Robert Steadman

Robert Steadman (born April 1 1965) is a prolific British composer, conductor and educationalist.

Compositions

Whilst much of his output has been written for amateurs and young musicians he has also written music for the percussionist Evelyn Glennie, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Brass Virtuosi and the East of England Orchestra. He has also written 2 symphonies, 2 operas and a large amount of chamber music including several pieces for the Holywell Ensemble.

Related Topics:
Evelyn Glennie - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Symphonies - Operas - Chamber music - Holywell Ensemble

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Symphonies

Steadman has written 2 symphonies and a chamber symphony:

Related Topics:
Symphonies - Symphony

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• Symphony No. 1: a symphony of dreams is scored for soprano and small orchestra and uses texts which make reference to Gandhi and the assassinated U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
• Symphony No. 2: The Death of Stalin is for soprano solo, large choir and large orchestra and tells of the astonishing events surrounding the death and funeral of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. The piece was commissioned by Nottingham Youth Orchestra and was premiered by them, conducted by Derek Williams, at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, in March 2003 - the 50th anniversary of Stalin's death.
• The Elements: a chamber symphony is for a large mixed ensemble and uses the Ancient Greek elements of Fire, Water, Wind and Earth as influence for its 4 movements.

Operas & Musicals

Steadman has written 2 operas:

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• Sredni Vashtar with the author Richard Adams based on the Saki short story.
• The Box of Delights with a libretto written by John Masefield based on his own children's fantasy book of the same title.

As well as the music for a number of plays an dance productions, Steadman has written 2 musicals with writers Paul and Sharon Sansom:

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• The Girls' Book of Heroines - a love story set in World War Two
• Remote Control - a look at throw away celebrity and "Pop Idol" culture.

Choral Music

Steadman is, arguably, best known for his choral works which include:

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• In Memoriam - an 80-minute work for soprano and tenor soloists, choir and orchestra including air-raid siren and the use of megaphones on the subject of remembrance. "In Memoriam" incorporates well known hymns and poems including Parry's Jerusalem.
• Gloria - a setting of the Christian Gloria using the same vocal and instrumental forces as the famous setting by the Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi.
• Magnificat - a setting of the "Song of Mary" from St. Luke's Gospel for soprano and baritone soloists with choir and orchestra.
• Mass in Black - a setting of the Requiem Mass in latin with additional texts about environmental issues such as nuclear weapons and acid rain and several prophecies of Nostradamus.
• Tehillim for Anne - is a setting of 3 Psalms in Hebrew for choir and string orchestra and was written to mark what would have been Anne Frank's 75th birthday).

Wind Band Music

• Challenge the Rainbow which explores a variety of avant-garde techniques and controlled improvisation
• The Dethe of Robyn Hood for narrator and wind band
• floccinauci... for flute and oboe soloists with wind band
• ...space turned and twisted in on itself which takes its title from the final line of Stanley Kubrick's film,

The campaigning Composer

Steadman has never shied away from controversy, using his music to campaign or making political statements with his compositions. He has given compositions away online in return for donations to specific charities he supports such as UNICEF, Medecins sans Frontieres, Oxfam and Save the Children and written works to commemorate specific events and tragedies including the Lux Aeterna which was sung at the memorial service for the victims of the Dunblane Massacre, Love, Peace and Understanding (on Christmas Day) written as a protest at the war in Iraq, and Sea of Tears - a memorial to the victims of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami.

Related Topics:
Online - Charities - UNICEF - Medecins sans Frontieres - Oxfam - Save the Children - Lux Aeterna - Dunblane Massacre - Love, Peace and Understanding (on Christmas Day) - Sea of Tears - Tsunami

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His 1987 Mass in Black combines the Latin Requiem Mass text with environmental poems and prophecies of Nostradamus and had world premiere cancelled due to fears of upsetting the audience.

Related Topics:
1987 - Mass in Black - Latin - Requiem Mass - Environmental - Prophecies - Nostradamus

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In 2004 Steadman wrote a 20-minute choral work, Tehillim for Anne, setting Hebrew Psalms as a memorial-type work for Anne Frank.

Related Topics:
Choral work - Tehillim for Anne - Hebrew - Psalms - Anne Frank

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In 2005 Steadman wrote Hibakusha Songs, commissioned by the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester to mark the 60th anniversary of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The piece juxtaposes testimonies of Allied Prisoners of War in Japanese POW camps with testimonies of witnesses and survivors of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Related Topics:
Hibakusha Songs - Imperial War Museum North - Manchester - Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Allied - Prisoners of War - POW - Hiroshima - Nagasaki

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He started a set of chamber pieces, called Notebook which are available for free download via his web site with the request that "If you enjoy the music, please consider making a donation to: UNICEF or Medicins sans Frontieres or both!"

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Additionally, it is thought that some of Steadman's compositions contain "hidden messages" concealed in musical code.

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Lighter Music

Steadman hasn't just limited himself to classical music - he has written much lighter music and arrangements for brass band for a while ran his own music publishing company.

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During the time Steadman was teaching at the Nottingham Bluecoat School, he worked with the brass group, playing the tuba with a group of up and coming brass musicians and toured to Germany, France and Spain.

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