Alistair Warwick - enabling musicians : enabling music
Thursday 4 December 2008
About Alistair Warwick
enabling musicians : enabling music
Alistair Warwick is a
- conductor / music director
- organist
- singer
- music engraver and typesetter using Score™
He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in music from Surrey University, and has undertaken studies in theology and liturgy.
His freelance company, The Art of Music, combines these skills by providing music and typesetting services, including the music for Common Worship, as well as other original scores and publications.
Arundel Cathedral
Alistair Warwick was Director of Music and Master of the Choristers at Arundel Cathedral from 1992 to 2002, succeeding Philip Taylor, Stephen Dean and Catherine Christmas.
Invited personally to apply for the post by Bishop Cormac Murphy O'Connor (now Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster), he built up both the reputation and the competence of the Cathedral Choir, mainly by the introduction of boy and girl choristers in 1994 – making Arundel one of the first cathedrals in the British Isles to have girl choristers.
Royal School of Church Music
He is the RSCM's Programme Director for Sacred Music Studies and
Co-ordinator for RSCM Scotland.
On this site you can see something of Alistair's experience and skills in music:
a gift that can help us all to live more fully.
Current projects
Vocal tutor, St Mary's Episcopal Church, Dunblane
Dunblane Chamber Orchestra
Nocturnes for an Autumn Evening
Following a sell-out first concert, the Dunblane Chamber Orchestra's second concert was on Sunday 9 November in Victoria Hall, Dunblane
Carron Shankland clarinet
Alistair Warwick conductor
The programme featured music for woodwind and strings:
- Grieg: 'Holberg' Suite
- Mackenzie: Benedictus
- Mozart: Clarinet Concerto
- Mozart: Serenade in C minor
- Schubert: Symphony no 5 in B flat
RSCM International Summer School
Alistair Warwick was at the RSCM's International Summer School and Conference in Canterbury from 11–13 August 2008.
With Revd. Wendy Wilby (Precentor, Bristol Cathedral) he presented two sessions:
- Pray? I haven't got time to pray!
- Musicians and clergy working together
He also presented a session on Sacred Music Studies (RSCM & Bangor University).
CD recording: Gregorian Chant from Canterbury Cathedral
Incidentally, Canterbury Cathedral was the location for the CD recording of the Unfinished Vespers: Gregorian Chant The Martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket
sung by the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge directed by Mary Berry
– available from amazon.co.uk (follow the link for other recordings by Schola Gregoriana)
Alistair Warwick was assistant sound engineer for this CD recording and has vivid memories of a sprightly 70-something-year-young Mary Berry climbing up a vertical ladder in the cathedral tower as we recorded the bells.
- For details of other recordings by Alistair Warwick see the Recordings section of this site
Dunblane Chamber Orchestra
The first concert of the Dunblane Chamber Orchestra, founded in February 2008 and conducted by Alistair Warwick, was a sell-out success.
The programme featured music for string ochestra, including Britten's Simple Symphony, Elgar's Serenade for Strings, Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik, and, with Simon Rendell (solo oboe), Barbirolli's Oboe Concerto on themes of Pergolesi along with Morriconi's Gabriel's Oboe.
Conducting
Alistair Warwick is Musical Director of the Dunblane Chamber Orchestra, founded in 2008, whom he has conducted in two concerts. He has also conducted the Rosenethe Singers (December 2006 and March 2008).
Conducting studies include work with Sebastian Forbes, Alasdair Mitchell, Owen Rees and Nicholas Conran, with whom he also studied Feldenkrais.
Alistair has also participated in master-classes in choral direction with Mike Brewer and David Hill.
Orchestral performances
- Britten: Simple Symphony
- Copland: Happy Anniversary
- Copland: Quiet City
- Corelli: Christmas Concerto
- Delius: Brigg Fair
- Elgar: Serenade for Strings
- Franceschini: Sonata in D for two trumpets *
- Gabrieli: In ecclesiis
- Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F
- Grieg: Holberg Suite
- Handel: The Pendlebury Water Music *
- Handel: Messiah
- Haydn: Nelson Mass
- Haydn: Trumpet Concerto
- Ives: The Unanswered Question
- Judd, Graham: Earthwork
(First performance: University of Surrey, 12 March 1997) - Judd, Graham: Russian Ballet
(First performance: University of Surrey, 1997) - Mackenzie: Benedictus
- Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture
- Morricone: Gabriel's Oboe
- Mozart: Mass K197
- Mozart: Coronation Mass K317
- Mozart: Serenade in B flat K361
- Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik K525
- Mozart: Clarinet Concerto
- Pergolesi arr. Barbirolli: Oboe Concerto *
- Purcell: Trumpet Sonata *
- Schubert: Symphony no 5
- Stravinsky: Suites for Small Orchestra
- Telemann: Concerto for three trumpets
- Vivaldi: Guitar Concerto in D RV93 *
* directed from organ/harpsichord
Choral performances
too numerous to count, but they include:
- Bach, JS: Cantatas 11, 129, 147
- Elgar: The Spirit of the Lord
- Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine
- Fauré: Requiem
- Gabrieli: In ecclesiis
- Grainger: Brigg Fair
- Handel: Messiah
- Haydn: Nelson Mass
- MacMillan: Nunc Dimittis
- Mozart: Mass K197
- Mozart: Coronation Mass K317
- Mozart: Laudate Dominum K339
- Parry: I was glad
- Rutter: A Gaelic Blessing
- Scarlatti D: Stabat Mater
- Vaughan Williams: Five Mystical Songs
Choral and orchestral rehearsals
- Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 3
- Bach: Concerto for Oboe and Violin
- Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra
- Beethoven: Egmont overture
- Beethoven: Symphonies nos 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
- Copland: Three Dances from Rodeo
- de Falla: The Three-Cornered Hat
- Elgar: Sea Pictures
- Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius
- Holst: The Hymn of Jesus
- MacMillan: A New Song
- MacRae: Adam lay y-bounden
- Mahler: Symphony No 4
- Orff: Carmina Burana
- Sibelius: Karelia Suite
- Sibelius: Symphonies 2 & 5
- Stravinsky: Concertino for 12 instruments
- Stravinsky: Dumbarton Oaks
- Stravinsky: Petrouchka
- Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations
- Walton: Belshazzar’s Feast
- Weber: Der Freischütz overture
- Webern: Concerto Op 24
- Yeadon, Joseph: "Ummm.... (can't think what to call it!)"
Workshops
In facilitating workshops, Alistair Warwick provides an enriching opportunity for those using music.
For those involved in music in the life of the Church, he offers an approach that develops sensitivity, spirituality and understanding.
Practical skills training is available for:
- cantors / animateurs
- choir trainers
- choir directors
- organists
- other keyboard players
- music groups
Organist
Alistair Warwick has studied the organ with Janet McCleery, Andrew Millington, Peter Hurford and Matthew Beetschen.
Whilst Director of Music at Arundel Cathedral, England, he has played in a number of venues:
- Arundel Cathedral
- Arundel, St Nicholas
- Crawley Friary
- Guildford Cathedral
- Guildford, St Nicolas
- Lourdes, Pius X Basilica
- Lourdes, St Bernadette
- Southwark RC Cathedral
He currently plays in a number of churches in the Stirling area, including:
- Alloa Parish Church
- Bridge of Allan, St Saviour's
- Clackmannan Parish Church
- Dunblane Cathedral
- Dunblane, St Blane's
- Dunblane, St Mary's
- Stirling, Allan Park South
- Stirling, Holy Rude Church
His repertoire ranges from alternatim Mass settings (from French and Spanish schools) to 20th-century works (he's not caught up with the 21st century yet!).
Comments received
"Instrument king
The organ was played so delicately … at Arundel Cathedral … Alistair Warwick … took us on a short European tour of the king of instruments. Once again, the audience was privileged."
Arun News
"…thank you for the lovely music which contributed so much to the atmosphere and helped to make the service special. We really appreciated your contribution…"
Recordings
Recordings
Alistair Warwick has participated in many CD recordings and TV and radio broadcasts as conductor, organist, producer or assistant sound engineer (also in many others as a singer).
Record campanies include Herald AV Publications and Ocean Records. The particular role he has played in the following recordings is noted.
Television & Radio
Celebration for the launch of Churches Together in England (ITV)
organist
The Promise of His Glory (BBC1 live)
organist
Christmas Morning Mass from Arundel Cathedral (ITV live)
conductor
Easter Sunday Mass from Arundel Cathedral (BBC1 live)
conductor
Remembrance Day Service from Dunblane Cathedral (BBC Radio Scotland)
associate conductor
Herald
Alistair Warwick's work for Herald AV Publications has been in several roles, ranging from music director to sound engineer and producer.
The following discs feature world-famous musicians, including Mary Berry, David Hill, James O'Donnell, Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and were recorded at a number of venues, including Abbey Road, Canterbury, Ely and Winchester cathedrals and St George's Chapel, Windsor.
You can buy these Herald CDs – and more – from Amazon by clicking on the appropriate link.
