Keith Beal

Keith Francis Arnold Beal (born 22 December 1933) is an English painter, sound engineer, recording engineer and producer, musician and composer, and author.

Early years Born on 22 December 1933 in Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire, Beal grew up in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. After the Second World War, he was sent to Sweden in 1948 to gain strength, staying there for the better part of a year. His formative years were spent in NW London, where he went to school, and in Hamstead, where he explored his interest in painting, which had been instigated in childhood by his painter father.

Painting In 1955 Beal spent a year in Paris, aiming to develop his painting skills. On returning to England he found quick success, having an exhibition in a gallery in Bond Street and selling out on the day. Beal has remained actively interested in painting throughout his life. The Miguel de Cervantes novel Don Quixote has been a recurring inspiration for his paintings.

Sound engineer Beal worked as a sound engineer and technician for the BBC, as well as commercial television, and freelance in the film business from 1956 to 1973.

University Beal studied at the London School of Economics, gaining a BSc degree in economics in 1971. He also studied at Sussex University, gaining an MA in Music and the Sonic Arts in 2013

Music On his fortieth birthday in 1973, he acquired a saxophone, and won a bet that he could learn to play it within a year. In 1974, he co-founded Ogun Records, a record label specialising in jazz and modern classical music. Initially, he worked as a recording engineer and editor, but later became a producer, eventually leading the company as managing director. In his time at Ogun, Beal recorded and/or produced some 50 records by such artists as Trevor Watts, Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, Elton Dean, Harry Becket, John Surman and Keith Tippett. After leaving Ogun in 1980 Beal concentrated on playing the saxophone. He toured extensively with Trevor Watts Moiré Music, an avant garde jazz ensemble, playing at most of the European Jazz Festivals between 1982 and 1986.

Since 1987 Beal has divided his time between England and the Netherlands. Initially focusing on jazz, both as a performer and composer, he has increasingly moved towards modern classical composition. Early works include pieces for tuba quartet and saxophone quartet, but he became ever more confident and productive, writing 6 symphonies and 4 concertos, recording his Second Symphony in Kyiv with the Kyiv Modern Symphony Orchestra in 2001, and writing a clarinet concerto to be performed by Alan Hacker. He went on to compose two operas: Dulcinea was written on the 400th anniversary of the Miguel de Cervantes novel Don Quixote, on which the libretto is based, while Merlin has a libretto based on a compilation of myths around Le Morte d'Arthur characters Merlin and Nimue. He has also composed three ballets; the music of which has been played, but not yet danced.

Novels In 2011 and 2012, Beal published two strongly autobiographical novels, entitled Counterpoint in Three Parts: Reflexions on the Life and Loves of a Musician, based on the experiences of a touring musician, and Cadmium Red, based on painting and politics in Paris of the 1950s.

Compositions The following is an as yet incomplete overview of Beal's major compositions.

Symphonies Title First performance Symphony No 1, Easter Day, 4 Movements 1998 Symphony No 2, 5 Movements Kyiv, 1998 Symphony No 3, 4 Movements 1998 Symphony No 4, The Browns, 5 Movements 2000 Symphony No 5, 4 Movements 2000 Symphony No 6, 4 Movements 2002

Concertos Title First performance Concerto for Cello 1995 Concerto for Piano, 1 Movement Switzerland Concerto for Clarinet, 3 Movements Royal Leamington Spa 2001 Concerto for Viola, 4 Movements 2000

Operas and ballets Title First performance 3-minute opera (in Dutch Slang) Utrecht, 2003 Opera No 1, Dulcinea, 4 Acts 2004 Opera No 2, Merlin, 3 Acts 2007 Cantata, "The Knighting of Sir Francis Drake" 2013Tilburg|Breda| Ballet, Fantasy for Wind Orchestrafor Festival Hall 2000

Miscellaneous orchestral pieces Title First performance Contemplations In the Mean Time 2002 Hitch 2002 Music for a Symphony Orchestra, Herbert Voor Eline Commissioned 2001 Lory Chamber Orchestra, High Wickham 1994 Chamber Orchestra, Admiraal van Gent 1994 Dartington Piece, Errollynation c2002 Piece for Saxophone Orchestra No 1, Hannibal Crossing the Alps Piece for Saxophone Orchestra No 2 Suite for String Orchestra No 1, comprising: 1996–1999 – No 1 1998 – No 5 1998 – No 3 1998 – "Star of Eve" 1999 – "The Heart is Only a Muscle" 1996 – "Minimal Refinement" 1999 – "Mooie Neus" 1994 – "The Aftermath" 1998 – "Bril" 1998 – "The Chess Room" 1998 Suite for String Orchestra No 2, comprising: 1992–2002 – "George" 1992 – "Those That Never Were" 2002 – "Karin" 1999 Fugue for String Orchestra, "On Returning From Lisbon" 2008 Piece for 10 piece Brass Ensemble, Tell Brass, comprising: Utrecht – "So This Is How It Is" – "If Only" – "Encore" – "Fanfare for Nice Teachers" 1996 Piece for Catalyst Ensemble (13 Piece), The Day We Buried Michael Wilder 2004 Saxophone Quartet No 1 Saxophone Quartet No 2 Saxophone Quartet No 3 Saxophone Quartet No 4 Saxophone Quartet No 5 Utrecht and recorded Saxophone Quartet No 6 Saxophone Quartet No 7 Saxophone Quartet No 8 Saxophone Quartet No 9, comprising: Breda – Commissioned Sax Quartet – "Black Diamond" 2002 – "Topaz" 2002 – "Ruby" 2001 – "Amber" 2001 – "Amethyst" 1998 – "Emerald" 1998 – "Pearl" 1998 – "Sapphire" 1998 String Quartet No 1, 1 Movement, Living Dangerously 1991 String Quartet No 2 in F 1991 String Quartet No 3, On Returning from Kyiv 1995 String Quartet No 4, 4 Movements, with Bass Rotterdam (Amani) 1997 String Quartet No 5, 3 Movements Minsk Kyiv and recorded 1998 String Quartet No 6, 3 Movements, Voor Natalia 1998 String Quartet No 7, 4 Movements, Voor Joost Commissioned 2000 String Quartet No 8, 4 Movements, 2002 String Quartet No 9, Koh-i-Nor String Quartet No 10, 3 Movements, The Inner and the Outer 2013 String Quintet No 1 (with Bass), Investigations 2012 Tuba Quartet No 1, 3 Movements Holland/Birmingham/Germany/ Tuba Quartet No 2, 3 Movements Oboe and String Quintet, 3 Movements Clarinet and String Quintet, 1st Movement "Loredana's Journey" 2009 Trumpet and String Quintet, 1st Movement "Loredana's Journey" 2009 Quintet for Cello and 4 Percussionists, 5 Movements Amsterdam Bachzaal Wind Sextet No 1, Last Summer 2008 Wind Sextet No 2, Daria Wind Quintet No 1 Wind Quintet No 2, comprising: – "Investigations" – "A Minimal Effect" Brass Quintet No 1, For Michael, comprising: Utrecht – "The Eyes Have It" – "Nice Teachers" – "Come Kyiv Come Seattle" Brass Quintet No 2, Prevarications Suite for Flute and Harp No 1, comprising: 1992–1996 – "Flight of Fancy" 1992 – "A Waltz for the Collector of Dreams" 1996 – "Minimal Commitment" 1996 – "A Walk on the Beach" 1996 – "The Return" 1996 Suite for Flute and Harp No 2, comprising: 1992–1999 – "Primary Thoughts" 1992 – "The Nasty Man" 1992 – "Henk's Waltz" 1992 – "Tomorrow" 1999 Suite for Oboe and Accordion No 1, comprising: 1996 – "Flight of Fancy" 1996 – "A Waltz for the Collector of Dreams" 1996 – "Minimal Commitment" 1996 – "A Walk on the Beach" 1996 – "The Return" 1996 Suite for Oboe and Accordion No 2, comprising: – "Primary Thoughts" – "The Nasty Man" Henk's Waltz, comprising: – "Because" 1996 – "Alexia of Life" 1993 – "Mark? My Word" 1993 Choral Piece No 1, From West Hill, comprising Prelude and Fugue Hastings/Holland x? and Radio Choral Piece No 2, Dick Fricker's Poems, 3 Movements 2000 Songs: 2008–2013 – "Going to Dinner 1st Version" 2010 – "Merlin's First Aria" 2013 – "Nimue's First Aria" 2013 – "Nimue and Merlin's Duet" 2013 – "A Hymn to Kim" 2008 – "Je Bent" 2007 – "Kith and Kin" – "Morgan la Faye's First Aria" 2013 – "The Stormcock Song" 2009 Song Cycle for Soprano and Baritone, with Clarinet and Cello accompaniment, comprising: 2013 – Cello Solo, "A Letter of Intent" – Cello Solo, "Consequences" – Cello Solo, "Ed Hucation" – Baritone Song, "Going to Dinner 2nd Version" – Clarinet Solo, "The Red Man" – "Nimue and Merlin's Duet" – Baritone Song, "A Hymn to Kim" – Baritone Song, "Je Bent" – Baritone Song, "Merlin's First Aria" – Soprano Song, "Nimue's First Aria" Clarinet Quartet No 1, 4 Movements 1993 Clarinet Quartet No 2, Koh-i-Nor, 3 Movements 1992 Wood Wind Quartet – (FLMco) 1995 Tuba Quartet No 1, 3 Movements Holland x? Birmingham/Germany Tuba Quartet No 2, 3 Movements Double Reed Quartet, 3 Movements Flute Quartet, 3 Movements Clarinet Quintet, Kindred Spirit 1992 Clarinet, Cello and Piano Trio No 1, "Je Bent" 2007 Horn and Tuba Trio, "Call It Tuesday" Duet for Two Cellos, "Je Bent" 2007 Duet for Clarinet and Cello Horn and Piano Duet, "For Hatie" Suite for Trombone and Double Bass, No 1/No 2/No 3 Suite for Basset Horn and Cello, comprising: – No 1 "Je Bent" Commissioned 2007 – No 2 2008 – No 3 "Pavane for My Mother" 2008 Suite for Unaccompanied Clarinet, comprising: – Solo for E♭ Clarinet "Easily Mistaken" 2008 – Solo for Bass Clarinet "The Red Man" 2008 – Solo for Baset Horn "Basset on Experience" 2008 Suite for Unaccompanied Cello, comprising: 2013 – "Ed Hucation" 2013 – "A letter for the Cello Group" 2010 – "A Letter of Intent" 2010 – "Consequences" 2013 – "Basset on Experience" 2008 "Music for Sound Cooking Club", comprising: – "Convincent" 1991 – "Cooperation Riff" – "Easter Chick" – "Fan and Five" – "Hen Company" – "High Klaas" – "You Can't Ignor Igor" – "It's A Tjitze" – "Kindred Spirit" – "Kith & Kin" – "Living Dangerously" – "Lizard the Wizard" 1990 – "The Man at the Desk" – "My Goodness" – "Stars & Sriplings"