Gardner, John (Linton)
Gardner, John (Linton)
Gardner, John (Linton), English composer and teacher; b. Manchester, March 2, 1917. He studied with Sir Hugh Allen, Ernest Walker, Thomas Armstrong, and R.O. Morris at Exeter Coll., Oxford (Mus.B., 1939). He pursued his career in London, where he was a repetiteur at Covent Garden, and a tutor (1952–76) and director of music (1965–69) at Morley Coll. He also taught at the Royal Academy of Music (1956–86) and was director of music at St. Paul’s Girls’ School (1962–75). In 1976 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. His extensive catalogue of works reveals a fine craftsmanship in an eclectic style ranging from dodeca-phony to popular modes of expression.
Works
DRAMATIC Opera i A Nativity Opera (1950); The Moon and Sixpence (1956; London, May 24, 1957); The Visitors (1971; Aldeburge, June 10, 1972); Bel and the Dragon (1973); Tobermory (1976). M u s i c a 1 : Vile Bodies (1960). M a s q u e : The Entertainment of the Senses (1973; London, Feb. 2, 1974). B a l l e t : Reflection (1952); Dress Rehearsal (1958). Also incidental music. ORCH.: 3 syms.: No. 1 (1950; Cheltenham, July 5, 1951), No. 2 (1985), and No. 3 (1989); A Scots Overture (London, Aug. 16, 1954); Piano Concerto No. 1 (1957); Suite of 5 Rhythms (1960); Sinfonia piccola for Strings (1960); Concerto for Trumpet and Strings (1963); Occasional Suite (1968); An English Ballad (1969); 3 Ridings Suite (1970); Sonatina for Strings (1974); English Suite for Concert Band (1977); Oboe Concerto (1990). CHAMBER: 3 string quartets (1938, 1979, 1986); 2 oboe sonatas (1953, 1986); Concerto da camera for Recorder, Violin, Cello, and Harpsichord (1967); Chamber Concerto for Organ and 11 Instruments (1969); Sonata secolare for Organ and Brass Quintet (1973); Sonata da chiesa for 2 Trumpets and Organ (1977); Sonatina lirica for Brass Quintet (1983); Saxophone Quartet (1985); Pentad for Recorder Octet (1986); French Suite for Saxophone Quartet (1986); Chanson triste for Oboe and Piano (1989). Also piano pieces and organ music. VOCAL: Cantiones Sacrae for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1952); Jubilate Deo for Chorus (1957); The Ballad of the White Horse for Chorus and Orch. (1958); Herrick Cantata for Tenor, Chorus, and Orch. (1960); A Latter Day Athenian Speaks for Chorus (1961); The Noble Heart for Soprano, Bass, Chorus, and Orch. (1964); Mass for Chorus (1965); Mass for Mezzo-soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1983); A Burns Sequence for Chorus and Orch. (1993); numerous choral pieces; many songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire