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John Robertson Canadian Composer

What I do

'Concert' compositions in every genre from solos to orchestral - even an opera!

How to access my compositions

Write to me via e-mail and I can send scores and parts electronically.

Reviews

“Robertson’s compositions are heartbreakingly beautiful and wonderfully timeless” Darren Rae, Classical Music Review.    “...the sound [is] among the best I’ve heard from any new recording this year” John J. Puccio, Amazon.com 5 out of 5 stars   “Despite being a creation of high technical and musical sophistication, Robertson’s is, to it’s credit, never less than accessible.” “...is so strong, in fact, that it wouldn’t sound out of place next to any number of better-known classics in a leading orchestra’s concert programme.”  Texturo  “... Robertson’s music could easily find it’s way onto programs in the UK where it could perhaps give us another recording for comparison of this often wonderful music.” maestrosteve.xanga.com 4 out of 4 stars  “This is music of our time yet steeped in tradition that should be a guiding light forward.” Jean-Yves Duperron Classical Music Sentinel   “Tasty, tasteful stuff that has the openness to bring new genre listeners into the tent, this set is a gasser for any fan of instrumental music.” Midwestrecord  “Robertson’s straightforward formal choices render all these compositions intuitively accessible, yet make no compromises in terms of technical and musical complexity, which remain sophisticated throughout.” Podomatic Inc.  “I will say though that it seems a shame to me that with a composer of such obvious talent and stature as John Robertson in their midst that one or another of Canada’s major orchestras could not take up his works.” “... strongly recommended ” Jerry Dubins Fanfare Magazine (One of three reviews in the March/April 2018 issue)


CDs

My 4 current CDs, each of which contains one of my first 3 symphonies along with other works, are available through Amazon,  Spotify, and all other such outlets either in physical or download formats. The titles are: "Vallarta Suite", "Symphony #1", and "Virtuosity", and Symphonies 4 & 5 - which also contains the "Meditation: In Flanders Fields".

Upcoming projects

Once the current lockdown has been relaxed 'cellist Ovidiu Marinescu and the London Symphony Orchestra will be including work of mine on a CD. This recording will be released by PARMA Recordings in 2022. In that year PARMA will issue two CDs that include works of mine, with pianist Anna Lisitsyna playing the pieces on her CD at Carnegie Hall in New York in June 2022, and the Kuehn Choir of Prague doing a live streaming of their CD as well.

Orchestral works

5 Symphonies

Each symphony is in 3 movements and lasts approximately 30 minutes

Autumn Ramble

For single winds and strings. Duration 8'

Variations for small orchestra

Duration 18'

Overture for a musical comedy

Duration 11'

Serenade in G

Single winds, horn, and strings. 5 movements. Second movement Waltz my most performed piece. Duration 25'

The Death of Crowe

A rather sombre piece inspired by an episode in Timothy Findlay's novel "Not wanted on the voyage". Duration 9'

Salome dances

Essentially the 'Dance of the seven veils'. Duration 8' 

Strut In - a March

An up-beat orchestral march. Duration 7' 

Vallarta Suite

4 impressions of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Duration 24' 

Suite for orchestra

4 movements in a light style - Fanfare, Waltz, Elegy, March. Duration 25' 

Suite from the opera "Orpheus"

6 orchestral pieces. 111(each doubling related instrument)1 211 Sax, Harp, Perc, Strings. Duration 25' 

Cyrano

Symphonic poem on the subject of Cyrano de Bergerac. Duration 8' 

Concertante works

Hinemoa & Tutanekai (Flute and strings). Duration 10'

Maori legend from New Zealand.

