Graham Whettam

Graham Whettam (7 September 1927 – 17 August 2007) was an English post-romantic composer.

Biography Whettam was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, and studied at St Luke's College, Exeter.

Though he never formally studied at a music school and was largely self-taught, several of his compositions had already been performed by major orchestras and soloists by his twenties. These include the Sinfonietta for Strings in 1951 at Kensington Palace; the Symphony No. 1 in the early 1950s by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Groves; the Concertino for oboe and string orchestra at the 1953 Proms performed by oboist Léon Goossens; and the Viola Concerto in 1954 at the Cheltenham Festival by violist Harry Danks and conductor Sir John Barbirolli. Other of his works had already been performed with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra by conductors Basil Cameron, Meredith Davies, Sir Eugene Goossens, Willem van Otterloo, and Sir Malcolm Sargent, and by oboist Janet Craxton, clarinettist Jack Brymer, and horn player Dennis Brain. In 1959, the premiere of his first clarinet concerto was performed by Raymond Carpenter and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Charles Groves; this he considered his first mature work.

He was married to Rosemary Atkinson from 1948 until their divorce in 1958, at which time he moved to Coventry. While there, he married Janet Lawrence in 1959, and later founded and directed his own publishing company, "Meriden Music". In 1962 he wrote his first work to be critically considered a "masterpiece", Sinfonia contra timore (Symphony Against Fear), which was premiered three years later by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and conductor Hugo Rignold. Though Sinfonietta Stravagante (1964), performed by the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Hubert Soudant, and Sinfonia Concertante (1966), performed by the Northern Sinfonia and conductor Bryden Thomson, followed in rapid succession, Whettam did not continue to have the success of his youth; several of his works were premiered/published some time after their composition (cf. below), and some of his later works (such as the Promethean Symphony and the Symphony No. 5) still wait for a world premiere.

Regarded as "a natural symphonist" by the Sunday Times, the dozen symphonies he composed between his mid-twenties and death form the core of Whettam's output. However, he also contributed some large-scale concertos, several shorter orchestral (both symphonic and concertante) works, numerous chamber and instrumental works (such as four string quartets and three solo violin sonatas), as well as vocal and choral works. His music, labelled as "invariably dramatic" Sinfonietta (Sinfonia) Stravagante (1964). 20' Sinfonia Concertante for small orchestra (1966). 22' Sinfonia Intrepida (sometimes listed as "No. 2") (1976). 44' Sinfonia Drammatica (sometimes listed as "No. 3") (1978). 29' Sinfonia Prometeica (Promethean Symphony) (1999). 40' - a movement can be performed separately as God of Fire : Introduction and Scherzo-Fuocoso Symphony "No. 5" for small orchestra (2001). 28' Symphony "No. 6" (listed as "in progress" in a 2001 article; possibly unfinished at the composer's death in 2007)

Other Symphonic Works Introduction and Scherzo-Impetuoso Benvenuto Cellini (1960; rev. 1982). 9' The Masque of the Red Death, ballet, after Edgar Allan Poe (1968) Concerto Conciso for string orchestra (1981). 15' An English Suite for orchestra (1984) Symphonic Prelude (1985). 11' Evocations, symphonic suite in three movements (1995). 17' - slow movement can be performed separately as Idyll God of Fire, Introduction and Scherzo-Fuocoso (1998). 9' - from the Promethean Symphony Threnos-Hymnos, for string orchestra (1999). 9' - based on the Hymnos String Quartet (1997) and incorporating an earlier Hymnos for string Orchestra (or for eight cellos) from 1978

Concertante works Concerto Scherzoso for harmonica and orchestra, op. 9 (1951). 9' - written for Larry Adler Concertino for oboe and string orchestra, op. 12 (performed at the 1953 Proms by Léon Goossens) at the Cheltentham Festival performed by Harry Danks and conducted by John Barbirolli) Clarinet Concerto No. 1, for clarinet and symphony orchestra (1959; rev. 2001). 23' Variations on an Original Theme for oboe and strings (1961). 11' Clarinet Concerto No. 2, for clarinet and string orchestra (1982). 24' Idyll, for flute, horn, harp and strings (1983). 7' - slow movement of the symphonic suite Evocations Concerto Ardente for horn and strings (1992). 23' Les Roseaux au Vent, Triple Concerto (Introduction, Theme and 10 Variations) for two oboes, English horn (or bassoon) and strings (1993). 17' Ballade Hébraïque for violin (or viola, or cello) and orchestra (1994; premiered in 2000). 13' - orig. for violin (or viola, or cello) and piano (1981) Concerto Drammatico for cello and orchestra (1998; revised and expanded version of an earlier Cello Concerto from 1962). (premiered in 2000 by Martin Rummel) 33' Triptych for solo Organ (1966). 14' Prelude and Scherzo-Impetuoso for solo Piano (1967). 10' Sinfonia Intrepida. Redcliffe Recordings RR016, 2001 Concerto Drammatico for cello and orchestra; Sinfonia contra timore. Redcliffe Recordings RR017, 2001 Piano Music : Night Music (Sonata); Prelude, Scherzo and Elegy; Prelude and Scherzo-Impetuoso; Ballade Hebraique for piano 4 hands; Fantasy for piano 4 hands. Divine Art CD, 2006 String Quartets No. 1 & No. 4; Oboe Quartet No. 2. Carducci Classics CSQ5847, 2008 Concerto Scherzoso for harmonica and orchestra; Concertino for oboe and string orchestra. Sinetone AMR CD, 2012