Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

October 16, 1941 in Kingston-upon-Thames, London, England

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Band

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Derek Bourgeois was a British composer and conductor who was born on October 16, 1941, in Kingston upon Thames, England. He was the son of a professional musician, and his father played the trumpet in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Bourgeois grew up in a musical family and began playing the piano at a young age. He later learned to play the trumpet and the trombone, which would become his primary instruments. Bourgeois attended the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied composition with Herbert Howells and conducting with Sir Adrian Boult. He graduated with honors in 1962 and went on to earn a master's degree in music from the University of London. Bourgeois began his career as a composer in the 1960s, and his early works were heavily influenced by the avant-garde music of the time. He was particularly interested in the use of serialism and other modernist techniques, and his early works often featured complex rhythms and dissonant harmonies. In the 1970s, Bourgeois began to move away from the avant-garde and towards a more tonal and accessible style of composition. He became known for his works for wind band, and he wrote over 100 pieces for this ensemble. His works for wind band were particularly popular in the United States, where he was a frequent guest conductor and composer-in-residence. Bourgeois's most famous work for wind band is his Symphony No. 6, which was commissioned by the United States Air Force Band in 1984. The symphony is a four-movement work that features a wide range of musical styles, from the lyrical and melodic to the rhythmic and percussive. The symphony has been performed by wind bands all over the world and is considered one of the most important works in the wind band repertoire. In addition to his works for wind band, Bourgeois wrote a number of orchestral works, including several symphonies and concertos. He also wrote chamber music, choral music, and music for film and television. Bourgeois was a prolific composer, and he wrote over 300 works in his lifetime. His music is known for its accessibility and its ability to connect with audiences. He was particularly interested in writing music that could be enjoyed by both musicians and non-musicians alike. Bourgeois was also a respected conductor, and he conducted many of his own works as well as works by other composers. He was the conductor of the Sun Life Band in Bristol for many years, and he also conducted the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain. Bourgeois received many awards and honors throughout his career, including the Order of the British Empire in 1991 for his services to music. He was also a Fellow of the Royal College of Music and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Bourgeois continued to compose and conduct until his death on September 6, 2017, at the age of 75. His legacy as a composer and conductor lives on through his many works and through the musicians who continue to perform and record his music.

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