The Music Compositions of

Philip Goddard

www.philipgoddard-music.co.uk
Music compositions
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List of Compositions by Philip Goddard
With detailed programme notes and downloadable samples



Preliminary notes


Why do I offer MP3 files and not the much more convenient MIDI files?

Wouldn't it be so much easier if I could upload and you download my entire completed oeuvre as MIDI, with a maximum filesize (the 5th Symphony) of a mere 433K! The problem is that, quite apart from the fact that this would be giving the world a blank cheque for copyright infringement and in any case it is no longer my policy to allow free downloads of all my work (somewhere along the line people who like my music must purchase CDs instead), playback on anyone else's system would be *chaos!*

The question isn't simply whether whoever downloads my files has a high quality synthesizer. If you read about the equipment I've been using, you will see that I use three synthesizer devices - and these are used simultaneously. One of the devices is a completely non-GM (General MIDI standard) Proteus 2 orchestral module, in which I've had to customize very considerably every single preset that I use, and in which I've set up and taken advantage of some unorthodox controller function assignments.

For even roughly correct playback of my works from my MIDI files you would have to run a sequencer which supports multiple output ports (many do nowadays), and be using (1) a Soundblaster Live soundcard, with my particular custom soundfont files (totalling some 67 MB) loaded into its appropriated system memory, (2) an E-mu Proteus 2 sound module with my own custom set of presets downloaded into its memory, and (3) a Yamaha DB50XG or MU10, the former *not* plugged into the Soundblaster, as it must have a separate output; (4) an appropriate mixer to reconcile the different output levels of the 3 devices (in fact two different outputs from the Proteus) and allow the levels to be set so that certain instruments (particularly brass and loud percussion) get preferential boosting.

Copyright: All the works listed below are copyright, and so are the recordings.

For your ongoing reference

you can download the whole set of notes about the works in printer-friendly form...

The programme notes can take a lot of time to read. To save online time, you can download the full set of programme notes as a c.90K zipped Word 2000 document which is formatted for double-sided A4 printing (for European printers). Those who want to print out to a different paper size or single sided will need to go to Page Setup, ensure that "mirror margins" is checked or unchecked as appropriate, choose the correct page size and then check the repaging of the file so that there are no nearly blank pages or orphaned headings.
(You will need to bypass or disable any download manager and let your browser do the download)

Please note that although these are kept reasonably up to date, the most up-to-date versions of the programme notes are the ones accessible from the list of works below, and current work in progress announced on this site will not normally be included in the Word file until the relevant work is completed.


Tired of unrealistic, mechanical MIDI renditions of orchestral music?

Now you can change your view of what can be achieved on a computer. Listen to the recorded performances by the Invisible Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir, directed and conducted by the Composer via a PC.

You can be wise and NOT spend hours and hours downloading the MP3s! As soon as you've established that you like the music, you can save yourself the hassle and obtain a CD-ROM from the Composer.


Symphonies
(orchestral & choral)

Orchestral -- Choral & Vocal -- Chamber & Instrumental

Contemplation -- Arrangements
* denotes a work that has been represented in the top 5 positions in the Choral chart at Peoplesound.com for over a year; ** indicates two excerpts in those top 5.

SYMPHONY No. 1 (Sagarmatha) -- Op. 1 (1995) -- 21½'

for orchestra with piano "None of the Proms first performances have made me sit up and listen like your Symphony no.1 (at least since Tavener's Protecting Veil)"-- Jim Cooke (composer & conductor, of Newburgh, Lancashire, England) Extracted short works:
  • Cloud Dance
  • Melancholic Musings

SYMPHONY No. 2 (Idyll, Chorale and Dance) -- Op. 4 (1995) -- 15½'

for orchestra with marimba

SYMPHONY No. 3 (Dark Forest - Monument & Reflections) -- Op. 6 (1995) -- 25'

for orchestra with piano
Extracted short works:
  • Reflections & Storm
  • Dreaming in the Dark Forest
  • Longings! Longings! Longings!

