Composer Profile - Neville Bower (1934-2007)

Nymet Music has had a long association with the late Neville Bower, which started when he asked Elizabeth Bowden (owner of Nymet Music) to engrave and print copies of "Dance of Life" - a solo for Viola and Piano. A further twelve works were engraved over the years, production of his Violin Sonata being very nearly completed at the time of his death, and then finally checked by Lydia Mordkovitch. These works were published by the composer, but were always promoted and offered for sale by Nymet Music. Any musicians wishing to perform his work and purchase copies are, for the time being, invited to contact Nymet Music who will pass on their request to the estate.

Neville Bower studied composition with Patrick Hadley and piano with Kendall Taylor, at the Royal College of Music. After a short career as a concert pianist and ballet pianist, he followed a more serious career as a composer whilst working as Director of Music at Ealing Grammar School. He composed much music for school use, but also wrote works for orchestra, choir, solo instruments and small ensembles. For a time he also conducted the Apollo Singers and amateur orchestras. His music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and has featured in recital and concert programmes.

Orchestral works include:
Concertante for Oboe and Orchestra
Trumpet Concerto
The Gardens of Villandry for Large Orchestra
Prelude and Threnody for Double String Orchestra

Chamber Music includes:
String Quartet
Piano Sonata
Sonata for Oboe and Piano
Violin Sonata Op.51 (Soundscape for Vincent)

Music for a While (a collection of Piano Pieces)

Three Soundscapes for Piano (op.33):-
Prism (No.1)
Greenscape (No.2)
Llyn Cau (No.3)

Eternal for Organ

Escapements for Piano

Four Sound Pieces:-
Evocation for Clarinet and Piano
Dance of Life for Viola and Piano
Ecstasy for Cello and Piano
Glory for Trumpet and Piano.

Song Cycles include:
The Dream Follower
(nine songs to words by Thomas Hardy for Counter-Tenor and Piano)
Ghosts and Dreams
(seven songs to words by Thomas Hardy)
Songs of Innocence
(seven songs to words by William Blake)
Songs of Experience
(ten songs to words by William Blake)
The Path of Dreams
(three songs to words by Brooke, Tessimond, Wilde).

Neville Bower's Essay on Creativity