Lynne Plowman is a composer and flautist based in Wales. Her compositions include opera, orchestral works, chamber music, choral pieces and music for theatre.

Biographical Notes

Lynne Plowman (b 1969) first found recognition as a composer in 1995 when Blue for symphony orchestra won the BBC National Orchestra of Wales Young Composers Competition. Since then, her work has been increasingly performed throughout the UK and further afield, and is regularly featured on BBC Radio.

From 2000 to 2001, Plowman was the composer in residence for Wingfield Arts in Suffolk, where she composed an ambitious project inspired by the Anglo Saxon long-ship burial at Sutton Hoo: The Return of King Raedwald for Andrew Slater (bass-baritone) and the London Mozart Players.

Plowman completed The Stargazer, a new commission for the London Mozart Players for a premiere in October 2002 in Lincolnshire. As well as a new work for flute and piano, commissioned by the Stratford English Music Festival, and a new ensemble work commissioned by Bromsgrove Concerts.

Her opera, Gwyneth and the Green Knight written in collaboration with the writer, Martin Riley, toured Wales in 2002-3 in a production by Music Theatre Wales, to critical acclaim:

one of the nattiest new British operas in years. (The Independent)
one of the most brilliantly accomplished new operas I have heard for many a year. (The Times)
a blueprint for accessible opera. (The Guardian)

In December 2003 Lynne Plowman was awarded the British Composers Award for Stage Works being presented for the first time by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, in association with BBC Radio 3, and sponsored by the Performing Right Society, the awards aim to celebrate the music of classical composers living and working in the UK.
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Lynne Plowman's most recent work is another new opera, House of the Gods, with an original libretto by Martin Riley and commissioned by Music Theatre Wales. Containing larger-than-life characters inspired by Irish mythology and combining eerily atmospheric music with twisted comedy music hall numbers, this is a gothic opera for an adult audience! Following a two-year creative period House of the Gods was completed last year and is currently touring the UK.

Another new work to receive its premiere this year is Cries Like Silence , commissioned by The Portsmouth Grammar School for a Remembrance Day concert in Portsmouth Cathedral with the London Mozart Players. Scored for four solo singers, SATB choir, orchestra and organ, with optional children's choir, brass band, electric guitars and bass drums, this project marks the sixth year of Lynne Plowman's relationship with the LMP, who have given the premieres of two of her previous works, The Return of King Raedwald and The Stargazer, which has just been released on CD by the LMP

In addition to her busy composing commitments, Lynne Plowman is also an experienced flautist, teacher and animateur of creative music projects in schools and colleges.

In this capacity she has worked for companies including Opera North, Welsh National Opera, Music Theatre Wales, California State University, the Cheltenham International Festival of Music and the Vadstena Academy, Sweden, among others.

Lynne is a tutor of composition at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama .

Lynne has here own web lynneplowman.co.uk with further information

Opera

House of the Gods 2003-2005

Libretto: Martin Riley

Gwynneth and the Green Knight 1997-2000 (90')

Libretto: Martin Riley

7 singers: sop, mezzo, boy treb, ten, bar, b-bar, bass. Ensemble: fl(pc), ob(cor), hn, tr, trb, 2pc; hp; 2vln; vla; vlc; db.

Comedy opera in 2 acts for family audience. Commissioned by Arts Council of England and Stephen Arlen Memorial Award. First performances in Wales (Brecon, Bangor, Cardiff, Mold, Swansea) in April 2002 by Music Theatre Wales.

Orchestral

Big Star Rising! 1996 (13')

orchestra: wind:2.2.2.2; 2hn; 2tr; 3pc; hp;pno; strings: 10.8.6.6.3 (min).

workshop recording by Brunel Ensemble/Christopher Austin.

Blue 1994 (14')

wind:2.2.2.2: 2hn; 2tr; 2trb; b.trb; tba; 4pc; hp; strings: 14.10.8.10.4 (min).

Commissioned and first performed by Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra, Oct. 94, Llandaff Cathedral. Subsequently winner of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales Young Composers Competition, and performed by BBC NOW at St. David"s Hall, Cardiff, Jan. 1996 + BBC Radio 3 broadcast, Oct. 1997.

Choral

Celtic Song 2000 (15')

Words: traditional Scottish

Choir (SSATB) and string quartet

Atmospheric setting of an ancient traditional Scottish poem, commissioned by the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. First performed 11th Oct. 2000 in Norwich Cathedral by the Norwich Festival Voices and the Schidlof String Quartet, conducted by Nigel Cliffe.