SYMPHONY No. 4 (Highland Wilderness) -- Op. 10 (1995) -- 48'

for orchestra with piano & 4-part choir (wordless)
Extracted short work:
  • Rannoch Moor Prelude

SYMPHONY No. 5 (Magritte Gallery) -- Op. 13 (1996) -- 33'

for orchestra with piano

SYMPHONY No. 6 (K2 -- A Song of Enlightenment) -- Op. 14 (1997) -- 50½'

for orchestra with piano, large organ and 4-part choir
Extracted short work:
  • Before the Beginning of Time Was... -- choral song

SYMPHONY No. 7 (Ancient Chants of Compassion) ** -- Op. 15 (1997) -- 21½'

for two 4-part choirs and small orchestra

SYMPHONY No. 8 (The Ferryman) * -- Op. 16 (1997) -- 16'

for orchestra with two 4-part choirs

SYMPHONY No. 9 (Orb of Vajrasattva) -- Op. 23 (1999) -- 17'

for two 4-part choirs, soprano, alto & bass soloists and orchestra with piano

SYMPHONY No. 10 (Pilgrimage to Gosainkund) -- Op. 27 (2001) -- 17'

for 4-part choir & tubular bell sounds from a wide-range MIDI keyboard (or pre-recorded)


Orchestral

Symphonies -- Choral & Vocal -- Chamber & Instrumental -- Contemplation -- Arrangements

SUNSHINE AND SHOWERS -- Op. 2 (1995) -- 8'

for orchestra (with small piano part)

MOUNT EVEREST -- SUMMIT BID -- Op. 9 (1995) -- 9'

for orchestra with organ

FANTASY VARIATIONS -- From the Scottish Mountains -- Op. 11 (1996) -- 27½'

for orchestra with piano

GOLGOTHA TO ROZABAL -- symphonic poem -- Op. 12 (1996) -- 22'

for orchestra with 4-part choir & organ
Extracted short work:
  • Rozabal Fugue (choral)

MUSIC FROM THE MOUNTAIN WATERS
-- a contemplation of wilderness -- Op. 22 (1999) -- 11'

for orchestra with piano

Extracted short works (orchestral)


-- duration between some 2½ & 4½ minutes --
(taken or adapted from the major works indicated)
Cloud Dance
-- from Symphony 1
Melancholic Musings
-- from Symphony 1
Reflections and Storm
-- from Symphony 3
Dreaming in the Dark Forest
-- from Symphony 3
Longings! Longings! Longings!
-- from Symphony 3
Rannoch Moor Prelude
-- from Symphony 4


Choral & Vocal

Symphonies -- Orchestral -- Chamber & Instrumental -- Contemplation -- Arrangements
* denotes a work that has been represented in the top 5 positions in the Choral chart at Peoplesound.com for over a year.

TUNE IN A STAINED GLASS WINDOW * -- Op. 5 (1995-6) -- 3¼'

  • version for 4-part choir, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon & organ pedal
  • version for 4-part choir and organ
>>Was #1 in Choral chart at Peoplesound.com for some 2 years from early 2002<<

FLAPPING DUCK SONG -- Op. 7 (1995) -- 1':50"

for 2 voices or male choir plus flute, saxophone, piano, electric guitar or other instrument

FLAPPING DUCK FANTASY -- Op. 8 (1995) -- 7'+

for 4-part choir, orchestra, piano & optional wind & thunder sounds

ANCIENT CHANTS OF ENLIGHTENMENT * -- Op. 17 (1997) -- 15¼'

for two 4-part choirs and orchestra

ET IN ARCADIA EGO -- Op. 18 (1997) -- 29'

for two 4-part choirs and orchestra
Extracted short works:
  • Dies Irae & Canon
  • Solis Sacerdotibus...