Find other choral music at Amazon.
 |
Byrd, de La Rue, Gombert, Josquin, Ramsey, Weelkes etc.: |
|
 |
Bach, Barber, Chopin, Delius, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Widor etc.: |
|
 |
Gregorian Chant: |
|
 |
Gregorian Chant: |
|
|
Gregorian Chant from Canterbury Cathedral: |
|
|
Gregorian Chant, Philip Gaisford OSB & others: |
|
|
Gregorian Chant, John Sheppard: |
|
|
Francis Grier: |
|
|
C Hubert H Parry: |
|
|
Max Reger: |
|
|
Stephen Watson: |
|
|
Arthur Wills: >not currently available from Amazon |
|
|
various composers: |
|
|
various composers: |
|
|
various composers: |
|
|
various composers: |
|
|
various composers: |
|
|
various composers and arrangers: |
|
|
various composers: |
|
|
various composers: |
|
Ocean Records
 |
John Warwick and Steve le Hardy: |
|
Other labels
John Mundy (ed. Lynne Weston): |
||
Paul McNamara, Simon Caplehorn, Paul Jelliman, Clare Lowe: |
||
 |
various composers: |
|
Engraving and typesetting
Music engraving
Details of music engraving and typesetting projects by Alistair Warwick for The Art of Music can be found here.
They include projects for:
- Common Worship (Church House Publishing)
- Music for Common Worship (The Royal School of Church Music)
- Hymns for Prayer and Praise (The Panel of Monastic Musicians)
- Chants for Worth Abbey (Worth Abbey)
- The Play of Daniel (Plainsong and Medieval Music Society)
Typesetting
Book typesetting projects include:
- Music in Welsh History Before 1650 (Ashgate)
- Bearers of Song (University of Wales Press)
- Welsh Music History VII (University of Wales Press)
Design work
includes publicity leaflets for:
- Corbridge Chamber Music Festival
- Dunblane Chamber Orchestra
- Early English Organ Project
- Goldberg Ensemble
- Gould Piano Trio
- Ludlow Organ Recitals
Website design and development
As part of The Art of Music and The Typehouse
Alistair Warwick has designed and developed websites for:
Research
Masters dissertation on the Dunkeld Music Book
Alistair Warwick received a distinction for his Masters dissertation in Music at the University of Surrey on the Dunkeld Music Book (otherwise known as the Dowglas-Fischer or Lincluden Partbooks GB-EdU MS 64); more information on this manuscript can be found here.
In the Dunkeld Music Book is an anonymous motet for eight voices, Te Sanctum Dominum. As a result of his research Alistair Warwick has provisionally identified Nicholas Gombert as the composer of this work. A critical edition of the prima pars appears in the dissertation.
Other research
- work on chant
- parody technique (especially in Victoria's Missa O magnum mysterium)
- the Wode Partbooks
- Monteverdi's Vespers
- Inegalité (both in French Baroque and possible use in the music of JS Bach)
- attitudes to the Victorian Organ (especially relating to the 1893 Hill organ at Arundel Cathedral)
- the identity and nature of music, and especially of sacred music
Writing
Alistair's published writing includes articles, contributions to other works, his MMus dissertation, references in other works, and reviews.
Articles
-
The Psalms
Faith Alive – The Universe (1986)
An article on historic and liturgical use of the psalms in the liturgy. -
Herald Triumph! –
The Wire (1995)
– online at www.heraldav.co.uk (2000)
– reprinted in Newsletter of The Association of Latin Liturgy (September 2003)
An account of the recording of Dupré's Les Vêpres de la Vierge Op. 18. -
Choir-training notes
Bulletin of Panel of Monastic Musicians (1999)
– reprinted in Music & Liturgy (2000)
Following a workshop at the Panel of Monastic Musicians 1998 residential course, this article explores rehearsal and warm-up techniques, particularly directed at monks and nuns who sing the Mass and the Office daily. -
Just Treble-makers?
Church Music Quarterly (July 1999)
An introduction to the Voice for Life choir-training programme. -
Gregorian Chant sung in Latin
Church Music Quarterly (September 2003)
– reprinted in The Church Times (June 2004)
The title of this article immediately poses the question: why sing in Latin, when our services are in our own language? For that matter, we might well ask if our services are in English/Welsh/whatever, since we actually use a ritual language rather than that spoken in everyday use. More … - Musick fyne: Scottish Church Music up to 1603
Church Music Quarterly (June 2005)
We are very familiar with the names of William Byrd and Thomas Tallis, perhaps also with those of Robert Parsons, Christopher Tye and John Shepherd. But what about those from England's neighbours? While the names of many English composers trip off the tongue, until recently it has been harder to name many composers writing music for the Scottish Church. More …
-
Mind the Gap
Choir & Organ (January/February 2007)
Interviewed by Maggie Hamilton, deputy editor of Choir and Organ, about gap-year study for organists and choral scholars. The Sacred Music Studies course from the University of Wales, Bangor and the Royal School of Church Music fills the gap nicely."…There have been some exciting and unexpected results already, with students looking at what they're doing in a new light and developing their practice. I certainly wish that when I was a cathedral director of music that this course had been available; if it had, I'd have approached it more confidently – and achieved much more."
