Bryan Kelly is the communicator of an irrepressible joie de vivre, and a consummate professional whether delivering an engaging lecture–recital illustrated by his own immaculate piano playing, or a brand new instrumental or choral work for admired colleagues. An exuberant presence over five decades of British musical life, he has written symphonies, overtures, concertos, opera, and a distinguished series of canticle settings, including the uplifting ‘Kelly in C’ and, in the Stainer & Bell catalogue, the Kentucky Canticles inspired by the singing of Paul Robeson.
Several early works were created for the renowned Leicester Schools Symphony Orchestra, and he has throughout his career composed expertly for young performers. Speaking of his choral music, Kelly has said that he writes the sort of music he would like to have sung as a boy – as a treble in the choir of Worcester College, Oxford. Indeed, his openness to the influence of popular culture, of other art forms, and of the sights and sounds encountered in a career that has taken him from Oxford to Rome, and from Egypt to the Dordogne, bears witness to his conviction that music is central to the enjoyment of life.
There is definitely much pleasure to be found in the carols and instrumental suites with piano published by Stainer & Bell. Many of them present new twists on old themes, whether in the familiar melody by Peter Warlock quoted in The Capriol Carol, or in the tuneful, contemporary take on baroque and romantic forms found in the Globe Theatre Suite for descant recorder or piccolo, Songs and Dances for flute, the Partita for trombone, and Diversions for double bass.
Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of these and other pieces is a wholesome musical sanity, the foundation of Kelly’s wide-ranging humour, and an outcome perhaps of studies with the English traditionalist Herbert Howells and the French neo-classicist Nadia Boulanger. The eight vignettes comprising Mood Pieces for soprano saxophone (or clarinet) perfectly balance the complementary halves of this legacy, while the four movements of Brass Bagatelles, though purely abstract, each conveys a precisely conceived feeling. And in the Whodunnit Suite, dedicated to the outstanding ‘Poirot’ David Suchet, burlesque is sharpened on the whetstone of Kelly’s wit into sparkling caricature – of ‘Lavinia Lurex (Actress)’, ‘Colonel Glib (Retired)’ and ‘Miss Slight (Spinster of This Parish)’, all invented creatures of the composer’s teeming imagination.
A popular choice for grade examinations, Bryan Kelly’s urbane and melodious music continues to be widely heard and enjoyed. Many works can now be found in the recording catalogue too, including the Globe Theatre Suite arranged for recorder and strings and played by John Turner on the Heritage label (Heritage HTCD285).
We use cookies to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.