Thomas Wilson - Impulse

Thomas Wilson

THOMAS WILSON was born in the USA in 1927 of British parents. He has consistently played an active part in the musical life of Britain, holding executive and advisory positions in such organisations as The Arts Council, The New Music Group of Scotland, The Society for the Promotion of New Music, The Composers' Guild of Great Britain (Chairman 1986-1989), and the Scottish Society of Composers (of which he is a founder member).

Wilson's works have been played all over the world and embrace all forms - orchestral, choral-orchestral, chamber-orchestral, opera, ballet, brass band, vocal music of different kinds, and works for a wide variety of chamber ensembles and solo instruments. He has been given many important commissions - Henry Wood Proms, Scottish Opera, Glasgow 1990, Scottish Ballet, Edinburgh Festival, Cheltenham Festival, City of London Festival, Musica Nova, BBC, to name but a few.

In 1990 Thomas Wilson was awarded the CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. The following year he was created a Fellow of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and Glasgow University conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Music upon him.

Selected critical notices:

Introit
" . . . the sheer loving care of the craftsman's ear and eye makes it worth repeated hearings."
The Times

Download the plug-in player and then click on the sleeve below to hear an extract from Introit

Piano Concerto, Introit, played by David Wilde with the Scottish National Orchestra.

Concerto for Orchestra
". . . cogent symphonic thought . . . sensibility to orchestral sound and a musical character remarkable for its delicacy."
Daily Telegraph

Carmina Sacra
" . . . delicate, shapely, catches both the drama and the mystery of the words."
The Times

String Quartet No. 4
" . . . this superb quartet unfolds a beautifully clean form with economy and elegance."
Classical Music

Symphony No.4 (Passeleth Tapestry)
" . . .I cannot think of another recent work that has communicated such a structurally assured sense of self-confidence on first exposure . . . great jangling opening flourishes were absolutely unforgettable . . . crafted with consumate skill."
Daily Telegraph

Touchstone - Portrait for Orchestra
" . . . extremely colourful ten minute piece . . . "
Frankfurt Allgemeine

Piano Concerto
" . . . one of the very best British concertos . . ."
John Ogden

A further extract from the music of Thomas Wilson is available below:

Extract from:
Saint Kentigern Suite - TREE: Kentigern's Legacy, performed by the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama Chamber Orchestra, director Leon Spierer

For further information on the work of Thomas Wilson, a complete repertoire catalogue, and music available on hire, contact:

Queensgate Music, 120 Dowanhill Street, Glasgow G12 9DN, Scotland.

Telephone and fax: 0141 339 1699

CDs and sheet music of works by Thomas Wilson can be purchased on-line at: