Bedford, David (Vickerman)

Bedford, David (Vickerman), English composer, brother of Steuart (John Rudolf) Bedford; b. London, Aug. 4, 1937. He was the grandson of Liza Lehmann . After training in London at Trinity Coll. of Music and with Berkeley at the Royal Academy of Music (1958–61), he completed his studies with Nono in Venice and worked in the RAI electronic music studio in Milan. Returning to England, he was active as a keyboardist and arranger with Kevin Ayers’s rock band The Whole World. He was a teacher (1968–80) and composer-in-residence (1969–81) at Queen’s Coll. in London. From 1983 he was assoc. visiting composer at the Gordonstoun School in Scotland. In 1986 he became youth music director of the English Sinfonia in London, serving as its composer-in-assoc. from 1994. Bedford is a remarkably facile composer whose interests range from rock to art music, and from film scores to music for the young.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1978); The Death of Baldur (1979); Firdiofs Saga (1980); The Ragnarok (1982); The Camlann Game (1987); The Return of Odysseus (1988); Anna (1992–93). OTHER: Film scores; television music. ORCH.: This One for You (1965); Gastrula (1968); Star’s End for Electric Guitar, Electric Bass Guitar, Percussion, and Orch. (1974); Alleluia Timpanis (1976); Prelude for a Maritime Nation (1981); Sym. for 12 Musicians (1981); The Valley Sleeper, the Children, the Snakes and the Giant for Chamber Orch. (1983); 2 syms.: No. 1 (1984) and No. 2 for Wind Band (1987); Sun Paints Rainbows on the Vast Waves for Wind Band (1984); Sea and Sky and Golden Hill for Wind Band (1985); Ronde for Isolde for Orch. or Wind Band (1986); The Transfiguration for Chamber Orch., Piano, and Percussion (1988); Toccata for Tristan for Brass Band (1989); In Plymouth Town for Chamber Orch. (1992); Allison’s Overture (1992); Susato Variations (1992); Allison’s Concerto for Trumpet and Orch. (1993); The Goddess of Mahi River for Sitar, Tabla, Flute, Cello, and Chamber Orch. (1994); Recorder Concerto (1995). CHAMBER: 5 for String Quintet (1963); Trona for 12 Players (1967); Pentomino for Wind Quintet (1968); Jack of Shadows for 13 Players (1973); Pancakes, with Butter, Maple Syrup, and Bacon, and the TV Weatherman for Brass Quintet (1973); Circe Variations for Clarinet, Piano, Violin, and Cello (1976); Fridiof Kennings for Saxophone Quartet (1980); String Quartet (1981); Piano Sonata (1981); Pentaguin for Flute or Piccolo, Clarinet, Viola, Harp, and Percussion (1985); For Tess for Brass Quintet (1985); Erkenne Mich for Flute or Alto Flute, Oboe or English Horn, Bass Clarinet, and Vibraphone (1988); Backings for Soprano Saxophone and Tape (1990); Cadenzas and Interludes for 2 Clarinets, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass(1992). other instrumental:The Garden of Love for Flute, Clarinet, Horn, Trumpet, Double Bass, and Rock Band (1969); The Sword of Orion for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, 4 Metronomes, and 32 Percussion Instruments (1970); With 100 Kazoos for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, String Quartet, and 100 Kazoos Played by the Audience (1971); Nurse’s Song with Elephants for 10 Acoustic Guitars and Singer (1971); Variations on a Rhythm by Mike Oldfield for 84 Percussion Instruments and Conductor (1973); The Ones Who Walk Away From Órnelas for 9 Instruments, Electric Guitar, and Electric Bass Guitar (1976); Verses and Choruses for 2 Acoustic Guitars (1986). VOCAL: A Dream of the 7 Lost Stars for Chorus and Chamber Orch. (1964–65); Music for Albion Moonlight for Soprano and 6 Instruments (1965); That White and Radiant Legend for Soprano, Speaker, and 7 Instruments (1966); The Tentacles of the Dark Nebula for Tenor and 8 Instruments (1969); Star Clusters, Nebulae, and Places in Devon for Chorus and Brass or Brass Band (1971); Holy Thursday with Squeakers for Soprano, Electric Piano, Viola or Organ, Soprano Saxophone or Bassoon, and Percussion (1972); When I Heard the Learned Astronomer for Tenor and 14 Instruments (1972); 12 Hours of Sunset for Chorus and Orch. (1974); The Golden Wine is Drunk for 16 Solo Voices (1974); The Odyssey for Chorus and Orch. (1976); On the Beach at Night for 2 Tenors, Piano, and Small Organ (1977); The Way of Truth for Chorus and Electronics (1977–78); OfBeares, Foxes, and Many, Many Wonders for Chorus and Orch. (1978); The Song of the White Horse for Chorus and Orch. (1978); Requiem for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1980); Vocoder Sextet for Vocalist, Vocoder, Flute, Clarinet, Violin, and Viola (1981); Of Stars, Dreams, and Cymbals for Chorus (1982); The Juniper Tree for Soprano, Recorder, and Harpsichord (1982); Into Thy Wondrous House for Soprano, Children’s Chorus, Chorus, and Orch. (1987); The OCD Band and the Minotaur for Soprano and 6 Instruments (1990); Touristen Dachau for Soprano, Men’s Voices, and 6 Instruments (1992); Charm of Grace for 24 Voices (1994). Educational: Seascapes for Strings and 4 School Groups (1986); Frameworks for 2 Oboes, 2 Horns, Strings, and 4 School Orch. Groups (1989–90).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire