Thomas Wilson (composer)

Thomas Wilson (October 10, 1927 – June 12, 2001) was a Scottish composer.

Wilson was born in Trinidad, Colorado, USA to British parents, but soon moved to Scotland. When he was 17 months old the family returned to the UK, and settled in the Glasgow area where he lived for most of his life. Thomas Wilson was educated at St. Mary’s College, Aberdeen. He served in the RAF from 1945 to 1948, and subsequently read Music at the University of Glasgow. In (1957) he became a lecturer at his "alma mater". He was later appointed a Reader (1971) and given a Personal Chair in (1977).

Wilson consistently played an active part in the musical life of the UK, holding executive and advisory positions in such organisations as the Scottish Arts Council, The New Music Group of Scotland, The Society for the Promotion of New Music, The Composers' Guild of Great Britain (Chairman 1986-89) now the British Association of Composers and Songwriters, and The Scottish Society of Composers (of which he was a founder member).

His works have been played all over the world and embrace all forms - orchestral, choral-orchestral, chamber-orchestral, opera, ballet, brass band, vocal music of different kinds, and works for a wide variety of chamber ensembles and solo instruments. Wilson completed five symphonies, the fourth of which, "Passeleth Tapestry", was premiered by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under Sir Alexander Gibson in Paisley Abbey. He also completed several concertos and choral works. His largest work was an opera, "Confessions of a Justified Sinner" (1972-75), based on the novel by James Hogg.

Works which have been recorded include his Piano Concerto of 1984, "Introit" (1982), 'Violin Concerto' (1993), 'String Quartet No. 4' (2001) and his "St. Kentigern Suite" (1986). See complete list below.

Wilson was awarded the CBE in 1990. The following year he was created a Fellow of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Orchestral works

*"Introit" (1982) Commissioned by BBC.
*"Symphony No. 1" (1955)
*"Symphony No. 2" (1965)
*"Symphony No. 3" (1979) Commissioned by Musica Nova.
*"Symphony No. 4 - Passeleth Tapestry" (1988) Commissioned by Renfrew District Council together with Strathclyde Regional Council to mark Paisley's 500th anniversary as a Burgh of Barony.
*"Symphony No. 5" (1998) Commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
*"Concerto For Orchestra" (1967)
*"Threnody" (1970)
*"Touchstone" (1967) Commissioned by the BBC for the Sir Henry Wood Promenade Concerts.
*"Variations For Orchestra" (1960)
*"Concerto For Piano and Orchestra"(1985) Commissioned by Bryden Thomson for David Wilde and the BBC Philharnomic Orchestra.
*"Viola Concerto" (1987) Commissioned by James Durrant with assistance from the BBCSSO Trust.
*"Carillon" (1990) Commissioned by Glasgow city council in 1990 as part of its European City of Culture celebrations, as the inaugural work to celebrate the opening of the city's new Royal Concert Hall.
*"Violin Concerto" (1993) Commissioned by the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and BP for Ernst Kovacic.
*"Guitar Concerto" (1996) Commissioned by Phillip Thorne.
*"Mosaics" (1981) Commissioned for Cantilena by Radio Clyde.
*"Ritornelli Per Archi" (1972) Commissioned for the Edinburgh Festival by the Scottish Baroque Ensemble.
*"Pas De Quoi" (1964) Six little dances for strings.
*"St Kentigern Suite" (1986) Commissioned by The Friends of Glasgow Cathedral.

Choral works

*"Te Deum" (1971) Large Chorus. Commissioned by the Edinburgh Festival for the opening concert on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary.
*"Sequentiae Passions" (1971) Large Chamber Choir. Commissioned by Musica Nova.
*"Missa Pro Mundo Conturbato" (1970) Commissioned by the John Currie Singers.
*"Songs of Hope and Expectation" (1977) Chamber Choir Commissioned by the John Currie Singers.
*"Amor Christi" (1989) Chamber Choir. Commissioned the Scottish Philharmonic Singers.
*"Confitemini Domino" (1993) Commissioned by the Royal College of Organists to celebrate their 100th Anniversary Opera

Opera

*"The Charcoal Burner" Opera in one act. 8 characters. Libretto: Edwin Morgan. (1968) Commissioned by the BBC.
*"The Confessions of a Justified Sinner" (1975) Opera in 3 acts. 3 main characters plus chorus Libretto: John Currie (based on the novel "The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner" by James Hogg). Commissioned by Scottish Opera.

