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Updated 4th February 2010

STOP PRESS

Roger Steptoe's Tuba Sonata has been selected as one of the set works for the 15th International Performers' Competition – Tuba - Brno, Czech Republic - 27th September to 2nd October, 2010. The Sonata replaces the Hindemith Sonata in Round 2. The work is now available from Editions BIM.

view an extract from the score     Listen to an audio extract

SONATINE I for solo viola

The test piece for the 2010 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition will be featured in all rounds of this renowned viola competition to be held in the Erin Arts Centre, Port Erin, Isle of Man from 20th to 27th March inclusive. The competition has attracted 140 competitors.

Sonatine I has been edited and prepared for publication by the distinguished British viola player, Sarah-Jane Bradley. It is dedicated to the Director of the Erin Arts Centre and the competition's organiser, Dr John Bethell MBE, on the occasion of his 70th birthday in April 2010.

The London premiere of Sonatine I will be given in the Wigmore Hall, London, by the outright winner of the Tertis Competition – dates to be decided. The French premiere will be given by the Lionel Tertis Uzerche Festival Prize winner as part of the 2010 Uzerche Festival of Music on 22nd August in the Abbatiale Saint-Pierre, Uzerche.

The work is available from Editions BIM.

view an extract from the score

THREE PAUL VERLAINE SONGS for mezzo-soprano, viola and piano

Also for the 2010 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, Roger Steptoe has written three French songs to poems by Paul Verlaine. 'La lune blanche', 'Il pleure dans mon coeur' and 'Chanson d'Automne' have all been set by Fauré and Debussy. Steptoe's settings mark a rare departure for a British composer.

The premiere of these songs will be given by the Isle of Man-based mezzo, Adrienne Murray, the UK violist, Sarah-Jane Bradley with the composer as pianist, on 23rd March in the Isle of Man Bank Concert Hall, Erin Arts Centre, Isle of Man.

Also on the programme are trios by Brahms and Bridge, and viola and piano works by Milhaud, Alwyn, Steptoe and Delius.

The work is dedicated to the memory of Mrs Lilian Tertis (1915-2009), professional cellist, and widow of Lionel Tertis.

The work will be available from Editions BIM later in 2010.

SONATINE III for organ

This, the third in an on-going series of instrumental Sonatines, will be premiered by the French Chartres International Organ Competition winner, Emmanuel Hocdé, in Craon (Mayenne), France, on 10th June 2010.

This 8-minute work for organ solo continues the musical flavour established in the first two Sonatines. However it draws on a Chorale of JS Bach, ''Verleih' uns Frieden gnädiglich'' (Mercifully grant us peace), freely using thematic references before exposing an extract of the original Chorale at the end.

Further performances by Emmanuel Hocdé will be in Graham Ashton's French tour – namely Tulle Cathedral, Versailles, Alsace, Faremoutiers, Fougères, Mimizan, St Eloi and Paris (La Trinité and the American Cathedral).

Later in October 2010 Emmanuel Hocdé will include the work on his US tour including New York, Columbia University and Boston.

The work is published by Editions BIM and will be recorded for the French Hortus label in association with 'Les Amis d'orgue de Tulle'.

SONATA for trumpet and organ

Premiered by the distinguished Anglo-American trumpeter, Graham Ashton, and American organist, Christopher Jacobson, in Washington's National Cathedral in January 2009, the French premiere will be by Graham Ashton with French organist, Emmanuel Hocdé, in Tulle Cathedral, 13th June 2010.

It will then receive further performances by the same artists and be recorded with the Sonatine III. See above for more details. Further performances in Europe in 2010 include Lyon and Lausanne.

The Sonata is published by Editions BIM.

SOME OLD-NEW NEWS FROM EARLY 2010

DANCE MUSIC in James Gourlay's newly-orchestrated version for brass band was premiered by the world-famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band in Paul Hindmarsh's 2010 Royal Northern College of Music's Festival of Brass in Manchester on 24th January. James Gourlay conducted. Dance Music in both versions (symphonic brass and brass band) is available from Editions BIM.

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME is a new Motet for SATB choir and organ. It was first performed at the Institution and Collation of the Reverend Stephen Holmes as Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of St Nicholas, North Stoneham, St Michael and All Angels, Bassett, and All Saints, Bassett Green, Southampton, UK, on 16th January 2010. Director of Music, Colin Davey, conducted the choir of St Michael and All Angels with Ben Morris, organ. The Institution was presided over by The Right Reverend The Lord Bishop of Winchester.

The Motet is published by Editions BIM.

SOME PREMIERE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2009

Sonata for trumpet and organ (National Cathedral of Washington DC, US), Graham Ashton (trumpet) and Christopher Jacobson (organ). Editions BIM.

Sonatine II (The Smith Opera House, Geneva, New York), Stefan Reuss (cello) and the composer (piano). Editions BIM.

Dourando as trevas (version for horn, tuba and vibraphone), Sergio Carolino (tuba) and Jean-François Lézé (vibraphone), Alcobaça, Portugal. Editions BIM.

CD FOUR STARS

Steptoe's recent CD featuring the 1982 Oboe Concerto, the 2008 Sept Miniatures for piano trio and 'Light', Sinfonietta for organ and strings, was awarded four stars in Le Monde de la Musique in 2009. The artists are Nora Cismondi (oboe), Trio Magellan, Olivier Latry (organ), the Forum Sinfonietta under the direction of the French conductor, Jérôme Devaud.

'Trois oeuvres bien différentes qui forment une bonne introduction à son univers.'
Léonard Ambersson, Le Monde de la Musique.

The disc, on the Paris-based Explora Concept label, is available from www.explora-concept.com and leading distributors and stores worldwide.

SOME NEW WORKS 2010/2011

SONATINE I for viola solo. Editions BIM.
DANCE MUSIC for brass band. Editions BIM.
THREE PAUL VERLAINE SONGS for mezzo soprano, viola and piano. Editions BIM.
SONATINE III for organ solo. Editions BIM.
CONCERTINO I for horn and chamber orchestra. Editions BIM.
SONATINE IV for oboe and piano. Editions BIM.

................ and, in the pipeline for 2012, a symphonic windband work, a work for brass band and Concertino II for violin and chamber orchestra...................

For more information contact Jeremy Mathez at Editions BIM on jm@editions-bim.com

 

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All of Roger Steptoe's recent music (2003 onwards) is published exclusively by the Swiss publishing house, Editions BIM. All enquiries should be addressed to Jeremy Mathez. jm@editions-bim.com

All other works of Roger Steptoe continue to be published by the UK publishing house, Stainer & Bell, London, UK. All enquiries to Caroline Holloway. caroline@stainer.co.uk

For more information and to buy copies of the works mentioned on this website you are respectfully asked to contact the publishers concerned. Please see the works list for full details.