Ronald Center

Ronald Center (2 April 1913 – 18 April 1973) was a Scottish composer.

Biography Center was born in Aberdeen where he studied piano under Julian Rosetti and organ under Willan Swainson. In 1943 he moved to Huntly, Aberdeenshire as music master of Huntly Gordon School for a period of six years, before turning to private teaching and composition. He remained in Huntly for the rest of his life, and was conductor of the Huntly Choral Society. In 1944 his symphonic poem The Coming of Cuchulain was given by the Scottish Orchestra under Warwick Braithwaite. From then onwards his works began to be regularly broadcast by the BBC, particularly in their Modern Scottish Composers series. He performed many of his song settings with his wife Evelyn.

Works Center composed a symphony, the symphonic poem The Coming of Cuchulain, works for string orchestra, three string quartets, the cantata Dona Nobis Pacem (along with other choral pieces), and piano works including sets of Preludes, a Sonata and a Suite. His music draws on Scottish folk idioms, particularly the coronach and the reel. He has also been sometimes styled "the Scottish Bartok". In 2013 Toccata Classics initiated a survey of his instrumental and chamber music: the third disc was released in 2024.

Orchestral and strings Symphony No. 1 The Coming of Cuchulain Divertimento Sinfonietta Nocturne Lacrimae Elegy

Chamber String Quartet No. 1 String Quartet No. 2 String Quartet No. 3 Violin Sonata Suite for solo violoncello Dance Rustique for violoncello and piano Duo for violin and violoncello (also violin and bassoon, oboe and violoncello, oboe and bassoon) Little Canon for violin and violoncello

Piano

Sonata Sonatine Suite Three Movements Larghetto Pantomime in 3 movements Prelude, Aria and Finale Six Bagatelles Seven Preludes Three Preludes and Fugues Three Studies From Childhood Rumba Prelude Toccata Giglot Burlesca Homage Impromptu Air Sarabande Melodie Molto Allegro 2 Andantes Phantasy

Recordings Instrumental and Chamber Music, Vol. I: Music for Solo Piano. Piano Sonata, 6 Bagatelles, and world premiere recordings of Pantomime, Andante, Sarabande, Air, Larghetto, Sonatine, Hommage, Three Etudes, Impromptu, Three Movements for Piano. Christopher Guild, piano. TOCC0179 (2013) Chamber and Instrumental Music, Vol. 2: Complete String Quartets. String Quartets Nos. 1, 2 and 3. The Fejes Quartet. TOCC0533 (2021) Instrumental and Chamber Music, Vol. 3. Violin Sonata, Suite for Piano, Seven Preludes, Three Preludes and Fugues. Tamás Fejes (violin), Balázs Renczés (cello), Christopher Guild (piano). TOCC0723 (2024) Center of Huntly String Quartet No. 2, Violin Sonata, Piano Sonata. Emily White and the Isla Quartet. Deveron Arts CD 8 80992 14514 5 (2008)