Malcolm Archer

Malcolm Archer (born 1952) is an English composer, conductor and organist. He was formerly Organist and Director of Music at Bristol Cathedral, at Wells Cathedral and at St Paul's Cathedral and Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College.

Education and personal life

Malcolm Archer was educated at King Edward VII School, Lytham before studying at the Royal College of Music (as a Royal College of Organists scholar). He was later organ scholar at Jesus College, Cambridge. His organ teachers included Ralph Downes, Gillian Weir, and Nicolas Kynaston and he studied composition with Herbert Sumsion, Bernard Stevens and Alan Ridout. where he was in charge of the Winchester College Chapel Choir and the College Quiristers, as well as teaching composition and the organ. Recordings with the choir include Stanford's choral music, Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, Three Wings (Warner Classics) and Mozart's Requiem, accompanied by the London Mozart Players.

Compositions

Archer has had over 250 compositions published. His major works include ‘Requiem’, ‘Vespers’, ‘Three Psalms of David’, ‘The Coming of the Kingdom’, the musical, ‘Walter and the Pigeons’, the one-act opera, ‘George and the Dragon’, ‘Sinfonietta’ for orchestra, ‘Concerto for Trumpet and Strings’ and ‘Sonata for Cello and Piano’. His choral works include: