Paul Mealor

Recently described in the New York Times as, ‘one of the most important composers to have emerged in Welsh Music since William Mathias… a real and original talent…’ Paul Mealor has established a reputation as one of the leading of the younger generation of Welsh composers.

Born in St Asaph, North Wales in 1975, Mealor studied composition privately, from an early age, with John Pickard, Robert Saxton, at the University of York with Nicola LeFanu, in Copenhagen with Hans Abrahamsen and Per Nørgård and in Stockholm with Magnus Lindberg.

His compositions are performed around the world including major commissions from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Britten Sinfonia, Northern Sinfonia, Jeremy Huw Williams, Mika Takehara, Ian Pace and the Gemini Ensemble. His works are regularly broadcast on international radio, including Swedish Radio, New Zealand Radio, Danish Radio, Japanese TV and Radio, Australian Radio, S4C (Welsh TV), and the BBC (Radio Two, Three & Four).

In 1997 Dr. Mealor established the Northop Festival of Music, which has gone on to become one of the most successful events in the North Wales Calendar. In 2003 he was appointed Lecturer in Music at the University of Aberdeen, having previously been Dean of Fairfax House at the University of York and ‘Composer in Residence’ at the Stockholm International Festival of Science and the Arts. In 2003 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

 

Orchestral:

Illumination (2003) (Full Orchestra). Duration: 2 ½ Minutes
Commissioned and First performed by the Aberdeen Symphony Orchestra, The Mitchell Hall, Aberdeen, November 2003, conducted by Roger B. Williams.

Rising of The Sixfold Sun (1998-1999) (Full Orchestra). Duration: 15 Minutes
First performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, St David’s Hall, Cardiff, February 2000 conducted by Thomas Dausgaard.

Ceremony of Light (1999-2000) (Chamber Orchestra). 18 Min.
First performed by Northern Sinfonia, Newcastle, May 2000 conducted by Baldur Bronniman.

Ritual Landscapes (1999) (Chamber Orchestra). 15 Min.
Commissioned by the Shizuoka Festival, Japan & First performed by the York New Music Group, Shizuoka Festival Hall, Japan, July 2000 conducted by James Williams.

Pantomime (1995) (Chamber Orchestra). 11 Min.
First performed by the York New Music Group, Sir Jack Lyon’s Concert Hall, York, November, 1995

 

Choral Music:

Meditation (1997) (SATB Choir & Drone) Text: Requiem Mass (Latin). 8 Min. Commissioned & First performed by York Chamber Choir, York Minster, York, July 2000 conducted by Edward Jessen.

A Prayer To Sunrise (2001) (2 Children’s Choirs with Piano) 5 Min.
Text: Katherine Tynan. Commissioned & First performed by the massed children’s voices of Flintshire County, Northop Hall Church, July 2002.

Canticum Sacrum (2001) (SATB A-Cappella) 5 Min.
Text: Sanctus (Latin). First performed by St Bride’s Choir, St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, London, April 2002 conducted by Robert Jones.

‘…And Profoundest Midnight Shroud The Serene Lights of Heaven…’ (2002) (16 Part A-Cappella Choir) 8 Min.
Text: Rilke & Shelley (English). Commissioned by & First performed by ‘York Vocal Index’ (directed by John Potter) at the Sir Jack Lyons Hall, York, May 2002.

 

Vocal Music:

A Prayer Before Birth (1997) (Mezzo-Sop Solo, SATB, Ensemble & Tape) 10 Min.
Text: MacNeice. First performed by Morag Galloway and York New Music Group, Sir Jack Lyons Hall, York, July 1997 conducted by Tom Service.

Till Time Shall Cease (2001) (Soprano and Six Instruments) 10 Min.
Text: Plath, Rilke, Rossetti and Lewis. Commissioned by the York Festival & First performed by Sarah Dacey and York New Music Group, Sir Jack Lyons Hall, York, July 2001 conducted by Mathias Werz.

Behold Again The Stars (2001-02) (Baritone & Piano) 8 Min.
Text: Dante (Trans. Vetch). First performed by Jeremy Huw Williams and Harvey Davies, Bangor University, April 2002.

‘…of night and the stars…’ (2001-02) (Baritone & Piano) 13 Min.
Text: The Talmud, Dante & St John of the Cross (English). First performed by Jeremy Huw Williams and Iwan Llywellyn-Jones, St Asaph Cathedral, September 2002.

 

Piano:

Consequences (2001). 5 Min.
First performed by Rolf Hind, Dartington Hall, August 2001.

Reflections of Infinity (1999-2000). 13 Min.
Written for Ian pace and premiered at Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, York, June 2002.

An Endless Labyrinth: Four Studies for Piano (1999-2001). 20 Min.

 

Chamber & Solo Music:

Dramatic Fragments (1996) (Solo Violin). 12 Min.
First performed by Martyn Moore, Saltney, October 1996.

Winter Journey (2000) (Oboe & Harp). 11 Min.
Commissioned & First performed by the Celtica Duo, Ryedale Festival, North Yorkshire, July 2001.

Studies for String Quartet (2001). 9 Min.
First performed by the Belcea Quartet, Muncaster Castle, Cumbria, May 2001.

Hidden Arias (2001) (Solo Oboe). 5 Min.
First performed by Melinda Maxwell at Dartington Hall, August 2001.

Elegy for a Play of Shadows (2001) 7 Min.
(Version 1: Cor Anglais Solo with Harp. Version 2: Cor Anglais Solo with Five Instruments). Version 1: First performed by Eamonn O’Dwyer at Sir Jack Lyons Hall, York. Version 2: Commissioned & First performed by the Britten Sinfonia, St Edmund’s Theatre, Canterbury, November 2001 conducted by Nicholas Cleobury.

String Quartet (2001-02). 13 Min.
Commissioned by the Vale of Glamorgan Festival & First performed by ‘Chamber Domaine’, The Museum of Welsh Life, Cardiff, as part of the Vale of Glamorgan Festival, September, 2002

Echo (2002) (Solo Percussionist). 5 Min.
Commissioned by Swedish Arts Festival & First performed by Mika Takehara in Stockholm, Sweden, September 2002.

Cloud Shadows of Midnight (2002) 5 Min.
Commissioned by Zoë Martlew and performed by her on tour in South England.

 

Brass Band:

Concerto for Bb Baritone & Brass Band (1994). 18 Min.
Commissioned & First performed by Carol Crompton at the Birmingham Conservatoire, November 1996. Subsequently set on the ABRSM and TCL Advanced Certificate Syllabuses.

Earthsounds (1999). 11 Min.
First performed by Grimethorpe Colliery Brass Band as part of the Millennium Festival of Brass in York, February 2000, conducted by Elgar Howarth.

Sonatina for Euphonium (2001) 10 Min.
First performed by David Child at the Royal Northern College of Music, October 2002.

Of Camelot and the Crown (2002). 13 Min.
Commissioned by the Northop Festival & due for first performance by the Brighouse & Rastrick Band, April 2004, conducted by David Hirst.

Rhapsody On A Theme of Purcell (2001-02). 12 Min.
Commissioned by the Welsh Brass Arts Festival & First Performed by the Brighouse & Rastrick Band, conducted by David Hirst, Parc & Dare Hall, Treorchy, June 2003.

 

Also: a substantial amount of arrangements and transcriptions for band, including a transcription of Janaceck’s ‘Sinfonietta’. Also, music for beginner brass players, studies and small ensemble pieces.