Wind Ensemble
Metropolis
3 (2 picc), 2, E flat Cl, 4, Bcl, Cbcl, 2, Cbsn, 4 Sax,
4, 4, 3, Euph, 1. DB, Pno, 6 Perc.
15 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Royal Academy of Music – Royal Academy of Music Wind Ensemble cond. Edward Gregson
8th March 1993
CD recording – RNCM Wind Ensemble cond. Timothy Reynish KLAVIER K1115Z (1996.)
CD Recording – Ithaca College Wind Ensemble cond. Rodney Winther MARK 6537-MCD (1995)
Winner of the 1994 Walter Beeler memorial prize (USA)
“A talented young composer, Adam Gorb, whose bold piece Metropolis was full of striking effects.”
Edward Greenfield, The Guardian, March 1993
“His splendid opening piece, Metropolis, was a 15 minute one movement tour de force. This work is a must for professional groups who want a challenging work, which is rhythmically complex, but tonal enough to attract a lay audience. Here is an original voice of whom we shall hear more.”
Timothy Reynish, Winds Magazine, Spring 1993.
Scenes from Bruegel
Commissioned by the National Youth Wind Orchestra.
1(picc),1,E flat Cl, 2 (Bcl.) 2, 2 tpt, 3 tbn, 2 perc.
16 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham
National Youth Wind Orchestra cond. David Campbell
5th April 1994
CD Recording – NMC D154 RNCM Wind Ensemble cond. by Clark Rundell
“…Racy red-blooded score…driven by powerful jagged rhythms…scored with an ingenious and original spacing.”
Stephen Dodgson, Winds Magazine, Autumn 1994.
“Scenes from Bruegel (1994) draws on four of the artist’s depictions of human reality in a ‘sinfonietta’ of vivid contrasts and grimly ironic humour.”
Richard Whitehouse, Gramophone September 2010
Bermuda Triangle
Commissioned by the Northampton Schools Wind Ensemble.
Picc. 2, 2, 4, Alto cl. Bcl. 2, Cbsn. 4 sax..
4, 3, 3, euph. 1, DB, 4 perc.
6 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Northampton Schools Wind Ensemble cond. Martin Sutton
28th October 1994
CD Recording – Northamptonshire Orchestral Winds cond. Andrew Bassey NOWCD 2006001 (2006)
Ascent
Commissioned by the Uster Festival
Picc. 2 (2+3 picc.)2, E flat cl. 2, Bcl. 2, Cbsn. 4,3,3,1
DB, 3 perc.
12 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Uster Festival, Switzerland
28th September 1996
CD Recording – NMC D154 RNCM Wind Ensemble cond. by Clark Rundell
“Clearly influenced by Impressionism, Adam Gorb’s Ascent, about a painting by Paul Cezanne, presented itself with sophistication and skill in dealing with a specific language of music…. ”
NZZ, Switzerland, September 1996
“Ascent takes its inspiration from the Mont Sainte-Victoire paintings by Cézanne as the basis for an accumulation of fanfares towards a plateau of formal and tonal resolution. …a recording which captures the music’s impact but also its delicacy in full measure.”
Richard Whitehouse Gramophone September 2010
“I particularly enjoyed the space he creates in the piece, which it’s sparse scoring. This CD [Towards Nirvana] is a must for all connoisseurs of the wind ensemble.”
Robert Parker, ‘Winds’
Autumn 2010
Awayday
Commissioned by the Royal Northern College of Music
Picc. 2,2,E flat Cl. 4, Bcl. 2, Cbsn. 4 sax.
4, 4, 3, euph. 1, DB, pno, 5 perc.
6 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Bridgewater Hall, Manchester cond. Timothy Reynish
17th November 1996
CD Recording -University of North Texas Wind Ensemble cond. Eugene Corporon, Klavier KCD 11091 (1998)
CD Recording -US Marine Band cond. Timothy Foley, Mark 3171- MCD (1999)
CD Recording – Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra cond. Douglas Bostock, KOCD 3905 (2000)
CD Recording – RNCM Wind Ensemble cond. Clark Rundell, CHANDOS CHAN 10409 (2007)
“…A creative artist with the same gift for heightened use of vernacular musical language that made Bernstein so successful. One to watch.”
Robert Beale, Manchester Evening News, April 1998.
“It is a bit of a barn-burner, a fun take of an Englishman on American popular culture. I can’t remember anything so attractive since John Barnes Chance wrote his Overture to a Musical Comedy in the late 1960s.”