THE BEGINNING AND ALSO THE END -- choral song -- Op. 19 (1997) -- 5½'

for two 4-part choirs and orchestra

MEDITATION ON THE CLEAR LIGHT -- Op. 20 (1998) -- 6¼'

for two 4-part choirs and orchestra with piano

TEARS OF AVALOKITESHVARA -- symphonic poem -- Op. 21 (1998) -- 15'

for orchestra and two 4-part choirs, with piano, organ & prominent vibraphone part

SUNRISE ON AMA DABLAM -- choral fantasy -- Op. 26 (2001) -- 10'

for 4-part choir, organ & 2 sets of pedal timpani also an arrangement with a piano substituted for Timp. 2

Extracted short works (choral)


-- duration between some 2½ & 4½ minutes --
(taken or adapted from the major works indicated)
Before the Beginning of Time Was...
-- from Symphony 6
Rozabal Fugue
-- from Golgotha to Rozabal
Dies Irae and Canon
-- from Et in Arcadia Ego
Solis Sacerdotibus...
-- from Et in Arcadia Ego


Chamber & Instrumental
(including organ)

Symphonies -- Orchestral -- Choral & Vocal

Contemplation -- Arrangements

AUTUMN LEAVES AND SPRING BLOSSOMS -- Op. 3 (1996) -- 8¾'

for chamber ensemble (wind quintet & string quartet)

TUNE IN A STAINED GLASS WINDOW -- Op. 5 (1995, 2000) -- 4'

version for organ solo

MONUMENT AND REFLECTIONS -- Op. 6d (2003) -- 21½'

  • duo versions for flute, clarinet or alto saxophone and piano;
  • trio version for flute, clarinet and piano
This (as the flute / piano duo) was the starting point of the 3rd Symphony.

THE UNKNOWN -- Op. 24 (1999) -- 13¼'

for organ & tuba -- commissioned by Carson Cooman
also arrangements for bass clarinet, baritone or bass saxophone in place of the tuba

THE GREAT WILDERNESS -- Op. 25 (200) -- 79'

for organ -- commissioned by Carson Cooman

DE PROFUNDIS CLAMAVI  (A Prayer For the World) -- Op. 28 (2001) -- 6½'

for 'church bell' sound, pre-recorded or from an electronic keyboard, and 3 trumpets

THE SEEN AND THE UNSEEN -- Op. 29 (2002) -- 34'

  • for alto & tenor saxophone and piano -- commissioned by Paul Wehage
  • also version for clarinet, bass clarinet and piano
("I love it! ... It's really unlike anything ever written for the saxophone" - Paul Wehage)

NORDIC WILDERNESS JOURNEY -- Op. 30 (2002) -- 30½'

for tenor and contrabass saxophone (or tubax) and piano -- commissioned by Jay Easton
("The CD arrived today, and I have given it a listen. Both pieces [this & the previous work] are beautiful, and I am excited to play Nordic Wilderness Journeyon the real instruments.
I have to compliment you on your excellent MIDI work, by the way. Beautifully stormy, vivid, and colorful music, with what sounds like effective use of the instruments." - Jay Easton)

FALLEN SOLDIERS -- In Memoriam Jehan Alain -- Op. 32 (2005) -- 7'

for 3 trumpets and organ


For Contemplation
& Healing

Symphonies -- Orchestral -- Choral & Vocal -- Chamber & Instrumental -- Arrangements

And now a different type of music...

Music intended for contemplation and healing sessions. Although this might get marketed alongside 'New Age' music, it has much more to it than the bland, unfocused doodlings that are commonly dished up in that genre, and has more of the intensity and variety that one would associate with good classical works, yet with a certain flow which invites the listener to experience uplifting and sometimes quite intense visions without getting too involved with the structuring which does exist. It won't be possible to produce scores of these works for performance; I am using MIDI-only instruments via a sequencer program on the computer, including various bell sounds (natural, faked and processed), tuned whale and bird songs, some acoustic instruments (natural and processed), and of course a variety of synth pads.

ASCENDING -- Op. 31 (2003)

for a variety of MIDI instruments, including tuned whale and bird songs


Arrangements

Symphonies -- Orchestral -- Choral & Vocal -- Chamber & Instrumental -- Contemplation

ET IN TERRA PAX - Hymn for Hovhaness -- by James Signorile

for small orchestra (originally composed for solo organ)
This arrangment exists in score form but is currently unpublished, and my own publisher will not be taking it on.  It is a short, deeply felt piece which is technically simple and so should be particularly attractive for amateur performers. If you would definitely like to perform it, please get in touch with me so that we can sort something out.

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