Tales for the Dead of Night 2000 (25')

Words: Martin Riley

Children's choir with piano accompaniment and optional solo violin.

A cycle of five songs based on ancient Shropshire legends. The words and music were written with the pupils from five schools in Shropshire and Staffordshire. Commissioned by Shropshire County Council, Telford and Wrekin and Stoke on Trent Councils and West Midlands Arts.

shimmering glimmering 1995 (12')

Words: Ave generosa by Hildegard of Bingen

Twelve women's voices

First performed by The Curate's Egg, directed by Adey Grummet, Walsingham Festival, Norfolk, September 1998. Featured on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour.

Solo Voice and Ensemble

The Stargazer 2002 (20')

tenor voice and strings (4.3.3.2.1)

Commissioned by the London Mozart Players. First performances: Ashley Catlin and the London Mozart Players, conducted by David Juritz: October 2002: 16th, Louth; 17th, Skegness; 18th, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire.

The Return of King Raedwald 2000/1 (20')

Libretto: Kevin Crossley-Holland

bass-baritone solo, fl(pc); ob; b.cl; hn; hp; pc; 2vln; vla; vlc; db.

Commissioned by Wingfield Arts, supported by the Hinrichsen Foundation. First performance by Andrew Slater and the London Mozart Players, directed by David Juritz: 6th July 2001, Eye, Suffolk.

String Quartet

String Quartet no.2 1997 (14')

Commissioned by the Go West Festival with funds from the Arts Council of Wales. First performance by the Bingham String Quartet, Cardigan, Sept. 1997.

String Quartet no. 1 1992/4 (10')

string quartet

First performed by the Bingham String Quartet at Bath Festival, June 1994

Mixed Ensemble

Round Round Midnight 1993 (4')

cl; sax; tr; trb; marimba; vibes; pno; 2vln; vla; vlc; db.

First performed by Charlie Barber and Band, Cardiff, 1993.

Indigo Eyes and Silver Glances 1996/7 (7')

flute, viola, harp and cello

First performance by the Cambridge New Music Players, London, March 1997.

Seguiriya II 1994 (6')

fl; cl; vln; vlc; pno.

Arrangement of solo piano piece, first performance by PM Music Ensemble, Cardiff, Dec. 1994

Duo

floating turning spinning 2001 (7')

oboe d'amore and harp

Commissioned by Okeanos (Jinny Shaw: oboe; Lucy Wakeford: harp) with funds from the David James Music Trust and the RVW Trust. First performance, University of East Anglia, March 2001.

The Legend of Boscale Tarn 1998 (2')

cello duet

First performance by Andrew Schulman and Philip Sheppard, Norfolk and Norwich Festival, Oct. 1998. Broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Nocturne 1998 (8')

cello and piano

Commissioned by the Guild of Welsh Composers with funds from the Arts Council of Wales. First performance by members of the Saskia Trio, Lower Machen Festival, June 1998.

Nocturne 1998 (8')

flute and piano

Arrangement of the above piece for performances by Lynne Plowman and David Appleton.

The Mermaids' Lagoon 1998 (6')

piano duet

Arrangement of the solo harp piece first performed by David Appleton and Kate Ryder, Chard Festival, May 1998.

Sky High Blue 1993 (5')

oboe and harp/ piano

First performance by Nick Williams and David Appleton, Cardiff, 1993. A winner of the Cornelius Cardew Prize.

Solo

Grrr.... 1998 (10')

organ

Commissioned by Paul Ayres with funds from the Kenneth Leighton Trust. First performed: Southwark Cathedral and St. Paul"s Cathedral, London, Sept. 1998. Toured in Australia and New Zealand.

The Mermaids Lagoon 1995 (9')

harp

First performance by Elinor Benett, Haverfordwest, Sept. 1995. Numerous subsequent performances and BBC Radio 3 broadcast by Lucy Wakeford. Later version for piano duet.

Interlude 1995 (4')

cello

First performance by Vicki Higginson, Cardiff, March 1995.

Seguiriya I 1994 (6')

piano

First performance by David Appleton, Cardiff, Dec. 1994. BBC Radio 3 broadcast, June 1995.

Four Dreamstates 1994 (20')

solo cello

First performance by Vicki Higginson, Cardiff, 1992. Four short pieces which can be performed separately.