Concerto for Clarinet and strings

3 joined movements. Quite virtuosic. Duration 22'

Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra

3 movements, somewhat Latin American in style. Duration 17'

Tango Bulgariana (Alto flute and strings)

Duration 6'

Celebratory Music

Solo 'cello and orchestra. Quite virtuosic. Duration 5'

String orchestra works

Music for strings

String quartet, strings orchestra, and harp. Duration13'

Serenade

String orchestra. 3 movements. Duration 15'

Elegy for G

String orchestra. Duration 8'

Choral works

3 Choruses about music

SATB a capella. Music has charms, Orpheus with his lute, To music, to becalm his fever. Duration 3 -4' each

3 Animal songs

SSA and piano. Really for children's voices. The nightingale and the glowworm, Milk for the cat, The fox and the cat. Duration 3' each

6 Christmas carols

Unto us this day is born, Gentle Mary, Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, It came upon a midnight clear, Ring out!, There were shepherds abiding in the field. Original, not arrangements. SATB some a capella some with various accompaniments,

A Shakespeare winter

SATB and piano. Conflation of 2 excerpts from Shakespeare. Duration 5'

The winter lakes

SATB a capella. Duration 4.5'

Stage works

Orpheus - a Masque

Opera in 6 scenes, text taken mainly from Shakespeare.. Mezzo-soprano, baritone, bass, chorus, and dancers. !!!(each doubling related instruments)1 alto sax 211 perc.harp strings. Duration 1 hour.

Lady Jane - a fable

Dance piece with two actors. Text by composer. A companion piece to the above. Orchestration same. Duration 40'

Chamber works

Adagio

Lyrical piece for B flat clarinet and piano. Duration 10'

Trio

Violin, viola, and 'cello. 3 movements. Duration 17'

Dance variations

B flat clarinet and piano. Each variation is a different dance type (e.g. Tango, Waltz). Duration 10'

3 string quartets

Not a set. Durations 15', 23', 25'

3 Nocturnes

Flute, oboe, bassoon and piano. Night threatening, Night tranquil, and Tropical night. Duration 11'

Concert piece

Violin, 'cello, and piano. Duration 13'

Sonata

B flat clarinet and piano. 3 movements. Duration 17'

Sonata

Violin and piano. 3 movements. Duration 24'

Sonata

'Cello and piano. 3 movements. Duration 23'

The miller of Dee variations

Wind quintet. Duration 7'

3 pieces for guitar

March, Lento, Vivace. Duration 10'

Quintet

Flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn, and piano 3 movements. Duration 16'

10 duos

Flute and B flat clarinet. Duration 3 - 4' each

10 more duos

Flute and B flat clarinet. Duration 3 - 4' each

Variations

2 flutes and 2 B flat clarinets. Duration 7'

3 Romances

B flat clarinet and piano. Duration 3' each

Piano works

9 Preludes Op. 31

Short piano pieces averaging 3' each

Sonatina

3 movements. Duration 14'

9 Preludes Op. 51

Short piano pieces averaging 3' each

Many more short piano pieces

Songs

6 Songs Op. 13

Afterwards, Never seek to tell thy love, How sweet I roamed, At a window, Remember, A thing of beauty.Piano accompaniment. Duration c3' each

2 Songs Op. 19

Old age, Spring. Piano accompaniment. Duration 3' each

6 Songs to texts by Felicia Lamport

Furbearance, Organic matter, Petition for redress (1956), Minimal maxims, Lyric suitable for snarling upon awakening early on a certain Sunday in Autumn, Cook's detour.Short aphorisms. Piano accompaniment. Duration 10'

All of this music can be obtained from the composer, scores and part in the case of multi instrument works at smithrob@cogeco.ca

Social

Serenade in G - II Waltz

This slightly melancholy waltz is one of my most performed pieces. The other 4 movements aren't too shabby either!

Autumn Ramble

A piece for small orchestra suggesting a walk in the woods on a sunny Autumn day.

Summer Night - a tango

One of the 9 Preludes for piano that make up my Op. 31

Haydnesque

One of the 9 Preludes for piano, set II, my Op. 51. This piece is an homage to the great composer Franz Joseph Haydn

Video

This a scene from my opera "Orpheus - a masque. Orpheus wishes to be ferried across the river Styx into the underworld, and the ferryman gets double his fare because Orpheus isn't dead, unlike the usual customers.

Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery

Bows at the end of a performance of "Orpheus".

Euridice with dancers in "Orpheus"

Dancers in "Lady Jane"

Orpheus and Eurydice, Ruse, Bulgaria 2017

Dancers in "Orpheus"

Orchestra assembled for my 75th birthday concert, Kingston, Ont. Anthony Armore conductor.

John Robertson Canadian Composer

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