Gary Higginson (b. 1952)

 










Gary Higginson









Gary Higginson
Eight Pieces for Pianists Young at Heart, op. 178 CM127
£6.00

The Last Bird in the Cage - Frogs from the Pond - When Dinosaurs trod the Earth -
Over the Stepping Stones - Snake in the Grass - Wet Bank Holiday Blues - 
Rock-it Science - Granny's Favourite Chair 

These attractive and varied pieces were written between April and September 2014 and are 
of about Grade 3 standard.

Here is the start of the first piece:



















































Gary Higginson
Four Duos for Violin and Cello, op. 99 CM143
The Irishman’s Cat - Cradle Song (on a theme of John Joubert) -  Celtic Hillside - Competition
two scores £6.00
see a preview here

Gary Higginson
Four English Dances for Violin and Viola, op. 74, no. 2 CM163
Galliard - Passapied - Pavan - Rigaudon
two scores £6.00
see a preview here

Gary Higginson
String Quartet No. 3, op 168 CM173
score and parts £15.00 
see a preview of the first movement here

Composer's Note

This string quartet was composed slowly, over a period of about three years, at 
odd moments between other pieces and was completed in October 2010.
Its character is that of a light-hearted divertimento, emphasising conciseness
and clarity:  it contrasts with the serious nature of my second quartet, 
which was composed soon after the death of my father.

The first movement has the music of Africa as its inspiration and includes a 
melody from Soweto, the second is in the style of a spiritual, while the third is a 
scherzo, pastoral in mood to start with, yet with some darker colours.
The fourth starts by revisiting themes from the previous movements before 
embarking on a life of its own: its main theme recalls the Sowetan melody.

The first three movements (each with an individual title) could be 'free-standing' 
and may be performed separately, though clearly the Finale only works in
relation to the other three.

Gary Higginson
String Quartet No. 5 (Memories of Spain), op 191 CM181
score and parts £15.00 
 This quartet was given its first performance in November 2019 by the Ruisi String Quartet. It is a commission by Seaton Music. 
see a preview of the first page of the score here 

listen to the first performance here

Gary Higginson
EPONA, op. 77 for unaccompanied cello CM186
(written for Spike Wilson in 1985 and revised in 2019)
see a preview of the first page here
£4.00  (duration: c. 5 mins. 3 pages of music with page turn separately printed)


Gary Higginson trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama studying composition privately with Edmund Rubbra and orchestration with Patric Standford, modern techniques with Buxton Orr and Analysis with Alfred Nieman. Later when a student at Birmingham University he continued composition studies under John Joubert.

He has written over 200 compositions including several orchestral works, two operas for young people, three string quartets, a great deal of church and Christmas music, a piano quartet, solo sonatas for woodwind and string instruments, songs and song-cycles, educational music, pieces for brass band and a great deal more. His music has recently been heard in South America, France and Ireland. 



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music by Gary Higginson