List of compositions by Geoffrey Bush

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The British composer Geoffrey Bush wrote music across a range of genres, including orchestral, chamber, keyboard, choral works, and a large number of songs. The following is a chronological list of his compositions, from a career that lasted from his student days in the late 1930s until the 1990s.

List of works

YearGenreTitleMusical forcesRecordingsNotes
1938ChoralTe DeumChoir, organ
1939OrchestralA Little Concerto (on themes of Arne)Piano, string orchestra
1939OrchestralNatus est ImmanuelString orchestraLyrita SRCD341Revised 1954
1940OrchestralRhapsody for clarinet and stringsClarinet, string orchestraAlso versions for piano & strings and clarinet/horn/strings
1940ChamberTwo Epigrams for viola, clarinet and pianoViola, Clarinet, Piano1. To Watson Forbes. 2. To the old man on the fence.
1941OrchestralOverture: The Spanish RivalsFull orchestra
1942ChoralPortraits: Thomas Morley; Henry Lawes; Giles Farnaby; PanUnaccompanied choir
1943OrchestralDivertimentoString orchestra
1943OrchestralSinfonietta ConcertanteCello, orchestraLyrita SRCD341
1943OrchestralOverture: The RehearsalFull orchestra
1944VocalSong: Now The Lusty Spring Is SeenVoice, piano
1944VocalSong: Weep You No More Sad FountainsVoice, piano
1944VocalSong cycle: Five Spring SongsVoice, pianoLyrita SRCD343
1945ChamberSonata for violin & pianoViolin, pianoLyrita SRCD360
1946KeyboardFour pieces for pianoPianoIsmeron JMSCD3
1947ChoralChristmas CantataSolo voices, choir, oboe and orchestraSaydisc CDSDL352Also version for oboe and piano accompaniment
1947KeyboardNocturne and ToccataPianoIsmeron JMSCD3
1948OrchestralConcerto for oboe and stringsOboe, string orchestraBarbirolli Society SJB104546
1948OrchestralTwo miniaturesString orchestraLyrita SRCD341
1948ChoralSummer SerenadeTenor solo, chorus, piano and orchestra
1948VocalThree Elizabethan SongsVoice and pianoFire!Fire! - T. Campion; Sigh no more, ladies- Shakespeare; Sweet, stay awhile - J.Donne
1949VocalSong cycle: Four Songs from the HesperidesSolo baritone, orchestra
1949OrchestralOverture: YorickFull orchestraLyrita SRCD252
Lyrita SRCD2337
1949KeyboardAn Oxford ScherzoTwo pianos
1949OrchestralMartini FantasySolo violin, string orchestra
1950ChoralPortraits: OrpheusUnaccompanied choir
1950VocalSong cycle: Farewell Earth's BlissBaritone and string orchestraAtma ACD22701Alternative version: baritone with small strings ensemble
1951VocalSong: She Hath an EyeVoice and piano
1951VocalSong: Fain Would I Change That NoteVoice and piano
1951ChoralMusic When Soft Voices DieChoir
1951ChamberThree Dance VariationsHarpsichord and pianoPrima Facie PFCD048
1951ChoralTwelfth Night: An EntertainmentTenor, chorus and chamber orchestra
1952KeyboardEpigramsPianoIsmeron JMSCD3
1952OperaThe Blind Beggar's DaughterVoices and orchestraBallad opera for children, revised 1964
1952VocalThree Songs of Ben JonsonVoice and pianoLyrita SRCD343
Naxos 8571378
Chandos CHAN8830
1952ChamberTrio for oboe, bassoon and pianoOboe, bassoon, pianoMSR Classics MS1597
1953OrchestralConcertino No. 1Piano and orchestra
1954OrchestralSymphony No. 1Full orchestraLyrita SRCD252
1954VocalSong: My True Love Hath My HeartVoice and piano
1954VocalSong: Introspection: If You Go Deep Into the HeartVoice and piano
1954VocalSong: Far-darting ApolloVoice and piano
1954VocalLament: Where Are Those Dazzling HillsVoice and piano
1954VocalThere is a Garden in her faceVoice and pianoWords by Thomas Campion
1955KeyboardToccata for organOrgan
1955VocalSong: When Daffodils Begin To PeerVoice and piano
1955KeyboardCarillon for organOrgan
1955ChoralIn Praise of MarySoprano, chorus and orchestraHeritage HTGCD151
1956ChoralO Love How Deep How Broad How HighChoir and organ
1956ChoralIt Was a Lover and His LassUnaccompanied choir
1956ChoralPraise the Lord O My SoulChoir and organ
1956OperaIf The Cap FitsVoices and orchestra
1956VocalThough Cause for Suspicion AppearsVoice and pianofrom Thomas Linley's The duenna, words by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, music arr. by Geoffrey Bush
1957OrchestralSymphony No. 2 (The Guildford)Full orchestraLyrita SRCD252
1957OrchestralMatthew Locke Suite ("Psyche")Piano and string orchestraLyrita SRCD341
1958OrchestralConcerto for Light OrchestraFull orchestraLyrita SRCD341
1958VocalSoftly Lulling, Sweetly ThrillingVoice and pianofrom James Hook's Wilmore Castle, words by Houlton, music arr. Bush
1958VocalBy The Beer As Brown As a BerryVoice and pianofrom J. F. Lampe's Dragon of Wantley, words by Henry Carey, music arr. Bush.
1959VocalThe Little Nut TreeVoice and piano
1959VocalSongs of WonderVoice and pianoChandos CHAN8830Alt. version with strings accompaniment
1960ChamberDialogue for oboe and pianoOboe and piano
1961ChoralFour Simple Songs: The Sweet SeasonUnaccompanied choirLyrita SRCD343
1961VocalA Lover's ProgressTenor, clarinet and oboe
1961ChoralSpring, The Sweet SpringUnaccompanied choir
1961KeyboardWhydah VariationsPianoIsmeron JMSCD3
1961VocalSong: It Was A Lover And His LassVoice and pianoTwo Pianists TP1039077
1961ChoralHow Should I Your True Love Know?Unaccompanied choir
1962ChamberHomage to Matthew Locke3 trumpets, 3 trombones
1962ChamberAir and Round-OClarinet, French horn, flute, oboeArranged from Homage to Matthew Locke
1962OrchestralConcerto for trumpet, piano & stringsTrumpet, piano, string orchestraLyrita REAM1131
1962VocalSong: I Saw a PeacockVoice and piano
1963ChoralTwo Latin hymns: O Salutaris hostia; Tantum ergoUnaccompanied choir
1963ChamberWind QuintetBassoon, clarinet, flute, French horn, oboe
1964OrchestralFinale for a ConcertFull orchestraLyrita SRCD341
1964OrchestralTwo fragments from The Merchant of Venice: Fanfare and March, the Prince of MoroccoFull orchestra
1964ChoralTell Me Where is Fancy BredChoir, soprano, tenor, cello
1964VocalGreek Love SongsBaritone and pianoLyrita SRCD343
Chandos CHAN8830
1965KeyboardSonatina No. 1PianoIsmeron JMSCD3
1965ChoralCantata PiccolaBaritone, choir, piano and strings
1967OperaThe Equation - Musical dramaVoices and orchestra
1967OrchestralMusic for OrchestraFull orchestraLyrita SRCD252
1969ChoralA MenagerieChoir
1969ChoralMagnificat and Nunc DimittisChoir and organOxRecs OXCD130
1969ChoralMissa Brevis (Salisburiensis)Choir, organshort Communion service
1970VocalFive Medieval LyricsVoice and pianoLyrita SRCD343
1970ChoralSeven LimericksTwo-part Choir and small orchestraWords chiefly from Edward Lear. London, Novello
1971ChoralA Nice Derangement of EpitaphsChoir
1972OperaLord Arthur Savile's CrimeVoices and orchestraLyrita REAM1131
1973OrchestralConcertino No. 2Piano & chamber orchestra
1974ChoralThree Songs: Dafydd in LoveBaritone, choir, piano
1976VocalSong cycle: A Little Love MusicSoprano and tenor voicesChandos CHAN8830
1977ChoralGabriel of High DegreeChoir and organ
1977ChoralAdvent Carol: Twas in the Year that King Uzziah DiedChoir and organ
1978Choral"Phantoms"Choir and small orchestra
1978ChoralHoly InnocentsChoir, percussion and piano
1979VocalSigh No More, LadiesVoice and pianoCollect CHAN6653
1981VocalStevie Smith songsTenor, piano, cello, oboeLyrita SRCD343
1981KeyboardTrumpet MarchOrganPriory PRDVD8
Priory PRCD6006
1982VocalCuisine ProvençaleSoprano and pianoNaxos 8571378
1982ChoralDaystar in WinterChoir and organ
1982ChamberPavanes and Galliards wind quintet
1984VocalLove for Such a Cherry Lipsoprano and pianoNaxos 8571378
1984ChoralTwo LegendsChoir, organ, piano
1984VocalVenus and AdonisPiano and voice
1985VocalMirabile Misterium (A Great and Mighty Wonder)Voice and pianoNaxos 8571378Alt. version with strings, harpsichord and piano accompaniment
1986ChamberTributesClarinet and piano
1987VocalFour Chaucer SettingsVoice, oboe and piano
1987OrchestralMusic for Orchestra
1988OperaLove's Labours Lost
1988OperaThe Cat Who Went to HeavenVoices, chorus, wind orchestra and piano
1989OrchestralConsort musicString orchestraNaxos 8555068Dedicated to Roderick Swanston
1989VocalSongs of the ZodiacVoice and piano
1990VocalCradle SongSoprano and piano
1990VocalYesterdaySoprano and pianoNaxos 8571378
1990KeyboardSuite ChampêtrePianoIsmeron JMSCD3
1991ChoralA Little Triptych for a BirthdayChoir
1994VocalSong cycle: Archy at the ZooSoprano and pianoNaxos 8571378
n.d.VocalThe End of LoveBaritone and pianoLyrita SRCD343
Chandos CHAN8830
n.d.ChoralI Saw Three Ships (carol)Choir and organ
n.d.OrchestralOverture: The Miller and his MenChamber orchestra
n.d.VocalThree Songs from The Ballad OperasBaritone and orchestra
n.d.ChoralCastle GordonChoir
n.d.VocalMerciless BeautyBaritone and pianoLyrita SRCD343
n.d.ChoralPsalm 24Choir
n.d.KeyboardNovelettePianoIsmeron JMSCD3
n.d.KeyboardSonatinaPianoIsmeron JMSCD3
n.d.KeyboardMatthew's TunesPianoIsmeron JMSCD3
n.d.KeyboardRudi's BluesPianoIsmeron JMSCD3

Sources

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