Compositions

List of works

1. Orchestral

An experienced orchestral composer, with twelve works having received performances, Alan Charlton’s output includes Look and Bow Down, for choir, soloists and orchestra, Violin Concerto, which has been performed by both Christopher George and Marcus Barcham-Stevens, the overture The Tide of Time and the SPNM-shortlisted Concerto for Two Cellos and Orchestra. Other large ensemble works include Concertino for string ensemble, performed by the Mikkeli City Orchestra, Finland, The Golden Bough, a chamber opera written for soloists, chorus and 14 instrumentalists, Three Portraits for ten-piece brass ensemble and A Bedford Overture for wind orchestra.

  1. Look and Bow Down – see Choral
  2. Ode (2002)
    • symphony orchestra (2222.4331, perc. (2 players), timp, strings), 9′
    • fp: Bedford School First Orchestra/Andrew Morris, Bedford School, Bedford, 5.7.02
  3. The Tide of Time (2000)
    • symphony orchestra (3222.4331, harp, piano, perc. (2 players), timp, strings), 12′
    • fp: Bedford School First Orchestra/Andrew Morris, Bedford School, Bedford, 30.6.00
    • sp: New Bristol Sinfonia/Jon James, Victoria Rooms, Bristol, 15.9.01
  4. Violin Concerto (1993, revised 1998)
    • violin solo and chamber orchestra (2222.2200, harp, percussion (2 players), strings), 23′
    • fp: Chris George, University of Bristol Operatic Society Orchestra/Jonathan Lyness, 6.11.93, St George’s Brandon Hill, Bristol
    • sp: Marcus Barcham-Stevens, Avon Sinfonia/Owen Leech, 13.12.98, Hope Centre, Hotwells, Bristol
  5. Concerto for Two Cellos and Orchestra (1995/6)
    • 2 cello soloists, chamber orchestra (2222.2200, harp, perc. (1 player), strings), 25′
    • fp: Betsy Taylor, Harriet Cawood, University of Bristol Chamber Orchestra/Jon James, 31.1.96, Victoria Rooms, Bristol
    • selected for SPNM shortlist (1999)
  6. A Latymer Overture (1995)
    • symphony orchestra, 12′
    • fp: University of Bristol Symphony Orchestra, 21.6.95, Wills Memorial Building, Bristol
    • sp: Latymer and Godolphin Orchestra, 11.11.95, St Paul’s Church, Hammersmith, London
  7. Three Songs for Soprano and Orchestra (1991)
    • soprano solo, chamber orchestra, 14′
    • settings of Christina Rosetti, Laurence Binyan & E.E.Cummings
    • fp: Rachel Skinner, University of Bristol Operatic Society Orchestra/Jonathan Lyness, 3.11.91, St George’s Brandon Hill, Bristol
  8. Four Inky Sketches – see Educational
  9. (Songs of Summer (1992) – Withdrawn)
    • soprano and orchestra, 10′
    • fp: Lucy Brown, University of Bristol Operatic Society Orchestra/Owen Leech, 31.10.92, St George’s Brandon Hill, Bristol
  10. (Symphony no.1, First Movement (1988-9) – Withdrawn)
    • symphony orchestra, 12′
    • fp: Latymer Upper School Orchestra, March 1989, St Paul’s Church, Hammersmith
    • sp: Latymer and Godolphin Orchestra, April 1989, Hamburg
  11. (Scherzo for Orchestra (1987) – Withdrawn)
    • symphony orchestra, 11′
    • fp: Latymer Upper School Orchestra, March 1988, St Paul’s Church, Hammersmith

2. Wind Band / Military Band

  1. Bedford Festival Overture (1999)
    • wind band, 10′
    • fp: Bedford School Band/Guy Bennett, Great Hall, Bedford School Bedford, 27.11.99

3. Operatic / Stage

  1. The Golden Bough (1994)
    • baritone and 2 tenor soloists, SATB chorus and chamber ensemble (1111 1000 perc (2), hp, pno, 11111), 17′
    • fp: Ian Caddy, Christopher Leemings, University of Bristol New Music Ensemble/Jonathan Lyness, 12.5.94, Glyn Wickham Theatre, Bristol
    • selected for SPNM shortlist (1999)
  2. Heads off for Henry – See Educational

4. Chamber / Ensemble

The best known of Charlton’s chamber works is the critically acclaimed String Quartet no.1, commissioned by the Cat Quartet for the 1994 Harrogate International Festival, and which has been since been performed by The Lindsays, the Quince Quartet and the Mikkeli String Quartet of Finland, and selected for the 1995 Manchester Composers’ Platform. Quintetto was awarded first prize in the National Power Composers’ Competition in 1995 and performed by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group in 1997. The cellist Bernard Gregor-Smith has commissioned several pieces, including Duo Concertant, Sonata for Cello and Piano for the Music in the Round Festival and Studies for Piano Trio.