Steven Ritter
Euphonium Concerto
Commissioned by Richmond School
Euph solo, Picc. 2, 2, E flat cl. 3, Alto cl. Bcl. 2,
4 sax. 4, 3, 3, 1, DB, timp. 3 perc.
15 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
Soloist Ian Whitwham
First Performance: Richmond School Wind Ensemble cond. Richard Jones,
Richmond School, N. Yorkshire
10th May 1997
“The strength and coherence of this work stems largely from its unashamed acknowledgement of tradition. Nevertheless, structural and tonal security do not preclude a boldly innovative style. Indeed, Gorb approaches a contemporary idiom that issues just the right challenge to an ensemble of this age and calibre. The work patently brought much excitement and gave a great deal of pleasure to its youthful performers.”
Kenneth Birkin, Winds Magazine
Yiddish Dances
Commissioned by Timothy Reynish
Picc. 2, 2, E flat cl. 3, Bcl. 2, 4 sax,
4, 3, 3, Euph, 1, DB, 4 perc.
16 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Royal Northern College of Music Wind Ensemble cond. Timothy Reynish – Royal Northern College of Music, 9th March 1998
CD Recording – Rutgers Wind Ensemble cond. William Berz, Mark 3570-MCD (1999)
CD Recording -RNCM Wind Ensemble cond. Clark Rundell, Chandos CHAN 10284
CD Recording – National Jeugd Harmonie Orchest. O.C.V. cond. Alex Schillings NJH005001-2 (2005)
CD Recording – Bromley Youth Concert Band cond. Michael Purton, BYMT09 (2009)
CD Recording – ‘Brain Rubbish’ – Swedish Wind Ensemble cond. Christian Lindberg, BIS Records CD – 1958 (2012)
CD Recording – Version for Guitar Quartet arranged by Mark Eden – ‘Rhapsody’ Vida Guitar QuartetBGS121 (2013)
“Adam Gorb’s Yiddish Dances was originally written for symphonic winds in 1997 but has been reworked for piano duet in 2003. It’s marked by infectious brio and the recitativo opulence of the Doina, the ebullience of the Freylachs and all the narrative drama of his chosen material.”
Jonathan Woolf
“Adam Gorb’s five movement suite of Yiddish Dances was originally written for symphonic wind orchestra. The themes are original yet have an idiomatic and convincing springiness, twist and convulsion.”
Rob Barnett
Elements
For percussion solo and Wind Ensemble
Commissioned by the Royal Northern College of Music
Perc. Solo, picc. 2,(picc 2 +3,) 3 (cor ang.) E flat cl. 2, Bcl. 2, Cbsn.
2 sax. 4, 4, 3, 2, Harp, Pno. DB. 3 perc.
28 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Bridgewater Hall, Manchester – Soloist Evelyn Glennie – RNCM Wind Ensemble cond. Clark Rundell
6th April 1998
CD recording, RNCM Wind Ensemble cond. Timothy Reynish, DOYDOY CD 27 (2001)
“Everything I have heard by Adam Gorb has intrigued and delighted me, and this work does not let us down. It is full of inventiveness and an extraordinary sense of tone colour.”
Robert Beale, Manchester Evening News, April 1998
Symphony No. 1 in C
Commissioned by Tom Hill for a private party
2,(picc 2) 2, 2, 2, 4, DB
16 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: First public performance Royal Northern College of Music – RNCM Wind Ensemble cond. Clark Rundell
28th June 2000
Downtown Diversions
Commissioned by a consortium of university bands in the USA
Picc, 2, 2, E flat Cl. 3, Bcl. 2, Cbsn, 4 sax,
4, 3, 3, 1, Pno, DB, 3 perc.
18 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: CBDNA Conference, University of North Texas, USA
Soloist Don Lucas – Texas Tech Symphonic Wind Ensemble cond. John Cody Birdwell
24th February 2001
CD Recording – The Band of HM Royal Marines cond. Chris Pavis CHVCD25 (2006)
Towards Nirvana
Commissioned by the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra
2 Picc. 1,(picc 3) 2, E flat Cl. 3, Bcl. Cbcl. 2, Cbsn,
4 sax. 4, 4, 3, Euph. 1, Harp, Pno, DB. 5 perc.
20 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance:
Tokyo Metropolitan Arts Space, Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra cond. Douglas Bostock
18th October 2002
Winner of British Composer Award, Wind and Brass Category, 2004
CD Recording – NMC D154 RNCM Wind Ensemble cond. by Mark Heron
“…it is good to have a new ‘biggy’ in the repertoire and this piece might have been written specially for the programme, it fitted so well, with its dynamic wedge shape, its quiet ending ideal…”
Anthony Houghton, Winds Summer 2003
Dances from Crete
Commissioned by Timothy Reynish
Picc. 2,(picc. 2) 2 (2 Cor Ang.) E flat Cl. 3, Bcl. 2,
4 sax. 4, 4, 3, Euph. 1, DB. 4 perc.
