David Morgan (1933 - 1988) was a British composer.
Life and career Morgan was born in Harpenden, Hertfordshire in 1933. In 1961 he began his studies at the Royal Academy of Music, with Alan Bush (composition) and Leighton Lucas (orchestration). He was awarded ten prizes for his compositions between 1961 and 1965 including the Eric Coates Prize.
After receiving a British Council Scholarship, David Morgan moved to Prague to study at the Academy of Music under Vaclav Dobias. During this period he wrote his Violin Concerto, which was premiered at the Dvořák Hall in Prague. He returned to England in 1967 after which a number of his lighter works were produced by the BBC Light Music Department.
In 1974 the violinist Erich Gruenberg performed his Violin Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Charles Groves at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Morgan's Sinfonia da Requiem was performed there later in the same year. Two of his major works were recorded by Lyrita in 1976 - the Violin Concerto (with Erich Gruenberg)'British Violin Concertos', Lyrita SRCD.276 (2008), reviewed at MusicWeb International and Contrasts, performed by the RPO conducted by Vernon Handley.'David Morgan: Contrasts for Orchestra', at The Land of Lost Content, 17 March 2010 In 1977 Vic Lewis conducted his orchestral movement Black on the RCA LP Colours.Colours, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Vic Lewis, RCA PL25123 (1997)
In 1981 Morgan moved to Canada. He worked as a composer for symphonic wind band, and continued to receive commissions from Britain, including his orchestral Variations on a Theme of Walton. 1984 marked the Canadian Premiere of his Partita by the Kingston Symphony Orchestra and 1986 and 1987 saw the world premiere of Interludes and Canzonas for brass quintet and the Canadian premiere of Concerto for Wind Orchestra.
David Morgan died in Belleville, Canada in 1988.'David Robert Morgan (1933-1988) at the Unsung Composers Forum
Selected works Orchestral Violin Concerto, 1966 Sinfonia da Requiem, 1971–72 Partita, 1972 Contrasts, 1974 Black segment, in the collective work "Colours", by Vic Lewis and al. (1977) Cello Concerto, 1981 Variations on a Theme of Walton, 1981–84 Sonata for chamber orchestra, 1985 Clarinet Concerto Concerto da Camera; Music for Children Overture for a Festive Occasion Serenade for string orchestra; Spring Carnival Threnody for string orchestra Concerto for Wind Orchestra
Vocal I Loved a Lass, for mixed choir, 1948 Seven Nursery Rhymes, for voice and piano (1952) Three Tudor Lyrics, for mixed choir (1964) Four English Folk Songs, for soloists, mixed choir and guitar (1965)
Chamber and instrumental Piano Sonata, 1960 Oboe Quartet, 1962 Trio for Seven, 1962 Divertimento for brass, 1964 String Quartet, 1964 Interludes and Canzonas for brass, 1983 Lyric Suite for guitar, 1987 Fantasy Sonata for Flute, 1974 (written for flautist Susan Milan)
References
External links https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-no2017049344/ Entry David Morgan in WorldCat https://www.wyastone.co.uk/violin-concertos-fricker-morgan-banks.htmlRecording by David Morgan http://classicalsource.com/db_control/db_cd_review.php?id=5764 Reference to David Morgan on Classical Source https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/banks-fricker-morgan-violin-concertos Review of David Morgan's Concerto for Violin on Grammophone Newsletter