- Robert Steadman
Robert Steadman (born
April 1 1965 ) is a Britishcomposer of classical music who mostly works in apost-minimalist style but also writes lighter music, including musicals, and compositions for educational purposes. He also teaches, writes articles for music education journals, notably "Classroom Music", and has written several revision guides forGCSE Music and A-levelMusic Technology . [http://www.rhinegold.co.uk/lifelines/index.cfm] .Background
Steadman was born in
Chiswick ,London and brought up inBasingstoke ,Hampshire . He was a pupil atRichard Aldworth School , before studying on the Pre-Professional Music Course atCricklade College , Andover. In1984 he gained an Associate of theRoyal College of Music (A.R.C.M.) intuba .He read music at
Keble College, Oxford , graduating in1986 . During his time at Oxford, Steadman was the musical director of many shows and, notably, became President of the "Oxford Revue" working withArmando Iannucci andJohn Sparkes .In
1995 , Steadman moved to Beeston Rylands,Nottinghamshire and, following his marriage to Tracy Fudge in2000 , he moved to Matlock,Derbyshire in2001 . They have one son and two daughters.Steadman currently teaches at
Lady Manners School ,Bakewell whilst also working forNottingham City Council.Steadman has written several compositions specifically to raise awareness of political and social issues [http://www.thesteadmans.btinternet.co.uk/html/fatherjohn.htm] and to raise funds for charitable organisations. Some of the pieces have been offered as downloads over the internet in return for a charitable donation. [http://www.thesteadmans.btinternet.co.uk//html/downloadnotebook.htm] .
Compositions
While much of his output has been written for amateurs and young musicians he has also written several pieces of music for the percussionist
Evelyn Glennie , for theRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra , for the London Brass Virtuosi, for saxophonistSarah Field and for theEast of England Orchestra (nowSinfonia Viva! ). He has written three symphonies and twoopera s, but is best known for hischoral compositions. He has also written manychamber music pieces, including those for theHolywell Ensemble . One of his anthems was used at the memorial service for theDunblane Massacre . He even branched out into radiojingle s and wrote a song for theBBC Radio One DJ, Chris Evans.Steadman uses strong rhythms and broad melodies. He has been stylistically compared to
Michael Nyman andMike Oldfield .Symphonies and other orchestral music
* "The Elements: A chamber symphony" is for a large mixed ensemble and uses the classical elements of Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth as influences for its four movements.
* "Symphony No 1: A symphony of dreams" is scored for
soprano and smallorchestra and uses texts which make reference toMahatma Gandhi and the assassinated US PresidentJohn F. Kennedy .* "Nottingham 100", a single-movement
fanfare for full orchestra, was commissioned by the City ofNottingham to mark the centenary of theRoyal charter granting itscity status. It was premièred in the grounds ofWollaton Hall by the East of England Orchestra (now Sinfonia Viva!), conducted byNicholas Kok , in 1997.* "Symphony No 2: The Death of Stalin", relating the unusual events surrounding the death and funeral of Soviet leader
Joseph Stalin , is for soprano solo, largechoir and large orchestra. The piece was commissioned and premièred byNottingham Youth Orchestra , conducted by Derek Williams, at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, in March 2003 (the fiftieth anniversary of Stalin's death).Steadman has also arranged a number of folk songs for orchestra, including "
She Moves Through the Fair ", "Simple Gifts " and "In Dulci Fidelis " (a combination of "O Come All Ye Faithful " and "In Dulci Jubilo ").Operas and musicals
*
Sredni Vashtar with the author Richard Adams based on theSaki short story.
*The Box of Delights with a libretto written byJohn Masefield based on his own children's fantasy book of the same title. Commissioned by the Oxford Youth Music Trust in 1986.Steadman also wrote a mini-opera for children,
The Travelling Circus , which was commissioned by the West Oxfordshire Arts Association; it lasts just twelve minutes.As well as the music for a number of plays and dance productions, Steadman has written two musicals with writers Paul and Sharon Sansom.
*The Girls' Book of Heroines — a love story set in
World War II .
*Remote Control — a look at throwaway celebrity and 'Pop Idol ' culture.Choral music
*Mass in Black sets the
Requiem mass in Latin, with additional texts about issues such asnuclear weapons andacid rain and several prophecies ofNostradamus . Commissioned by Basingstoke Choral Society in1987 with funds fromJohn Lewis but, because of its controversial subject matter, is still awaiting a premiere despite it twice being scheduled.*Magnificat is a setting of the "Song of Mary" from the
Gospel of Luke for soprano andbaritone soloists with choir and orchestra. Commissioned by St. Mary's Hospital Music Society, London to mark their 50th anniversary in1991 . This popular piece now exists in three performing versions: with full orchestra, with chamber ensemble and withpiano , organ, andpercussion .*In Memoriam is an 80-minute work for soprano and tenor soloists, choir and orchestra including
air raid siren and the use ofmegaphone s on the subject ofremembrance . It incorporates well knownhymn s andpoem s includingHubert Parry 's "Jerusalem". Commissioned by NottinghamshireLocal Education Authority to mark the 50th anniversary of the end ofWorld War II , and was premiered onRemembrance Sunday 1995 in The Albert Hall,Nottingham .*Gloria is a setting of the Christian Gloria using the same
vocal andinstrumental forces as the famous setting by the Italian composerAntonio Vivaldi . Commissioned (with funds from theNational Lottery ) by the Sinfonia Chorale Chamber Choir, it was premiered by them at St Mary's Church, Lace Market, Nottingham in May1998 .*The Ashtead Psalms is a setting of three
psalms for soprano, children's choir, choir and orchestra commissioned by the Ashtead Choral Society and premiered by them, conducted by Paul Dodds in January2000 .*Tehillim for Anne is a setting of three psalms in Hebrew for choir and
string orchestra , written to mark what would have beenAnne Frank 's seventy-fifth birthday. It was premiered inSouthwell Minster in November2004 by Southwell Choral Society, who also performed the work at theImperial War Museum North to markHolocaust Memorial Day in2005 .Chamber music
Steadman has written a very wide range of chamber music including:
*By the Railway Sidings: a sonata forpiano (written for Amanda Hurton and premiered at the Newbury Spring Festival).
