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Roland Freeman

Member

Composer/Lyricist: Composer
Genre: Concert
Email: rolandfreeman@yahoo.com

Biography

Roland Freeman is a composer of concert music specialising in choral and orchestral music, chamber ensemble and works for voice, piano, organ and brass band. He describes himself as a "Modern Romantic" composing music with a strong melodic character supported by tonal harmonies.

He studied music at Southampton University as a mature student, graduating in 1997. While there he composed eleven works, culminating in a Requiem in B Minor for soloists, chorus and orchestra, premiered by his fellow students in the Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton and received with great acclaim. The Pie Jesu and Sanctus from this work are now published separately.

Following a year of post-graduate study in composition at Exeter University, he composed a song-cycle for tenor, cello and piano, and a March for brass band entitled "Spirit of London", now published by Wright and Round Ltd of Gloucester.

On Armistice Day, 11 November 1999, his song-cycle "In Flanders Fields", a setting of six poems by soldier-poets of the Great War 1914-18, was given an enthusiastic reception by a large audience at its world premiere in Salisbury. The poets are Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Robert Graves, the Canadian soldier John McCrae and the American soldier Alan Seeger. In 2001 the work was taken up by the celebrated operatic tenor Philip Langridge, on a five-city concert tour.

In the field of church music Roland Freeman has composed three organ pieces, two of which, "Elegy" and "Chorale Prelude on the Hymn Eventide", were published in 1999 by TRUMPH Music Publishing, Trelleborg, Sweden in their album "Vox Angelica". His setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for the Anglican service of Choral Evensong was performed for the first time in January 2001 at Salisbury Cathedral.

Roland's "Toccata and Fugue" for organ was premiered in Salisbury Cathedral by the Cathedral organist David Halls on 3 February 2002. It will shortly be published by TRUMPH.

His setting of the carol "A Great and Mighty Wonder" was premiered at the Cathedral and performed in France in February 2002. A fanfare for brass ensemble, "Fanfare for the Mayor", was premiered at the Mayor-making ceremony in Salisbury on 1 June 2002. His latest work, an Anthem on Psalm 121. "I will lift up Mine Eyes unto the Hills" was premiered by the Girls Choir of Salisbury Cathedral during Matins on 17th July 2005.

He is a member of the Performing Right Society in the UK.

The above works are obtainable (except where otherwise stated) from Euromusica, "Brockswood", Canal Lane, Alderbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP5 3NY, UK. Payment by cheque or (from abroad) International Postal Order using sterling.

NOTE: Two short organ works, "Elegy" Opus 6 and "Chorale Prelude on the Hymn Eventide" Opus 7 are published by TRUMPH Music Publishing, Horngaddevagen 5, 231 92 Trelleborg, Sweden in their album "Vox Angelica" Vol. II. Tel: +46 410 33 41 86 Fax: +46 410 33 43 16 Internet: www.trumph.se

Important Works Performances
  1. Piano Trio Arrangement, Beethoven Symphony No. 8, second movement. Opus 1 1994
  2. Requiem in B Minor, SATB Choir, Orchestra, Soprano, Mezzo. Opus 11 1996-7 (Premiered Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton, 14 March 1997) Vocal score: price £6.00; post free.
  3. The Pie Jesu (soprano and organ) and the Sanctus (SATB/Organ): price £1.85 post free "...this courageous and attractive work." Church Music Quarterly, April 1998 "The Pie Jesu is very sensitively written with a fine melody." Church Music Quarterly, 2001
  4. Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis, SATB Choir and Organ. Opus 8 1997 (Premiered Salisbury Cathedral, 5 January 2001) Price £2.60. Post free. (Bulk order prices on application).
  5. March "Spirit of London", Brass Band. Opus 12 1999 Publishers: Wright and Round Ltd, The Cornet Office, BOX 157, Gloucester GL1 1LW, United Kingdom Tel: 01452 523438 Fax: 01452 385631 Price £17.50. Score and set of band parts
  6. Song-Cycle "In Flanders Fields", Tenor, Cello, Piano. Opus 13 1998-99 Price £10. Full score and cello part. Post free "A deeply affecting piece." Editor, Newsletter, British Music Society, March 2000
  7. Christmas Carol "Welcome Christmas, Welcome here, Happiest Season of the Year" Opus 10 (Premiered 17 December 1997, Salisbury Cathedral) Voices and Organ/Piano solo or SATB.
  8. "Elegy", Violin and Piano. Opus 14. Grade 8+, 4 mins. (Premiered Sarum College Lunchtime Concerts, 21 November 2001) Price £2. Post free.
  9. "Toccata and Fugue", Organ.* Opus 16 2002 Published by TRUMPH, Horngaddevagen 5, 231 92 Trelleborg, Sweden.
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