Ian Venables

'... lending a new late twentieth century dimension to the English pastoral ...' - Roderic Dunnett of Ian Venables' Piano Quintet Op 27

British composer Ian Venables was born in Liverpool in 1955. He studied with Richard Arnell at Trinity College of Music and with Andrew Downes, John Joubert and John Mayer at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Known especially for his art songs and chamber music, Venables has also written choral works such as Awake, Awake, the World is Young, Op 34 and the Requiem, Op 48.

In addition to his compositional activities, Venables is very active in the wider music community as chairman of the Ivor Gurney Society, president of the Arthur Bliss Society, one of the vice-presidents of the Gloucester Music Society and as an expert on John Addington Symonds (1840-1893), the nineteenth century English poet and literary critic.

Information: ianvenables.com

 

A selection of articles about Ian Venables

Profile. A Spiritual Journey - Roderic Dunnett takes an extended look at the career of English composer Ian Venables, and listens to a recent performance of the orchestral version of his Requiem

CD Spotlight. Generally Moving and Serenely Consoling - Gerald Fenech is impressed by choral music of Herbert Howells and Ian Venables. '... a highly attractive choral disc, refreshingly performed and sumptuously recorded ...'

Classical music news. The Elgar Festival - An annual celebration of the great British composer takes place in Worcester and Malvern, UK, during May

Ensemble. Packed With Good Things - Roderic Dunnett reports from the 2019 Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester

Ensemble. Centres of Excellence - Roderic Dunnett looks back to the 2017 Three Choirs Festival at Worcester, and forward to 2018 in Hereford

Ensemble. Deeply Gratifying - The first performance of Ian Venables' new clarinet quintet, heard by Roderic Dunnett

Ensemble. Top Class Musicianship - Roderic Dunnett visits Gloucester for the 2010 Three Choirs Festival

Ensemble. Expertly Structured - Mike Wheeler was at a song recital by Richard Roddis and Philip Robinson

Ensemble. An Accomplished Performance - Matthew Moss sings British music, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Exquisite finesse - A song recital by Andrew Kennedy and Simon Lepper impresses Roderic Dunnett