Peter Wishart (composer)

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For persons of a similar name, see Peter Wishart (disambiguation).

Peter Charles Arthur Wishart (25 June 1921 – 14 August 1984) was an English composer. Wishart was born in Crowborough. He studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris from 1947–1948 and taught at the Guildhall School of Music, Birmingham University, King's College London and Reading University where he was Professor of Music from 1977. His compositions include several neo-classical operas, orchestral and chamber pieces, and a large amount of church music. Critics have commented on Wishart's strong and individual lyricism,[1] and his admiration for the music of Igor Stravinsky.

He was married to the mezzo-soprano singer Maureen Lehane, with whom he worked with at Reading University and lived within Bridge House, near Frome, Somerset. His son by a previous marriage is also a composer. After his death, Maureen began a music festival in his memory, the , and later the Jackdaws Music Education Trust. She died on 27 December 2010.

The family is unrelated to that of the composer Trevor Wishart.

Music[]

His music is published by various publishing houses, including Banks Music Ltd., Stainer & Bell, Hinrichsen, OUP and Jackdaws Publications. He is best known as a vocal composer, writing songs and operas. However, he also wrote a considerable number of chamber and orchestral works, including the four movement Symphony No 1 in 1952, scored for double woodwind, horns and strings. It was premiered in a BBC broadcast on 16 November 1953.[2] His 1947 Serenata Concertante for clarinet and small orchestra has recently been recorded.[3] Mark Tanner has recorded the complete piano works, and there are also recordings of the Clarinet Trio and Aubade.[4]

Orchestral[]

  • Violin Concerto No 1, op.14 (1951)
  • Symphony No 1, op. 19 (1952)
  • Ecossaises for orchestra, op. 20 (1953)
  • Concerto piccolo, op, 25 (1955)
  • Concerto for Orchestra, op.27 (1957)
  • Piano Concerto (small orchestra), op. 32 (1958)
  • Variations for Orchestra, op.48 (1965)
  • Serenade for small orchestra, op. 51 (1966)
  • Violin Concerto No 2, op.61 (1968)
  • Symphony No 2, op. 71 (1973)

Opera[]

Chamber and Instrumental[]

  • Sonata for piano duet in Bb, op.5 (1949)
  • Partita in F sharp for piano, op.10 (1950)
  • String Quartet No 2 in F, op. 12 (1951)
  • Sonatine for violin and cello, op.18 (1953)
  • String Quartet No 3, op. 22 (1954)
  • Aubade (Quintet for flute, two violins, oboe and cello), op.23 (1955)
  • Cantilene for four cellos, op. 28 (1957)
  • Opheis Kai Klimakes (Snakes and Ladders), op.35 for piano (1959)
  • Organ Sonata, op. 52 (1966)
  • Clarinet Trio

Songs[]

  • A Lover's Lullaby – words by George Gascoine
  • Complaint of a Hen-Pecked Husband – words Anonymous
  • Feste's Song – words by Shakespeare
  • Merry Go Round – words by Robert McAuley
  • Mountebank's Song – words Anonymous
  • Serenade – words by Thomas Campion
  • The Jackdaw – arguably Wishart's most well known song, dedicated to his wife Maureen Lehane with words by William Cowper and completed on 27 January 1965, Hampstead.
  • Spider – Words by Lord de Taberly
  • Cat Goddesses – words by Robert Graves
  • Henry & Mary – words by Robert Graves
  • Quatre Petits Negres Blancs – words Anonymous
  • Spring Sadness – words Anonymous, translated by Helen Waddell
  • The Bedpost – words by Robert Graves
  • The Magpie – words by James McAuley
  • The Pessimist – words by Benjamin King
  • Tune for Swans – words by James McAuley
  • You are a Refuge – St Augustine

Published by Banks Music Publications

  • Bird of Paradise – words by Robert Graves, Medium Voice (BSS2018)
  • Fidele – words by Shakespeare
  • Two Shakespeare Songs for medium voice (BSS2011)

Published by Hinrichsen

  • June Twilight – words by John Masefield, Medium voice (H-999)
  • Mistress Mine – words by Shakespeare, Baritone (H-567)
  • Spring Sadness – words by Helen Waddell, Medium voice (H-998)

Sources[]

References[]

  1. ^ Peter Wishart
  2. ^ Radio Times, Issue 1566, 15 November, 1953, p 19
  3. ^ Rediscovered: British Clarinet Concertos, Signum Classics SIGCD656 (2020)
  4. ^ The Music of Peter Wishart, Priory PRCD 1023 (2013)


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