Chamber music involving guitar includes Partita for the Pro Arte Guitar Trio, Suite for Cello and Guitar for Richard Hand and Leonid Gorokhov and Cançion del Oeste for guitar trio. Étude for solo horn received an honorary mention in the 2003 International Horn Society composition competition and has been published by IHS Press, while Charlton’s Clarinet Quartet was chosen as ‘Clarinet Quartet of the Year’ by the London Chamber Group.

  1. Fantasy (2011)
    • three pianists at two or three pianos, 13’30
  2. Ajante (2011)
    • four pianists at two or four pianos, 15’00
  3. Totentanz (2011)
    • bassoon and piano, 5′
  4. Variations on She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain (2010)
    • piano trio, 5′
  5. String Quartet no.2 (2008)
    • string quartet, 8′
  6. Partita (2004)
    • guitar trio: requinto guitar, guitar, 8-string guitar, 12′
    • fp: Pro Arte Guitar Trio, 14.7.04, Purcell Room, London
    • first broadcast: Pro Arte Guitar Trio, 12.7.04, ‘In Tune’, Radio 3
  7. Miniatures for Piano Trio (2004)
    • violin, cello, piano, 15′
    • fp: Onslow Ensemble (Bernard Gregor-Smith, Susanne Stanzeleit, Yolande Wrigley), 1.5.04, St Elphin’s School, Matlock
  8. Clarinet Quartet (2002)
    • 2 clarinets in B flat, clarinet in A, bass clarinet, 11′
    • fp: Bedford School Clarinet Quartet, 15.2.02, St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
    • sp: Bedford School Clarinet Quartet, 5.3.02, St Paul’s Church, Bedford
    • tp: Bedford School Clarinet Quartet, 30.6.02, Great Hall, Bedford School
  9. Concertino (1992, revised 2001)
    • string ensemble (33221), 8′
    • fp: University of Bristol New Music Ensemble/Adrian Beaumont, 5.5.93, Wills Memorial Building, Bristol
    • Finnish Premiere: Mikkeli City Orchestra/Alexander Walker, 8.2.01, Mikkeli, Finland
    • Selected for SPNM shortlist (1992)
  10. Three Portraits (2000)
    • brass ensemble (4 tpts, hn, 3 tbns, euph, tba), 11′
    • fp: Bedford School Brass Ensemble/Alan Charlton, 16.3.01, St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
  11. Cancion del Oeste (2000)
    • 3 gtrs, 4′
    • fp: Irish Guitar Trio, summer 2005, various venues across Ireland, 
    • published by Corda Music Publications
  12. Quintetto (1995, revised 1996)
    • fl, cl, pno, vn, vc, 10′ 
    • fp: Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, 5.7.97, Warwick & Leamington Spa Festival
    • winner of National Power Young Composers Award (Go West Festival, September 1995)
    • selected onto SPNM shortlist (1996)
  13. String Quartet no.1 (1994, revised 1995 and 2005)
    • string quartet, 14′ 
    • fp: Cat String Quartet, 5.8.94, Harrogate International Festival
    • fp of 1st revised version: Lindsay String Quartet, 5.10.95, Manchester Composers Platform
    • fp of 2nd revised version: Quince Quartet, 31.7.05, Cratfield Festival
    • Finnish premiere: Soloists from Mikkeli City Orchestra, 10.5.01, Mikkeli Chamber Music Hall, Mikkeli, Finland
    • selected for inclusion in Manchester Composers Platform, October 1995
    • reviews: The Times, 6.8.94; The Times, 9.10.95; Musical Opinion, Winter 1995
  14. Wind Trio no.1 – see Educational
  15. Wedding Fanfare – see Incidental/Occasional
  16. Bacchanale – see Incidental/Occasional
  17. (Clarinet Trio (1993) – Withdrawn)
    • cl, pno, vc, 8′ 
    • fp: De Sarum Trio, 7.5.93, University of Bristol Music Department
  18. (Romanza for String Quartet (1992) – Withdrawn)
    • string quartet, 10′
    • fp: Uroboros Ensemble, 8.5.92, University of Bristol Music Department
  19. (Introduction, Allegro and Postlude (1992) – Withdrawn)
    • hn, hp, perc(1), vc, 8′ 
    • fp: Uroboros Ensemble, 31.1.92, Wills Memorial Building, Bristol
  20. (Movement for String Quartet (1992) – Withdrawn)
    • string quartet, 4′
    • fp: Scottish Chamber Orchestra String Quartet, 5.8.92, Hoy Kirk, Orkney

5. Solos and Duos

  1. Fugue on Domus Pater (2011)
    • piano duet, 5′
    • fp: Tim Watts, Jeremy Rouse, 19.6.11, Bedford School
  2. Duo for Eclectica! (2008)
    • vn, vc, 6′
  3. Phantasy Duo (2008)
    • fl, vn, 8′
  4. A Bedford Overture (2008)
    • piano duet, 9′
    • fp: Tim Watts, Charles Martin, 21.2.08, Bedford School
  5. Suite for Cello and Guitar (2005)
    • gtr, vc, 22′
    • commissioned by Richard Hand and Leonid Gorokhov
    • fp: Edenwood Duo, Wouter Vercruysse & Catherine Struys, BANAD festival, 12.3.17, Maison Blérot, Brussels
  6. Étude (2003)
    • horn solo, 7′
    • fp: Jeremy Bushell, BBCSSO Friends Concert, 20.10.03, BBC Scotland, Glasgow
    • Honorary mention in International Horn Society Composition Competition, 2003
    • Published by International Horn Society Press
  7. Coronation Dance (2001)
    • piano duet, 5′
    • cello and piano, 5′
    • piano solo, 5′
  8. Sonata for Cello and Piano (1999)
    • vc, pno, 20′
    • fp: Bernard Gregor-Smith/Yolande Wrigley, Music in the Round, 19.5.00, Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
  9. Duo Concertant (1997)
    • vc, pno, 14′
    • fp: Bernard Gregor-Smith & Yolande Wrigley, 8.5.97, University of Manchester
  10. Suite for Harp (1997, revised 1998)
    • solo harp, 10′
  11. Suite for Clarinet (1996/7)
    • solo clarinet in A, 14′ 
    • fp: Martin Ronchetti, 15.12.96, RMA Postgraduate Conference, University of Cardiff
  12. Eileen Norris’ Notebook – see Educational
  13. (Soliloquy for Solo Viola (1992) – Withdrawn)
    • solo viola, 7′
    • fp: Richard Crabtree, 17.6.92, Clifton College, Bristol

6. Choral

Charlton’s most substantial choral work is the 30 minute cantata for choir, soloists and chamber orchestra, Look and Bow Down, commissioned for the 450th anniversary of Christ’s Hospital school, and performed to a sell-out audience at the Barbican in March 2003. Classical Music magazine selected it as one of their ‘Premieres of the Year’, calling it ‘an outstanding work’. Other prizewinning choral works include Earth, Sweet Earth for choir and strings, awarded the Premiere Composition Prize and first performed by the William Byrd Singers and Capriccio in 1998, and Jubilate Deo, for choir, brass and organ, winner of the 2004 John Armitage Memorial Prize.
A cappella choral works include A Solis Ortus Cardine, a prizewinner in the 2001 European Composition Competition for Cathedral Choirs, Bring us Good Ale, a winner of the 2007 John Armitage Memorial Prize, Psalm 81, and Moyo Wangu, which was met with a rapturous reception at its Tanzanian premiere in 2009.