20 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Royal College of Music, London
Royal College of Music Wind Orchestra cond. Timothy Reynish
14th November 2003
“Commissioned in memory of William Reynish, and what a wonderful life-affirming piece to celebrate His memory…enormously enjoyable – both for bands to play and for audiences to listen to…to write light classical music well, the music needs to be well crafted, have integrity, be wonderfully and skilfully scored – and Gorb does all these things. This is a piece that should travel, and deservedly so.”
Samuel Becker, Winds Winter 2003-4
French Dances Revisited
Commissioned by a Consortium of USA High Schools
2, (2 Picc.) 2, 2, 2, 2
15 mins. (pub. G. & M. Brand)
Premiered in Minneapolis (USA) – 7th November 2004
CD Recording – Mark 9976-MCD – Atlantic Chamber Winds cond. Russell McCutcheon
Adrenaline City
Commissioned by a consortium of USA Wind Ensembles
3 (Picc) 2, E flat Cl. 4, Bcl. 1, Cbsn, 4 Sax
4, 4, 3, Euph, Tba, DB, Pno, Timp, 4 perc.
7 Mins. (pub. Studio)
First Performance: Clarinet Summit, New York, USA
US Military Academy Band cond. Tim Holtan
3rd March 2006
CD Recording – RNCM Wind Ensemble conducted by Clark Rundell Polyphonic QPRM ISID (2006)
CD Recording – GIA Windworks CD-820 North Texas Wind Symphony cond. Eugene Corporon (2010)
CD Recording – Harvest: The West Point Band cond. Lt. Col. Timothy Holtan (2010)
Winner of British Composer Award: Wind and Brass Band Category 2008
“…Cohesive, articulate and full of interest throughout…first class scoring…capturing the stress and vibrancy of 21st century life…a most deserving winner.”
British Composer Award Panel
Sunrise and Safari
3 (Picc) 1, 3, Bcl. 1, 4Sax, 4, 3, 3, Euph, Tba, DB, 4 perc.
7 mins.
Commissioned by the Singapore Government
(pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: All Singapore High Schools, April 2007
Midnight in Buenos Aires
Commissioned by Harmonie St. Caecilia Blerick
Picc. 2, 2, E Flat CC. 4, Bd. 2, Cbsn, 4 Sax, 4, 4, 3, Euph, Tba, DB, Timp, 3 Perc.
11 mins. (pub. Studio)
First Performance: Cultureel Centrum De Staay te Blerick, Holland
Harmonie St. Caecilia Blerick cond. Andreas Van Zoelen
26th October 2007
CD Recording – RNCM Wind Ensemble cond. Clark Rundell Polyphonic QPRM 152D (2007)
Farewell
Commissioned by the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Wales
Picc. 2, 2, Cor Ang. E Flat Cl. 4, Bcl. 2, Csn, 4 Sax 4, 3, 3, 2 Euph, 2 Tba, Pno, DB, Timp, 4 Perc.
20 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Monmouth School for Girls, Wales
National Youth Wind Ensemble of Wales and Cond. Timothy Reynish
Winner of British Composer Award, Wind and Brass Category 2009
CD Recording – NMC D154 RNCM Wind Ensemble cond. by Timothy Reynish
“…Highly original work…beautifully scored, brave and epic. The climax is aurally devastating. This winning work is in a class of its own, crafted by a true master of the genre.”
British Composer Awards Panel
“It engages the listener right away with the strident clatrinet solo which opens the work, and is complex and demanding yet rewarding, a superb example of what can be achieved in this medium. This CD [Towards Nirvana] is a must for all connoisseurs of the wind ensemble.” Robert Parker, ‘Winds’
Autumn 2010
Tranquility
For Wind Ensemble
2, Picc, 2, 3, Bcl, Bsn, Cbsn, 4 sax, 4, 3, 3, Euph, 1, 3 perc.
6 mins 30 secs (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: University of Cincinnati (USA)
Royal Northern College of Music Wind Ensemble conducted by Timothy Reynish
7th July 2009
CD Recording – North Texas Wind Symphony cond. Eugene Corporon GIA-CD899
War of the Worlds
Commissioned by the Bromley Youth Concert Band and their principal conductor Michael Purton
2, Picc, 2, 3, E flat Cl. 3, Bcl, 2, Cbsn, 4 sax, 4,4,3,2 Euph,1,Pno,DB, 5 perc.
