Various - A Celebration of Conductor and Composer Stephen Wilkinson [CD]

Please Note Not All Our New Items Are Shrink Wrapped.All items shipped within 3 working days of payment.

'A Celebration of Conductor and Composer STEPHEN WILKINSON' features a collection of previously released recordings of works by John McCabe, David Ellis and Stephen Wilkinson himself, performed by the William Byrd Singers and conducted by Wilkinson. Prima Facie are delighted to add a world premixe8re release of a recording of 'Late Afternoon in November' by Peter Dickinson, commissioned by the BBC for Wilkinson and the BBC Northern Singers for their twenty-first anniversary.rr

Born in Eversden Rectory, Cambridgeshire, on 29 April 1919, Stephen Wilkinson was a chorister at Christ Church, Oxford, under Sir William Henry Harris. He then went on to St. Edward's, Oxford, where he had a few composition lessons with Sir Thomas Armstrong. Going up to Queens' College, Cambridge as Organ Scholar in 1937, Wilkinson was active as a pianist at the University Music Club, of which he was secretary in his third year; he also refounded the Echo Club for aspiring student composers. His tutors were Edward Dent, Cyril Rootham, Hubert Middleton, Henry Moule, Philip Radcliffe, Boris Ord and Patrick Hadley. rr

Wilkinson has always been a great champion of new music, commissioning many works and giving many Proms Premixe8res and other first performances with the BBC Northern Singers. He was conductor for nearly forty years of the William Byrd Singers of Manchester, becoming a much-admired figure on the Manchester music scene (described by Robert Beale of the Manchester Evening News as 'one of the most extraordinary men I have ever met'). Manchester University gave him an honorary MA in 1982 and he was awarded an MBE for services to choral music in the 1992 New Year's Honours List. rr

Wilkinson's 70th birthday was marked by his appearance as 'Artist of the Week' on BBC Radio 3; in honour of the occasion, Michael Ball, Alan Bullard, Stephen Dodgson, David Gow, John Joubert, John McCabe and Elizabeth Maconchy composed choral works for him. His 80th birthday was celebrated with a pair of concerts in Trinity College, Cambridge. Wilkinson retired as conductor of the William Byrd Singers in May 2009 at the age of 90.rr

Since his retirement from conducting, Wilkinson has been increasingly active as a composer. A CD of a selection of his choral music, 'Dover Beach', was released in 2012 on the label Deux-Elles. 'A Phoenix Hour', settings of Irish poets, was premixe8red at the Aldeburgh Festival by the BBC Northern Singers. Wilkinson has recently embarked on a new career as Reader for concerts given by his daughter Clare's early music ensemble, 'Courtiers of Grace', with whom he has appeared at the Trigonale Festival (Austria), Trinity College (Cambridge), the Brighton and York Early Music Festivals and Stour Music. rr

The twentieth was a long century in terms of the development of musical style. This disc reflects something of the range of British choral composition during the period.

Late Afternoon in November

As I walked out

Visions

Rowing down the Tide

Wantage Bells

Uffington

Bristol

The Lark in the Clear Air

Siberia

The Piper o' Dundee

Sequentia in tempore Natali Sancti

That Time of Year

• Genre: Classical
• Product Type: AUDIO CD
• Barcode: 7141148053879

Dispatch Information: Dispatch times vary by item and items are only dispatched on UK working days – not weekends or UK Bank Holidays. Items marked "Dispatched Same Day" will be dispatched on the day of purchase if bought before 2pm GMT. "Dispatched Same Day" items bought after 2pm GMT or on a non-working day will be dispatched on the next working day. We aim to dispatch all other items within 3-5 working days.

Delivery Information: We aim to deliver your order as quickly and efficiently as possible. All UK orders are dispatched using Royal Mail 48 Tracked service and the standard delivery times are 2-3 business days. Please note that delivery times for overseas orders will vary depending on your location and the shipping option you choose during checkout.

Shipping Costs: We offer free delivery on all UK orders and free worldwide delivery on orders over £15.

Tracking Your Order: All UK orders are tracked. Once your order is dispatched, you will receive a tracking number via email. You can use this tracking number to monitor the progress of your delivery on the Royal Mail Track and Trace website.

Returns and Exchanges: We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If for any reason you are not happy with your order, you may return it within 28 days of the item being dispatched for a refund or exchange. Please note the following guidelines:
- Items must be returned in their original condition and packaging – items that have been opened or had shrink wrap removed are not eligible for return or refund.
- Make sure to include your order number in the returned package.

How to Initiate a Return: To initiate a return or exchange, please contact our customer service team. The team is available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about the process.

Refund Processing: Refunds will be processed as soon as we receive your item back into our warehouse. Replacements are subject to availability and if a replacement is not available, a refund will be issued.

If you have any further questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our customer service team or check out our FAQ’s. We're here to help ensure your shopping experience is enjoyable and hassle-free. Thank you for choosing Chalkys!