Gordon Jacob

Overview - Recordings - Scores - Books - Links

Born: July 5, 1895, London, England
Died: June 8, 1984, Saffron Walden, England

Gordon Jacob was the one English composer who really continued writing a set of works for band along the lines established by Holst and Vaughan Williams from the 20's (the William Byrd Suite and Original Suite), through the 50s (Music for a Festival), through the 70s (Fantasia). Music for a Festival is a huge half-hour, 11-movement work for 7-piece brass (4 trumpets and 3 trombones) and band. The brass and band alternate movements until they combine in the Finale. If you're new to Jacob, you might want to start with the smaller-scale compositions on the Keystone collection. An Original Suite in particular is a gem.

Recordings

Works	Performers	Reviews	Stores
Music for a Festival	Chicago Chamber Brass Dallas Wind Symphony Howard Dunn	Pernick	Tower Amazon
Suite "William Byrd"	Eastman Wind Ensemble Frederick Fennell	McDonald	Tower Amazon
Symphony AD 78	European Winds Geoffrey Brand		Tower Amazon
An Original Suite Fantasia for Euphonium and Band	Steven Mead, euphonium Keystone Wind Ensemble Jack Stamp		Tower

Scores

Books

Gordon Jacob: A Centenary Biography by Eric Wetherell