Contributions to other works
- New editions of Marbeck 'Nicene Creed' and 'Sanctus' in Music for Common Worship I (RSCM Press, 1999). These editions for the new Common Worship texts reflect Marbeck's original notation, breathing new life into this music.
- New editions of Pergolesi 'Stabat mater' (two movements) and Dering: 'Gaudent in caelis' in Songs for Life 2:(RSCM Press, 2002)
- Voice for Life: Choir Trainer's Book and four Singer's Workbooks (RSCM Press, 2004)
- Sacred Music Studies: Choir Director skills workbook (RSCM, 2004)
MMus Dissertation
- Another look at the 'Dunkeld Music Book' (University of Surrey, 1998)
References in other works
- Isobel Woods Preece: Our awin Scottis use (Glasgow and Aberdeen, 2000)
Reviews
-
Church Family Worship – a useful resource for churches looking for new texts for worship
The Universe (1986) -
"Music DTP" music typesetting software for the Atari ST computer
ST World (1989) -
Bennet Zon: English Plainchant Revival
Church Music Quarterly (April 2000) -
Isobel Woods-Preece: Our awin Scottis use: Music in the Scottish Church up to 1603
Church Music Quarterly (April 2001) -
Ronald Corp: The Choral Singer's Companion
Church Music Quarterly (July 2001) -
Donald Boccardi: History of American Catholic Hymnals since Vatican II
Church Music Quarterly (December 2001)
Compositions and arrangements
Various choral pieces and psalm settings have been composed for use at Arundel Cathedral and elsewhere. Some of these will be published by The Art of Music.
SATB arrangement and descant for Coe Fen
"How shall I sing that majesty".
This choral arrangement was made for, and first sung at, the RSCM 2006 Scottish Triennial Festival at St Michael's, Linlithgow on 4 November 2006. It was featured in a choral-reading session with David Briggs, formerly of Gloucester Cathedral, at the 12th Annual East Carolina Religious Arts Festival held from January 24-26, 2008.
Over 800 copies have been bought by choirs from all round the world.
Buy it now from The Art of Music and Sarum College Bookshop
Diary
2008
| 16 March | conductor | Rosenethe Singers concert Holy Rude, Stirling |
| 20 April | singer | Stirling City Choir concert Holy Rude, Stirling |
| 27 April | conductor | Choral Evensong St Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen |
| 15 June | organist | St Mary's, Dunblane |
| 22 June | conductor | Dunblane Chamber Orchestra concert Cathedral Hall, Dunblane |
| 02 July | organist | St Mary's, Dunblane |
| 06 July | organist | Holy Rude Church, Stirling |
| 13 July | organist | Holy Rude Church, Stirling |
| 20 July | organist | Alloa Parish Church |
| 27 July | organist | Alloa Parish Church |
| 28 July – 1 August |
tutor | Sacred Music Studies – residential study week Bangor University |
| 10 August | organist | Dunblane Cathedral |
| 11–13 August | presenter | RSCM International Summer School, Canterbury |
| 17 August | organist | St Blane's Church, Dunblane |
| 31 August | organist | Allan Park South Church, Stirling |
| 14 September | organist | St Saviour's Church, Bridge of Allan |
| 21 September | organist | Allan Park South Church, Stirling |
| 21 September | director | Exploring Music, Ministry and Worship Dunblane Cathedral |
| 21 September | director | Plainsong Workshop and Compline, Dunblane Cathedral |
| 27 September | organist | St Mary's Church, Dunblane |
| 28 September | organist | St Mary's Church, Dunblane |
| 19 October | organist | St Mary's Church, Dunblane |
| 1 November | director | RSCM Dunblane Singing Day St Mary's Church, Dunblane |
| 9 November | conductor | Dunblane Chamber Orchestra concert Victoria Hall, Dunblane |
| 16 November | organist | St Mary's Church, Dunblane |
2009
| February (tbc) | organist | St Mary's Church, Dunblane |
| March (tbd) | conductor | Dunblane Chamber Orchestra concert |
| June (tbd) | conductor | Dunblane Chamber Orchestra concert |
| 20 June | organist | St Mary's Church, Dunblane |
| 4 July | organist | St Mary's Church, Dunblane |
| 5 July | organist | St Mary's Church, Dunblane |
| 12 July | organist | St Mary's Church, Dunblane |
| 18 July | organist | St Mary's Church, Dunblane |
| 19 July | organist | St Mary's Church, Dunblane |
| 26 July | organist | St Mary's Church, Dunblane |
| November (tbd) | conductor | Dunblane Chamber Orchestra concert |
Contact
You can contact Alistair Warwick at:
Address: 25 Ramsay Drive, Dunblane, FK15 0NG Scotland
Telephone: +44 (0)1786 823000
Email: aw-website-enquiries(at)theartofmusic.co.uk