*Bubble's Gonna Burst Soon forbrass quintet (written for the Apollo Brass Quintet).
*Still Life with Quartet forclarinet ,violin , 'cello &piano (commissioned by theCity of London Freemen's School and recorded by the Holywell Ensemble).
*Ten Little Indians: an A-Z of the brass ensemble for 10-piecebrass ensemble (commissioned by London Brass Virtuosi).
*The Rains are Coming forsaxophone quartet (written for The Fairer Sax).
*Your Jumper's Very Woolly forpiano trio (premiered by the Holywell Ensemble at the British Music Information Centre).Wind band music
*Challenge the Rainbow which explores a variety of avant-garde techniques and controlled improvisation. It was premiered at a British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles conference by the Richmond School Wind Orchestra.
*floccinauci... for flute and oboe soloists with wind band was premiered inDenmark in 1994.
*The Dethe of Robyn Hood for narrator and wind band which was premiered inSherwood Forest ,Robin Hood 's legendary home.
*...space turned and twisted in on itself which takes its title from "" was commissioned by Kieran O'Riordan and theUniversity of Nottingham wind orchestra.
*Did you buy a Porsche yet? for flute, clarinet and saxophone ensembles. The players have a certain amount of choice in how to play the piece: which octave, how many repetitions etc. The title is a quote from theBill Murray /Scarlett Johansson film Lost in Translation and is a reference to male's reaching middle age. It was premiered by theBromley Youth Music Trust .The Millennium
Amongst a number of commissions by a variety of performers to mark the
Millennium , Steadman was commissioned to compose two pieces which were performed in theMillennium Dome .
*Nottingham Songbook - set of songs about the City of Nottingham, its famous people and places.
*Sturdy as the Oak - a piece of music for orchestra.Conducting
Steadman has conducted many performances of his own works, as well as Handel's "Messiah", Vivaldi's "Gloria", and much orchestral music. He has particularly worked with many youth music organisations including the
Oxford Youth Band andNottingham Music School Orchestra . In November 2005, after leading the Lady Manners School Orchestra to victory at The National Festival of Music for Youth, he conducted the orchestra at the Schools Prom at theRoyal Albert Hall , London.Steadman has also been Musical Director for many musicals and shows including productions of "The Wizard of Oz", "A Christmas Carol", "The Pied Piper", "Grease", "West Side Story" and "Marat/Sade".
Discography
*Mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up... (1997)
**Performers: The Holywell Ensemble
**Record label: Mapa Mundi
*The Rains are Coming (1997)
**Performers: The Scottish Saxophone Quartet
**Record label: SSQ
*Nottingham Songbook (2000)
*Kintamarni (2003)
**Performers: Kintamarni Saxophone Quartet
**Record label: Kintamarni
**Includes "The Rains are Coming"Bibliography
*Robert Steadman."Lifelines: AQA GCSE Music" (Rhinegold Publishing, ISBN 1-90617-806-2)
*Chris Duffill & Rob Steadman."Lifelines: Edexcel AS Music Technology" (Rhinegold Publishing, ISBN 1-90617-804-6)
*Chris Duffill & Rob Steadman."Lifelines: Edexcel A2 Music Technology" (Rhinegold Publishing, ISBN 1-90617-805-4)References
*Mick North."Dunblane:Never Forget" (Mainstream Publishing, ISBN 1-84018-300-4)
* [http://www.cefc.org.uk/hh160793.htm Sarah Galloway (1993)."Hampstead and Highgate Express] accessed December 2005
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/derbyshire/3817899.stm BBC News (2004)."Composer pens Anne Frank tribute"] accessed December 2005
* [http://www.evelyn.co.uk/COMMISSIONS.htm Evelyn Glennie website - list of commissions] accessed December 2005
* [http://www.matlockmercury.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=749&ArticleID=774324 "Matlock Today" - Matlock Live!] accessed December 2005
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/have_your_say/your_theatre_reviews.shtml "BBC Nottingham" - review of "Canto Virginem"] accessed December 2005Robert Steadman currently works at Lady Manners school in Bakewell.
External links
* [http://www.robertsteadman.com Robert Steadman's website]
* [http://www.sarahfield.supanet.com Sarah Field's website]
* [http://www.kintamarni.com Kintamarni Saxophone Quartet's website]
* [http://www.serpentwebsite.com/mmus.htm Modern Music for Serpent]
* [http://www.serpentwebsite.com/sn_apr02.pdf Serpent Newsletter]
* [http://music.jdmag.net/index.html?dir=/dir/Composition/Composers/Contemporary/Projects/index-2-1112-13850-0-0-.html La Matanza]
* [http://www.thesteadmans.btinternet.co.uk/html/fatherjohn.htm Father John website]
* [http://education.guardian.co.uk/alevels/story/0,,1820271,00.html "The Guardian" - news story about A-level Music"] accessed May 2007
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/09/09/sm_sanditoksvig.xml "Daily Telegraph" article by Sandi Toksvig] - accessed Sep 2007
* [http://puzzlepeople.blogspot.com/2007/08/may-13-2007.html Steadman was a clue and answer in the New York Times crossword 13th May 2007 (clue 122 across)] - accessed Sep 2007
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