  1. The Everlasting Voices (2016)
    • SATB choir, 4’13
    • fp: Brussels Chamber Choir, 2015, Milan, Italy
  2. Il flotte une musique éteinte (2015)
    • SATB choir, 8’15
    • fp: Brussels Chamber Choir for CD recording
  3. Fugue on Domus Pater (2011)
    • Unison choir, brass quintet, organ, 5′
  4. The Snow in the Street (2011)
    • SATB choir, 5’30
    • fp: Kelvedon Singers, Chris Phelps, 11.12.11, St Peter’s Church, Wakes Colne, Essex
  5. Two Cricket Canons (2011)
    • SSAATTBB choir, 4′
    • fp: Ishirini, Jeremy Rouse, Kolkata and Kalimpong, India, April 2011
  6. Bring us Good Ale (Revised Version) (2011)
    • SATB choir, 5′
  7. Moyo Wangu (2009)
    • SSAATTBB choir, 5′
    • fp: Ishirini, Jeremy Rouse, 3.4.09, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
    • sp: Ishirini, Jeremy Rouse, 20.9.09, Queens’ College Chapel, Cambridge
  8. Psalm 81 (2007)
    • SSAATTBB choir, 6′
    • fp: Bristol University Singers, Stephen Kings, 26.11.08, Victoria Rooms, Bristol
  9. Bring Us Good Ale (2006)
    • 1) SSAATTBB choir, 5′
    • 2) SSAATTBB, brass quintet (2 tpts, hn, tbn, tba), 5′
    • fp: 2) Selwyn College Chapel Choir, Onyx Brass, Nicholas Cleobury, 21.03.07, St Bride’s, London
    • John Armitage Memorial Prize (2007)
  10. Jubilate Deo (2002-3)
    • 1) SATB choir, brass ensemble (4 tpts, 3 tbns, tba), timp., perc (1), organ, 5’30
    • 2) SATB choir, brass quintet (2 tpts, hn, tbn, tba), perc (1), organ, 5’30
    • fp: 1) Daventry Choral Society, Bristol Brass Consort/Alexander Walker, 28.6.03, Daventry Tertiary College
    • fp: 2) Selwyn College Chapel Choir, Onyx Brass, Daniel Hyde/Sarah MacDonald & Nicholas Cleobury, 18.3.04, St Bride’s, London, 1.7.04, St Mary the Great, Cambridge, 10.7.04, St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh
    • John Armitage Memorial Prize (2004)
  11. Look and Bow Down (2002-3)
    • soprano and tenor soloists, SATB choir, orchestra (2232.2210, hp, pno, timp, perc. (2), strings), 27′
    • fp: Eleanor Meynell, John Bowley, Christ’s Hospital School Orchestra/Bruce Grindlay, 25.3.03, The Barbican
    • selected as one of Classical Music Magazine’s ‘Premieres of the Year’, December 2003
  12. Te Lucis Ante Terminum (2001)
    • ATB choir, 2′
    • fp: Bedford School Chapel Choir/Bruce Grindlay, 24.5.01, Bedford School Chapel, Bedford
  13. A Solis Ortus Cardine (1999)
    • SSAATTBB choir, 4′
    • fp: William Byrd Singers/Stephen Wilkinson, 14.12.99, Gatley, Manchester
    • 2nd Prize in 4ème Concours Européen de Composition pour Choeurs et Matrîses de Cathédrales, Categorie I, Choeur mixte (2001)
  14. A Babe is Born (1998/99)
    • children’s choir and organ, 4′
    • fp: Bedford School Chapel Choir/Bruce Grindlay, 12.12.99, Bedford School Chapel
  15. Earth, Sweet Earth (1998)
    • SATB choir and strings, 18′
    • fp: William Byrd Singers, Cappriccio/Stephen Wilkinson, 22.11.98, Royal Northern College of Music
    • winner of ‘Premiere’ Composers Competition for William Byrd Singers and Capriccio (1998)
  16. (Three Pastoral Songs (1996) – Withdrawn)
    • SATB choir, hp, pno, 10′

7. Voice and Piano

  1. Night of the Dance (1999)
    • baritone, pno, 5′
    • fp: William Vann & Tom Ellis, 21.2.00, Bedford School, Bedford
    • sp: William Vann & Tom Ellis, 3.3.00, St Martin-in-the-Fields
    • tp: David Todd and Nigel Nash, 31.7.04, Victoria Rooms, Bristol
  2. A Babe is Born (1998)
    • soprano, pno, 4′
    • fp: Charlotte Newstead & Anthony Pinell, 14.12.98, Colston Hall, Bristol
  3. Haze (1992)
    • soprano, pno, 5′
    • fp: Janet Price & Anthony Saunders, 29.1.93, Wills Memorial Building, Bristol
  4. (The Unbeholden Land (1997) – Withdrawn)
    • baritone, pno, 6′

8. Educational

Alan Charlton has written extensively for younger performers, including 19 works for Bedford School. These range from the popular cantata for children’s choir and small ensemble, Heads off for Henry, the cycle of piano pieces Eileen Norris’s Notebook and the carol A Babe is Born. A well-known writer in the field of music education, he has written standard textbooks on GCSE and A level composition, a book called ‘How to Read Music’, and contributed to several A level study guides and an encyclopedia of musical instruments. He is also a regular contributor to Classroom Music.

