Bill Connor English

BILL CONNOR

BORN PRESTON LANCS 1949...

Bill Connor has made his living as a composer since the 1970’s working across many genres and media from rock and jazz to the symphony orchestra.

He has written music for over 300 film and television projects and spent 6 years as composer-in-residence for Granada Television in Manchester UK.

He has written many music theatre pieces including commissions from Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester/Manchester Camerata, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra/South Australian Opera Company, and has devised music/drama projects for the BBC Philharmonic in the community and Strangeways prison including a community opera for the 75th anniversary of the BBC.

He is well known for his work in the community, especially with young people, bringing together traditional performance practices with communal composition and group improvisation.

He has worked as composer and conductor with many orchestras across the world including the Halle, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, BBC national Orchestra of Wales, Goldberg Ensemble, Manchester Camerata, BBC Singers, Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and was Composer-in-Residence (1996-99) with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in Australia with a particular focus on music/drama in the community.

His concert music includes Operas, Symphonic music, music-theatre, Concerti and many theatrical pieces bringing together the Symphony Orchestra, actors, children and audience as he has done on three occasions for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

He has written much chamber music and his love of language and words is evident in the many choral pieces.

As a conductor he has a wide range of music from the classical repertoire to contemporary British and American orchestral and chamber music.

Since 2000, at the behest of the British Council he has been working with the Sibenik International Children’s Festival in Croatia with schools and community groups to create new music/theatre work based on the childrens’ own ideas.

He is artistic director of the Llandudno Festival, conductor of the Gwynedd/Mon Youth Orchestra and lives on the island of Anglesey (N.Wales UK) with his wife (cellist Heather Bills), their two children Tim and Josie and Fizz the canine whizz.

Contact

FILM MUSIC INCLUDES:

ROAD TO 1984
STARLINGS,
MAGIC TOYSHOP,
THE VISION,
HOME RUN,
BRICK IS BEAUTIFUL,
WHERE'S THE KEY,
LAND
TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME,
NADA,
EBB TIDE.

T.V. DRAMA SERIES MUSIC INCLUDES:

RESORT TO MURDER,
MAIGRET, (6 PROGS)
CRIME STORY (5 PROGS)
RAY BRADBURY THEATRE (6 progs)
AFFAIRS OF THE HEART,
A SENSE OF GUILT,
ALL GOOD THINGS,
MURDER IN EDEN,
UNDERBELLY,
LIZZIES PICTURES,
RIDES(2 series),
RESNICK(3 series),
RETURN TO AFRICA ( BOB GELDOFF),
EYE OF THE STORM(3 series)

THEME MUSIC INCLUDES

GRANADA TONIGHT NEWS(1992 - 98),
FRIDAY NIGHT(GTV),
LATE WITH CLIVE JAMES(BBC)
ALBION MARKET(GTV),
CONNECTIONS(GTV),
GLADIATORS"WE'VE GOT THE POWER"

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC INCLUDES:

QUARTER MILE HILL (1971) 12 mins
BBC Concert Orchestra

SEA SKETCHES (1972) 23 mins
BBC Concert Orchestra

POMP AND CIRCUSDANCE (1975) 30 mins
East London Symphony Orchestra Commission

RUDOLF THE RELIANT (1989) [words music Bill Connor] 30 mins
actor,orchestra,children and audience
Halle Orch Commission….Free Trade Hall, Manchester

ARIA (1989)
violin and Orchestra
Wells Cathedral School of Music Commission….Asian Tour

AFTER THE RAINS CAME (1990)
        clt,vla,recorder and Orchestra
Orchestra of the Mill Commission

JONATHON'S DREAM (1992) 22 mins
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

FANFARE FOR STRANGEWAYS (1993) 6 mins
BBC Philharmonic Commission

THE MUNIFICENT MEANDERINGS OF MERLIN THE MUDDLED (1994) 34 mins
[story Bill Connor]
actor,2 young actors,audience and orchestra
North Wales Philharmonia

RUDOLF AND THE FIELDS OF ICE (1995) 30 mins
        actor,orchestra,children and audience
North Wales Philharmonia

BRIDGES (1997) 46 mins
        chamber ensemble and large Orchestra
Halle Orch Commission….Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

CLAY RAINBOWS (1998) 15 mins
        violin,trombone and Orchestra
Adelaide Symphony Orch Commission

YALLUM JACKY'S LAST RUN (1998) 12 mins
Hertfordshire Youth Orch Commission…Royal Fest. Hall, London

TIME DANCES (1999)
BBC Philharmonic Commission….. BLUE PETER PROM Royal Albert Hall/ Radio 3

THE VOYAGE (2000)
audience,orchestra and children's voices
BBC Philharmonic Commission….. BLUE PETER PROM Royal Albert Hall/ Radio 3

CHORAL / ORCHESTRAL MUSIC INCLUDES:

ALL YOUR STRENGTH AMERICA (1980) 47mins
        soprano,baritone,actor,choir,orch
Keele University Commission….. to celebrate 10th anniversary of American Studies Dept.