Ballet

*"Embers of Glencoe" (1973) Commissioned by Scottish Ballet.

Brass Band

*"Sinfonietta" (1967) Commissioned by the Scottish Amateur Music Association for the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland.
*"Cartoon for Cornet" (1969) Commissioned by Robert Oughton and the Scottish CWS Band.
*"Refrains and Cadenzas" (1984) Commissioned by the Cheltenham Festival and used as the test piece for the European Championships in 1984.

Vocal

*"Carmina Sacra" (1964)
*"The Willow Branches" (1983) Seven Songs from the Chinese. Commissioned by Marilyn de Blieck. Version for voice and piano also available.
*"One Foot In Eden" (1977) Commissioned by Josephine Nendick.
*"Three Orkney Songs" (1961) Commissioned by the BBC.
*"Six Scots Songs" (1962) Commissioned by the Baccholian Singers for the City of London Festival.
*"Night Songs" (1967) Commissioned by the John Currie Singers
*"Ave Maria/Pater Noster" (1967)

Carols

*"There Is No Rose"(1974)
*"A Babe is Born" 1967)
*"Cantigas Para Semana Santa" (1992) Commissioned by Cappella Nova
*"By The Waters Of Babylon" (1951)

Chamber works

*"String Quartet No. 3" (1958) McEwen Composition Prize
*"String Quartet No. 4" (1978) Commissioned by the Edinburgh String Quartet.
*"Ritornelli Per Archi" (1972) Commissioned by the Scottish Baroque Ensemble for the Edinburgh Festival.
*"St Kentigern Suite" (1986) Commissioned by the Friends of Glasgow Cathedral, on the occasion of the Cathedral's 850th anniversary.
*"Canti Notturni" (1972) Commissioned by the Clarina Ensemble.
*"Chamber Concerto" (1986) Commissioned by the New Music Group of Scotland.
*"Sonata For Cello And Piano" (1971) Commissioned by Glasgow Chamber Music Society.
*"Complementi" (1973) Commissioned by Clarina Ensemble.
*"Concerto Da Camera’’ (1965) Commissioned by Bernicia Ensemble.
*"Chamber Symphony" (1990) Commissioned by Paragon Ensemble and Glasgow District Council as part of the celebrations during Glasgow's reign as European City of Culture 1990.
*"Violin Sonata"(1961) Commissioned by the University of Glasgow.
*"Sonata For Clarinet and Piano" (1962) Commissioned by the Scottish Trio.
*"Threads" (1996) Commissioned by Duo Contemporain.

The 80th anniversary of Thomas Wilson's birth on 10 October 1927 will be marked by a performance of the composer's St Kentigern Suite in 17th January 2008 by the RSAMD Chamber Orchestra.

Instrumental

*"Sonata" (1964) For Piano.
*"Sonatina" (1956) For Piano.
*"Incunabula" (1983) For Piano.
*"Three Pieces - Reverie, Tzigane, Valse Viennoise" (1964) For Piano.
*"Toccata Festevole" (1991) For Organ. Commissioned by the Paisley International Organ Festival.
*"Fantasia" (1964) For Cello.
*"Chanson De Geste" (1991) For Solo Horn. Commissioned by Redcliffe Concerts.
*"Cancion" (1982) For Guitar.
*"Coplas Del Ruisenor"(1972) For Guitar. Commissioned by Angelo Gilardino.
*"Soliloquy" (1969) For Guitar. Commissioned by Glasgow Master Concerts for Julian Bream.
*"Three Pieces" (1971) For Guitar.
*"Dream Music" (1983) For Guitar. Commissioned by Phillip Thorne.

The 80th anniversary of Thomas Wilson's birth on 10 October 1927 will be marked by a performance of the composer's Violin Concerto in January 2008 by the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

A commemorative CD is also in the process of being compiled, which will feature some of Wilson's chamber works. It will be released in June 2008. A guitar piece ‘Cancion’ is being released on a Canadian CD.

A biography co-written by David Griffith and Margaret Wilson and edited by Prof. Karl Gwiasda is in progress.

External links

* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4206215,00.html "Guardian" obituary by John Maxwell Geddes]
* [http://www.thomaswilsoncomposer.co.uk The Thomas Wilson Website]