  1. Fluet (2003)
    • 2 fl or any 2 instruments of similar range, 1′
    • Commissioned for the ABRSM Music Medals Flute Publication
  2. Concerto Semplice (2002)
    • solo string quartet and strings, 6′
    • fp: Bedford School First Orchestra/Alan Charlton, 5.7.02, Bedford School, Bedford
    • sp: Bedford School Preparatory Schools Festival Orchestra/Andrew Morris, 5.11.02, Bedford School, Bedford
  3. Heads off for Henry (2001)
    • children’s choir, child soloists and ensemble (cl, vln, vc, hp, pno, perc.) or CD, 45′
    • fp: Bedford Preparatory School years 3-4, cond. Charles Martin, Erskine May Hall, Bedford Preparatory School, 14.6.01
    • sp: Bedford Preparatory School years 4-5, cond. Charles Martin, Great Hall, Bedford School, 10.5.02
    • tp: Bedford Preparatory School years 4-5, cond. Charles Martin, Great Hall, Bedford School, 22.5.02
    • fp: Finton House School Year 6, cond. Andy Meyers, Finton House School, London, 17.3.03
    • fp: Bedford Modern Preparatory School, cond. Paul Whitmarsh, BMS, 8.5.09
  4. Eileen Norris’ Notebook (2000-1)
    • 1) piano, 12′
    • 2) violin and piano, 10′
    • 3) clarinet and piano (1st movement only), 2′
    • fp: 2) Charles Turnham/Richard Heyes, Bedford School Music Festival, 22.6.01, Great Hall, Bedford School, Bedford
    • fp: 1) Richard Heyes, Nov 2007, Leighton Buzzard Music Club
  5. Four Inky Sketches (2000/2002)
    • 1) chamber orchestra (2221, alto sax., 2210, euph., perc. (4 players), timp., strings), 10′
    • 2) piano quartet (vln, va, vc, pno), 10′
    • fp: 1) Bedford School Prep Schools Festival Orchestra/Charles Martin, Bedford School, Bedford, 20.6.00
    • fp: 2) Bedford School Piano Quartet, Bedford School Composer-in-Residence Conference, 22.5.02
    • sp: 2) Bedford School Piano Quartet, Great Hall, Bedford School, 30.6.02
  6. Wind Trio no.1 (1988, revised 2000)
    • 1) 2 clts, bassoon, 8′
    • 2) 2 clts, bass clarinet, 8′
    • fp: March 1989, Royal Academy of Music
    • sp: March 1989, Latymer Upper School
    • tp: Ben Ling, Matthew Johnson, Malcolm Green, Bedford School, Bedford, 27.6.00

9. Incidental / Occasional

  1. Oculis Omnium (2000)
    • SATB or ATB, 1′
    • fp: Bedford School Chapel Choir, 28.3.01, Bedford School, Bedford
  2. Wedding Fanfare (2000)
    • 2 tpts, tenor horn, tbn, tba, organ, 2′
    • fp: 27.5.00, Pettaugh Parish Church
  3. Bacchanale (2000)
    • fl, ob, bsn, hn, hp, vla, 2′
  4. The Marquise (1993)
    • Incidental Music to Alfred de Musset’s play, “Il faut qu’une porte soit ouverte ou entrée”, for fl, soprano, vc, pno, 10′
    • fp: Out to Lunch Theatre Company, May 1993, Bristol Old Vic Basement
    • review: Venue Magazine, June 1993
  5. A Busy Day (1993)
    • Incidental music for Fanny Burney’s “A Busy Day”
    • fl, cl, vn, vc, pno, 6′
    • fp: Show of Strength Theatre Company, Hen and Chicken Pub Theatre, Sept-Oct 1993; 
    • sp: Kings Head, Islington, Summer 1994