Musgrave, Thea

Musgrave, Thea (b Barnton, Midlothian, 1928). Scottish composer and conductor. Lect. in mus., London Univ. 1959–65. Taught at Univ. of California 1970. Her mus. developed from early diatonicism to a more chromatic idiom and to use of serialism; from various elements she has forged a mature style capable of rich expressiveness as in her opera Mary, Queen of Scots. In her orch. works, solo instr. are often given virtuoso opportunities; and in her cl. conc. the soloist moves about the orch. to play with different sections in the manner of a jazz improvisation. CBE 2002. Prin. comps.:OPERAS: The Abbot of Drimock, 1-act (1955); The Decision, 3 acts (1964–5); The Voice of Ariadne (1972–3); Mary, Queen of Scots, 3 acts (1976–7); A Christmas Carol (1978–9); An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, radio opera (1981); Harriet, the Woman Called Moses (1984, rev. 1985); Simón Bolívar (1993–4).BALLETS: A Tale for Thieves (1953); Beauty and the Beast (1968–9); Orfeo, with dancer (see Chamber Music below).ORCH.: Obliques (1958); Themes and Interludes (1962); Sinfonia (1963); Festival Overture (1965); Nocturnes and Arias (1966); Concerto for Orchestra (1967); cl. conc. (1967); Night Music (1969); Memento Vitae (homage to Beethoven) (1969–70); hn. conc. (1971); va. conc. (1973); Space Play, conc. for 9 instr. (1974); Peripateia (1981); Moving into Aquarius (1984, with R. R. Bennett); The Seasons (1988); Rainbow (1990).CHORAL AND VOCAL: 5 Love Songs, ten., gui. (1955); Song for Christmas, v., pf. (1958); Triptych, ten., small orch. (1959); The Phoenix and the Turtle, ch., orch. (1962); The Five Ages of Man, ch., orch. (1963); Memento creatoris, ch. (1967); Rorate coeli, unacc. (1974, rev. 1976); The Last Twilight, ch., brass, perc. (1980); The Lord's Prayer, ch., org. (1983); Black Tambourine, women's vv., pf., perc. (1985); Monologues of Mary, Queen of Scots, sop., orch. (1977/1986); For the Time Being: Advent, narr., ch. (1986).CHAMBER MUSIC: Str. qt. (1958); Colloquy, vn., pf. (1960); Trio, fl., ob., pf. (1960); Serenade (1961); Chamber Conc. No.1 (1962), No.2 (1966), No.3 (1966); Soliloquy, gui., prerecorded tape (1969); Impromptu No.1, fl., ob. (1967), No.2, fl., ob., cl. (1970); Elegy, va., vc. (1970); From One to Another I, va., tape (1970, orch. vers. va., 15 str. From One to Another II, 1980); Orfeo I, fl., tape (1975, orch. vers. fl., 15 str., Orfeo II, 1975); Fanfare, brass quintet (1982); Pierrot, cl., vn., pf. (1985); The Golden Echo I, hn., tape (1986); The Golden Echo II, hn., 16 accomp. hns. (1986); Narcissus, fl. with digital delay (1987); Wild Winter, ens. (1993).