Robert Saxton(1953)
∗in London, England
maleComposerGB
The distinguished composer and academic Robert Saxton has a life-long interest in the viola having
written a viola concerto (commissioned for the 1986 Cheltenham Festival, published by Chester Music/
Wise Music Classical) and not least, as a child, having begun his compositional studies with Benjamin Britten (1913–76), who himself played viola. An engaging story for young and old from Robert’s childhood concerns his ambition to become a composer. Having asked his mother, and following her advice to write to Stravinsky or Britten, he indeed began lessons with Britten. The themes of Britten’s advice were to try to learn the composer’s trade as a craftsman and, as written in one of Britten’s letters to Robert, that «Sounding right is all that matters». The distinguished composer and academic Robert Saxton has a life-long interest in the viola having written a viola concerto (commissioned for the 1986 Cheltenham Festival, published by Chester Music / Wise Music Classical) and not least, as a child, having begun his compositional studies with Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), who himself played viola. An engaging story for young and old from Robert's childhood concerns his ambition to become a composer. Having asked his mother, and following her advice to write to Stravinsky or Britten, he indeed began lessons with Britten. The themes of Britten's advice were to try to learn the composer's trade as a craftsman and, as written in one of Britten's letters to Robert, that «Sounding right is all that matters».
written a viola concerto (commissioned for the 1986 Cheltenham Festival, published by Chester Music/
Wise Music Classical) and not least, as a child, having begun his compositional studies with Benjamin Britten (1913–76), who himself played viola. An engaging story for young and old from Robert’s childhood concerns his ambition to become a composer. Having asked his mother, and following her advice to write to Stravinsky or Britten, he indeed began lessons with Britten. The themes of Britten’s advice were to try to learn the composer’s trade as a craftsman and, as written in one of Britten’s letters to Robert, that «Sounding right is all that matters». The distinguished composer and academic Robert Saxton has a life-long interest in the viola having written a viola concerto (commissioned for the 1986 Cheltenham Festival, published by Chester Music / Wise Music Classical) and not least, as a child, having begun his compositional studies with Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), who himself played viola. An engaging story for young and old from Robert's childhood concerns his ambition to become a composer. Having asked his mother, and following her advice to write to Stravinsky or Britten, he indeed began lessons with Britten. The themes of Britten's advice were to try to learn the composer's trade as a craftsman and, as written in one of Britten's letters to Robert, that «Sounding right is all that matters».
Konrad Ewald
The composer on his composition Invocation, Dance and Meditation: «The title refers to ancient Jewish religious and musical traditions. The opening Invocation (a written-out
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Works
• Invocation, Dance and Meditation, for Viola and Piano • Concerto for Viola and Orchestra • Viola Play Time, Six Easy Pieces for Viola and PianoMedia Center
• More information about Robert Saxton [Wikipedia] • Website of Robert Saxton • Robert Saxton at the Royal Academy of Music • Prof. Robert Saxton at Worcester College • Robert Saxton at Wise Music Classical • Robert Saxton at the University of York Music Press • Robert Saxton at Liz Webb Production and Management
Online Shop
• Viola Play Time, Six Easy Pieces, for Viola and Piano, Score and part
Robert SaxtonPhoto: R. Saxton