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Today's Featured Composer:

Gordon Jacob (1895-1984)

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During his time as a prisoner of war in 1917 Gordon Jacob had no thought of music as a career. His practical knowledge was gained from a text book in the camp library as he wrote and arranged for the camp 'orchestra'.After the war he studied journalism but was then accepted as a student at the Royal College of Music in 1920. In his final year he arranged a suite of William Byrd pieces for a festival in Oxford and in 1924 he re-scored the suite for military band at the request of Adrian Boult with much acclaim. His first original work for this medium was Original Suite for Military or Symphonic Band.

Over the next 30 years he composed two symphonies, 16 concertos, choral and chamber pieces. His arrangements for the 1937 Coronation were used again, with additions, in 1953.During the 1960s he became fascinated with wind instruments and he wrote many works for Concert Band. These included Concerto for Symphonic Band, Fantasy for Euphonium and Concert Band, and Ceremonial Music.In 1975 his Overture Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally) was commissioned by the Royal Marines to mark the centenary of the famous building and was first played in May 1975.In 1978 he was commissioned by Arthur Doyle and this resulted in his Symphony AD 78, which was premiered in Birmingham in December 1978.

Even in his 80s Gordon Jacob continued writing for orchestra and Concert Band. His two fantasies, Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron and Blow the Man Down were followed by his last major work, Concerto for Timpani and Wind Band, which was first performed after his death in June 1984.

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