Stoker, Richard

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Stoker, Richard

Stoker, Richard, English composer and author; b. Castleford, Yorkshire, Nov. 8, 1938. He attended the Huddersfield School of Music and School of Art in Yorkshire (1953–58) and studied with Eric Fenby. After further training with Berkeley at the Royal Academy of Music in London (1958–62), he completed his studies with Boulanger in Paris (1962–63). From 1963 to 1987 he taught composition at the Royal Academy of Music. He also was ed. of the journal Composer (1969–80). He publ. the autobiographical vols. Open Window—Open Door (1985) and Between the Lines (1994). His other writing include novels Tanglewood (1993) and Diva (1995), as well as a collection of short stories (1995). Stoker has composed in various genres producing scores of both a serious and more popular nature. He has utilized a modified serial technique in some of his works, but tonal elements are always in evidence.

Works

DRAMATIC: Johnson Preserv’d, opera (1966; London, July 4, 1967); My Friend—My Enemy, ballet (1970); Garden Party, ballet (1973); Thérèse Raquin, opera (1979); Prospero’s Magic Island, musical (1980); film and television scores. ORCH.: Antic Hay, overture (1960); A Purcell Suite (1960); Petite Suite for Small Orch. (1961); Serenade (1964); 4 Countries, suite for Strings (1965); French Suite for Strings (1966); Feast ofFools, overture (1967); Little Symphony for Youth Orch. (1969); Chorale for Strings (1970); Antiphons and Responses for Recorder Consort and Orch. (1972); Movement from Bouquet for Lennox (1979); Variations, Passacaglia, and Fugue for Strings (1980); Piano Concerto (1983); Locations for Strings (1990); Chinses Canticle (1992). CHAMBER : 3 string quartets (1961, 1964, 1968); Wind Quintet (1962); 2 violin sonatas (1962, 1970); 3 piano trios (1963, 1968, 1974); Terzetto for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano (1964); Sextet (1965); Litany, Sequence, and Hymn for Brass Quartet (1968); Sinfonia for Sax for Saxophone Quartet (1969); Polemics for Oboe and String Trio (1970); Trio Sonata for Flute, Violin, and Organ or Piano (1972); Sonata for 2 Guitars (1975); Concerto for 2 Guitars and Tape (1976); Duo for Cello and Piano (1978); Ostinato for Guitar and Cello (1993); Partita for Mandolin and Harp (1993); piano pieces, including 2 sonatas (1962, 1992); organ music, including an Organ Sym. (1969). VOCAL : Ecce Homo, cantata for Speaker, Tenor, Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1964); Proverbs for Chorus and Organ or Ensemble (1970); Benedictus for Chorus and Orch. or Organ (1972); The Scholars for Voice and Ensemble (1992); numerous choruses and solo songs.