David Briggs (musician)

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David J. Briggs (born 1962) is an English organist and composer.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Having been educated at Solihull School he was organ scholar at King's College, Cambridge from 1981-84. At just 17 he was awarded his Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO) a prestigious award for professional organists. Briggs was also Principal Viola of the National Youth Orchestra.

Whilst at King's, he toured Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany with the college choir. In 1983 he received the Countess of Munster Award to study Interpretation and Improvisation with Jean Langlais in Paris, with whom he furthered in his interest in the art of improvisation by his transcriptions of the recordings of the late Pierre Cochereau. It was the transcriptions and subsequent performances of these phenomenal improvisations by hand, a task that took him eleven years from cassette recordings of Cochereau, that earned Briggs his initial acclaim. He was also the first British organist to win the Tournimire prize for improvisation at the world renowned St. Albans International Improvisation Competition.

On leaving King's, he took up the post of Assistant Organist at Hereford Cathedral where he also took over the directorship of Hereford Chamber Choir and String Orchestra.

He was appointed Organist and Master of the Choristors of Truro Cathedral in 1989, before moving to the similar post at Gloucester Cathedral in 1994. While at Gloucester he oversaw the rebuilding of the organ which included the installation of the Divided Pedal. This allows the Pedal Board to be 'split', meaning the pedal stops sound on the lower section, the upper section can be set to reproduce the sound of any of the manuals. Briggs also oversaw the installation of this system on the Father Willis organ of Truro Cathedral in its rebuild in 1991. In May 2002, Briggs retired due to ill health and was replaced by Andrew Nethsingha, who had previously also succeeded him at Truro.

David is still Organist Emeritus at Gloucester Cathedral, and gives regular masterclasses at the Royal Northern College of Music and Cambridge University. He spends most of his time as a very busy international concert artist, composer, and organ advisor. He now lives in New York.

[edit] Compositions

[edit] Choir and Organ

  • Truro Eucharist (1990), SATB and organ
  • The Music Mountain (1991), SATB, Soprano and Tenor soloists and 2 organs.
  • The Noble Stem of Jesse (1996), SSAATTBB, for Gloucester Cathedral choir
  • When Waters Kiss One Bank (1996), SSAATTBB, for Gloucester Catherdral choir, words by John Donne
  • Holy is the True Light (1997), ATB and organ, Commissioned by RSCM America
  • Jubilate Deo (1998), SATB Soprano solo and organ
  • O Thou Who Art Unchangeable (1999), SATB, tow Soprano soloists and organ. Commissioned by Virginia Wesleyian University, USA
  • Matin Responsary (1999), SSAATTBB for the Gloucester Cathedral Choir
  • Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (2000), SATB, Tenor solo and organ, Commissioned by the Hereford Three Choirs Festival 2000
  • Messe pour Notre-Dame (2002), SATB and 2 Organs (although works well with one...), commissioned by the Choir of Keynsham Parish Church, Bristol.
  • The Rising (2003), SATB and Organ (based on an Old Celtic Prayer), commissioned by the Choir of Church Street United Methodist Church, Knoxville, Tennessee
  • Hosanna to the Son of David (2003), SATB and Organ commissioned by the Choir of Kirk-in-the-Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Miami
  • When in our music God is glorified (2003), trebles and Organ (with optional Trumpet), commissioned by the Bristol Cathedral Girls Choir for their 10th anniversary
  • Ave Verum Corpus (2004), SATB, commissioned by the choir of St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh
  • Christ's Peace, Commissioned by the Rosengren family in celebration of 35 years of marriage
  • Music, SATB A setting of the poem by Walter de la Mare. Commissioned by the Britten Singers, Hereford
  • Ave Maria, TTBB and organ, commissioned by the Lay Clerks of Blackburn Cathedral
  • Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis 'The Truro Service' (2004), commissioned in thanksgiving for the life of John Taylour
  • Caedmon's Hymn, SSAATTBB for Carlisle Cathedral Festival

[edit] Choir and Orchestra

  • Te Deum Laudamus (1997), SATB chorus, Soprano and Tenor soloists, Full Orchestra. Three Choirs Festival Commission
  • Creation (2000) SATB chorus, Soprano solo, Full Orchestra
  • Te Deum Laudamus (2003), TB Choir, 2 organs, flute, oboe, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, harp and strings. Commissioned for the 150th Anniversary of St Benedict's Abbey, Subiaco, Arkansas
  • St John Passion (2005), SATB, Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass Soloists, Evangelist (tenor), Jesus (bass), organ and orchestra. Commissioned by Kirk-in-the-Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

[edit] Organ

  • Marche Episopale (1999), commissioned by the Incorporated Association of Organists
  • Transcription of the Improvised Fugue/Toccata on 'I Vow To Thee My Country' (2000)- improvisation by Briggs at the re-opening recital of Gloucester Cathedral organ. Commissioned by by Mark Batten, Organist of the Birmingham Oratory.
  • Variations on 'Veni Creator', (for Organ Duet), commissioned by Elizabeth and Raymond Chenault
  • THEME AND VARIATIONS, for the Worshipful Company of Actuaries. Commissioned by Catherine Ennis, Organist at St Lawrence-Jewry, London)
  • Organ Symphony on Themes from the 'Missa pro defunctiis' for Stephen Farr, Organist of Guildford Cathedral, premiered by him at St David's Cathedral on 3 June 2004
  • Elegy, commissioned in celebration of the 80th Birthday of Patrick Bell, Esq, Cookham Dean.
  • 3 Improvisations a re-construction of improvisations by American cinema organist Buddy Cole.
  • Variations on Greensleeves (2005)
  • Trio Sonata (2005)
  • Variations on 'Laudi Spirituali' (2004)
  • Fantasie (2004)

[edit] Organ Transcriptions

  • Pierre Cochereau Transcriptions:
    • Suite de Danses Improvisees
    • Triptique Symphonique
    • Cantem toto la Gloria
    • Variations sur 'Venez Divin Messie'
    • Improvisations sur 'Alouette, gentille Alouette'
    • Two Improvisations on 'La Marseillaise
    • Scherzo Symphonique
    • Air ('Trimazo')
    • Gigue ('Compagnons de la Marjolaine')
    • Bolero sur un theme de Charles Racquet
    • Entree (Les offices du Dimanche)
    • Mission Universelle (Improvisations on St Matthew's Gospel)

[edit] Other

  • Fanfare for Wells (2002), for Organ, 3 Trumpets, 3 Trombones and Cymbals. A 2 minute Fanfare ('a la Marcel Dupre!') intended for use immediately before I was glad by C. Hubert H. Parry), commissioned by the Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir, September 2002
  • Chempinesca (2004), for Piano Duet, in celebration of Beryl Chempin's distinguished teaching career at the Birmingham Conservatoire.
  • Dreamworld: Song Cycle (2005)

[edit] Discography

[edit] External links

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