A SIDE OF THE COIN (1984) 28mins
        soprano and chamber ensemble
Pennine Arts Commission

LAND (1990) [words and music:Bill Connor] 112 mins
actor,soprano,baritone,tenor,male jazz voice,female rock
voice, SATB adult choir,boys’ choir,children's choir
Manchester Cathedral / Manchester Camerata Commission

CHAMBER MUSIC:

CONCERTINO 1 (1972) 16 mins
        treble recorder and strings

CONCERTINO 2 (1972) 26 mins
        viola and wind quintet

WITH ROD AND LINE (1982)
        cello and piano
Granada TV Concert Commission

PRELUDE AND DANCE (1982) 18 mins
        piano quartet
Matisse Pno Quartet Commission

SONATA (1985) 22 mins
        piano quartet,
Matisse Pno Quartet Commission…..Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

ANOTHER TIME,ANOTHER PLACE (2000)
flt,ob,clt (bs.clt),cello,piano
Ensemble Cymru Commission

SWAN SONG (2001)
clt (bs.clt),cello,piano (harpsichord),percussion and
pre-recorded tape
Bangor New Music Festival / Ensemble Cymru Commission

NIGHT MUSIC (2001)
Flt,Clt,Horn,Bsn,Harp,Vln,Vla
BBC Phil Chamber Ensemble,Chester Festival /BBC Commission

DANCES DANGEREUSE (2001)
recorder and guitar
John Turner

MUSIC FOR YOUTH ORCHESTRA:

A PRIVATE VIEW (1980)
from the Granada TV Drama / Documentary of L.S.LOWRY

THE ROAD TO 1984 (1984)
from the Granada TV Drama/Documentary of GEORGE ORWELL

A VIEW FROM THE GREEN (1985)
from the Channel Four series "This Land Of England"

TIME AND MOTION (1984)
Calderdale Y.O. Commission

PRELUDE AND DANCE (1985)
Calderdale Y.O. Commission

LIZZIE'S PICTURES (1988)
from the BBC drama series of the same name

NED KELLY AIN'T DEAD (1996)
youth orchestra,wind band,swing band and percussion
ensemble

MUSIC FOR HARP:

SONGS FOR LOVE AND REMEMBERING (1996) 26 mins
clarsach and 12 harps
Eira Lynne Jones / RNCM Harp Dept. Commission

HOMECOMING (1996)
clarsach
Mary-Anne Kennedy

RETURN TO ABERFFRAW (1999) 12 mins
13 harps
Kathleen Bride, Eastman School of Music USA

MUSIC FOR STRINGS:

SAT'D'Y (1980)

CANTICLE (1985)

CONCERTANTE VARIATIONS (1985)
Malcolm Layfield / Goldberg Ensemble Commission

MORNING DANCE (1986)

NIGHT SONG (1987)

THE CONTRAPTION (1998)
South Australian Primary Schools String Ensemble

WIND BAND MUSIC:

WAITING GAME (1989)

SINFONIA AMORATI (1992)

TAILS AUS DEM VOOD VIENNOISE (1992)

THE DOG IT WAS THAT DANCED (1993)
flt, ob, clt and symphonic wind band

SYMPHONY (2001)
wind band
Phil Ellis / West Herts Youth Symphonic Wind Band Commission

CONCERTI:

DOUBLE BASS AND STRINGS (UK) (1986)
Duncan McTier / Manchester Camerata
North West Arts Commission…. RNCM

PIANO AND BRASS BAND (UK) (1990)
Kathryn Stott / Sellers Brass Band
Yorkshire Arts Commission….(Radio 3)

BALLAD OF THE CODGER AND THE DREAMING GIRL (1993)
flt,vln,hpschd and strings
Feinstein Ensemble Commission….St.Martin’s in the Fields, London

AFTER THE PICTURE SHOW [SAX QT.& SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA] (UK)(1993)
Apollo Sax Quartet

ALL THE LONG NIGHT THROUGH [PIANO & PERCUSSION] ( UK ) (1998)
John Briggs & Simone Rebello

CELLO AND STRINGS (AUSTRALIA) (1998)
Heather Bills

VIOLIN AND SYMPHONIC WIND ORCHESTRA (UK) (1999)
Peter Manning….St.John’s Smith Square, London

GUITAR AND ORCHESTRA (AUSTRALIA) (1999)
Craig Ogden

HARP AND ORCHESTRA (USA) (2000)
Kathleen Bride….Eastman School of Music USA

CONCERTO FOR PIANO 4 HANDS AND BRASS BAND (UK) (2001)
Helen and Harvey Davies / Beaumaris Brass Band

THEATRICAL:

THE AUDITION (1982) 27 mins
Opera scene for Television.
GTV Commission

THERE WAS A SHIP (1987) 85 mins
Children's Opera [Libretto: Barbara Machin]
Manchester Camerata…..Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

THE ENTERTAINER (1989)
Songs and Incidental music.
BBC TV production. Michael Gambon as Archie Rice…..Dir: Nick Renton

MOSCOW GOLD (1990)
Songs and Incidental music.
Play by Howard Brenton and Tariq Ali.
Royal Shakespeare Company….Barbican, London

DANCING PRINCESSES (1996) 110 mins
Children's Opera [Libretto: Nick Renton]
W.11 Opera Co.

THE TELLING (1997)
[Words Bill Connor,based on the tale of Branwen from the Mabinogion]
mezzo,baritone,guitar,cello,harp,actors,SATB choir,brass
band,pre-recorded tape
Beaumaris Festival

OUR TOWN (2000)
Bolton Youth Ensembles [Story: Terry Caffrey]
Bolton Music Services Commission……Dome, London

MUSIC IN THE COMMUNITY :

1988/9: Workshops with Special Needs Groups
Orchestra of the Mill

1993/4: BBC Philharmonic in Strangeways Prison, Manchester
composition / drama projects / Different Directions

1995: Conductor: First BBC Orchestras’ National Education Prom
Royal College of Music, London

1995: REMEMBERING EDEN
Community Opera
BBC Philharmonic (75th Anniversary)

1996 - 2000: AIMING HIGH
Projects/ Concert involving schools in Stoke-On-Trent

IN THE ARM OF A SPIRAL (96)….with Patrick Moore

REFLECTIONS IN MIND (97)

A KILN IN A CORNER OF THE SKY (98)…with Terry Caffery(poet),StephenWallace (counter-tenor), Jeremy Huw-Williams (baritone)

TIME DANCES (99)…..with Birmingham Royal Ballet

WINDOWS OF TIME (2000)….with BBC Singers
Composer/Conductor: Bill Connor
BBC Philharmonic

1996: PETER
BBC N.O.Wales /Wrexham primary schools project

1996: THOR'N'DOT
ABC Adelaide Symphony Orchestra

1997: WHITE RABBIT’S REVENGE
BBC N.O.Wales/ Llandudno schools project

1997: BRIDGING THE GAP
Halle Orchestra / Lancashire A level students composition project

1997: BBC LIVE (Radio 3) Young Composers’ Forum
Project leader/ presenter/ conductor: Bill Connor

1997-8: Creative Music Projects, Wellington N.Z.
N.Z. Symphony Orchestra

1997-1998: COMPOSER-IN-ASSOCIATION:
ABC Adelaide Symphony Orchestra

1999 : VARIANTS
BLUE PETER & Radio 3 Series
BBC Philharmonic
Conducted / presented: Bill Connor

2000: RADIO 3 MILLENIUM PROJECT
Joint BBC Orchestras

"SPACE SHIP EARTH" Sandbach Primary Schools song project

CHESHIRE MILLENIUM PILGRIMAGE SONG CYCLE

BBC MUSIC LIVE: SOWETO / CHESHIRE PROGRAMME

2001: Y BONT
Chamber orch,Gwynedd and Anglesey schools composition
project
Welsh Chamber Orchestra

SIBENIK 2000 (CROATIA) INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL
community opera for performance July 2001

FILM MUSIC INCLUDES:

STARLINGS, MAGIC TOYSHOP, THE VISION, HOME RUN, BRICK IS BEAUTIFUL, WHERE'S THE KEY?, TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME, NADA,

EBB TIDE.

T.V. DRAMA SERIES MUSIC INCLUDES:

RESORT TO MURDER, A SENSE OF GUILT, MURDER IN EDEN, UNDERBELLY, LIZZIE’S PICTURES, RIDES(2 series), RESNICK(3 series),

RETURN TO AFRICA ( BOB GELDOFF ), EYE OF THE STORM(3 series)

THEME MUSIC INCLUDES:

GRANADA TONIGHT NEWS (1992 - 98), FRIDAY NIGHT (GTV),

LATE WITH CLIVE JAMES (BBC), ALBION MARKET (GTV), CONNECTIONS (GTV), GLADIATORS: WE'VE GOT THE POWER (sung by Sonja)