance:
Soloists with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and Leipzig Opera Chorus. Conducted by Rolf Reuter. Leipzig Opera House, 11 December 1966.
Notes:
Subject: The struggle of the African and Indian sugar workers of Guyana against British imperialism in 1953.
Also known as Guyana Johnny.
Publication:
Henschelverlag, Berlin, 1965. Published as Guyana Johnny.
Joe Hill - The Man Who Never Died
Opera in two acts.
Year: 1965-67
Duration: 130 minutes
Text: Barrie Stavis
Commission:
Commissioned by The Berlin State Opera.
Instrumentation:
2.3.3.+1.2/4.3.3.1/timpani/percussion(2)/accordion/harp/piano/strings
Manuscript:
British Library, London. MSS 388–393: Draft score in pencil; Vocal score (in German); Vocal score 'Definitive English version with accompaniment for two pianos & one percussionist'; Full score in ink.
First Performance:
Soloists with the Berlin Opera Chorus and Berlin State Opera Orchestra. Conducted by Heinze Fricke. East Berlin Arts Festival, German State Opera House, Berlin, 29 September 1970.
Notes:
Subject: The life and death of the American proletarian revolutionary, Joe Hill, composer and singer of songs, in the USA.
Libretto by Barry Stavis after his play The Man Who Never Died.

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Index of Works

Composition Categories
Ballet
Chamber Music
Children's Operetta
Choral Music
Concertos/Solo Instrument and Orchestra
Film music
Incidental Music
Opera
Orchestral Work
Organ Music/Music for Pipes
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Songs and Arrangements
Wind Band/Brass Band

Major Works
Opera
Wat Tyler
Men of Blackmoor
The Sugar Reapers
Joe Hill - The Man Who Never Died
Orchestral Work
Symphony No. 1 in C
Symphony No. 2 'The Nottingham Symphony'
Symphony No. 3 'The Byron Symphony' with Baritone Solo and Mixed Chorus
Symphony No. 4 - Lascaux Symphony
Dorian Passacaglia and Fugue
Concertos
Piano Concerto
Violin Concerto
Chamber Music
Dialectic for String Quartet
Concert Piece for Cello and Piano
Lyric Interlude for Violin Solo with Piano Accompaniment
Three Concert Studies for Piano, Violin and Cello
Piano Music
Relinquishment
Nocturne
Twenty Four Preludes
Choral Music
'The Winter Journey' - A Christmas Cantata for Soprano and Baritone Solo, Mixed Chorus, String Quintet and Harp
Solo Song
'Voices of the Prophets' - Cantata for Tenor and Piano
'The Freight of Harvest' - Song Cycle for Tenor and Piano
'Life's Span' - Song Cycle for Mezzo-Soprano and Piano
'Woman's Life' - Song cycle for Soprano and Piano