20 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: St. John’s Smith Square, London
Bromley Youth Concert Band conducted by Michael Purton
7th March 2010
Concertino for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble
Commissioned by Tim Watson with funds from the Arts Council of England
Alto Saxophone Solo
2, (picc), 2, 3, Bcl, 2, 4 sax, 4, 3, 2, Euph, 1, DB, 3 perc.
13 mins 30 secs. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: St. Matthews Church Northampton
Tim Watson and the Northampton County Wind orchestra
conducted by Peter Smalley
17th December 2010
Forthcoming CD Release: Tim Watson and the Hertfordshire County Youth Wind Orchestra conducted by Mark Eager
Repercussions
Commissioned by the Kappa Kappa Psi, National Band Fraternity and Tau Beta Sigma, National Band Sorority
4, (2 picc), 2, E flat Cl. 4, Bcl. 2, 4 Sax, 4, 4, 3, Euph, 2 Tba, DB, 4 Perc.
14 mins 30 secs (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Pike’s Peak Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado USA
National Intercollegiate Band cond. Craig Kirchoff
19th July 2011
Summer Dances
Commissioned by Hafabra Music
Picc, 2, 2, E Flat Cl. 4, Bcl. 2, 4 Sax, 4, 3, 3, Euph, 1, DB, Timp. 3 Perc.
9 mins (pub. Hafabra)
CD Recording – Hafabra Music 88920-2 Ad Hoc Wind Orchestra cond. Jean-Pierre Haeck
Bells Across The Atlantic
Picc, 2, 2, E Flat Cl. 4, Bcl. 1, Cbsn. 4 Sax, 4, 3, 3, Euph, I, DB, 4 Perc.
4 mins 30 secs (pub. Studio)
CD Recording RNCM Wind Ensemble cond. Clark Rundell
Polyphonic QPRM160D
Love Transforming (13 mins) 2012-2013
Commissioned by Timothy Reynish
Picc, 2 (picc 2 + 3), 2, Cor Ang. E Flat Cl. 2, 2 Bcl. 2, Cbsn. 4 Sax, 4, 4, 3, 2, DB, Piano, 3 Perc. 2 players are required to sing (Soprano or Mezzo)
(pub. Maecenas)
CD Recording: Prima Facie PFCD047 RNCM Wind Ensemble cond. Timothy Reynish
First Performance: Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music Wind Ensemble cond. Timothy Reynish
9th March 2013
…a fascinating exploration of timbres and spatial effects…with some performers around the room or up in a gallery – and two of them singing as well as playing their instruments – it was both evocative and a model of how to write clearly and imaginatively for unusual textures. Robert Beale, Manchester Evening News – March 2013
Bohemian Revelry
Commissioned by Gill and Garf Collins
Picc, 2, 2, E Flat Cl. 3, Bcl. 2, Cbsn. 4 Sax, 4, 3, 3, Euph, 2, Timp. 3 Perc.
15 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Sevenoaks School
Bromley Youth Concert Band cond. Michael Purton
12th May 2013
Concerto for Cello and Wind Ensemble: Bojjhangaparitta
Commissioned by Donal Flynn
Solo Vc, Picc, 2, 2, Bcl. 2, 2, 2, 3, 1, Timp, 2 Perc.
20 mins. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Royal Northern College of Music
Michelle So, Cello North Cheshire Wind Orchestra cond. Tom Newall
Royal Northern College of Music – November 2nd 2013
Spring into Action
Commissioned by the Grand Island High Schools
Picc, 2, 2, 3, Bcl, 2, 4 sax, 4, 3, 3, Euph, 1, DB, Timp. 3 Perc.
15 min. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Grand Island High School
Grand Island High School Wind Ensemble cond. Marty Allen 26th February 2015
Boat Trip
Commissioned by a consortium coordinated by Brad Hart in Modesto, California
Picc, 3, 2, 3, Bcl, 2, 4 sax, 4, 3, 3, Euph, 1, DB, Timp. 4 perc.
7 min. 30 sec. (pub. Maecenas)
First Performance: Modesto Junior College Auditorium
Stanislaus County High School Honor Band cond. Eric Hammer 28th January 2017
Pikes Peak (2018)
Commissioned by the Rocky Mountain Commissioning Project
Picc. 2, 2, E flat Cl, 3, Bcl, 2, Cbsn, 4 sax, 4, 4, 3, Euph, 1, DB, 4 perc.
10 min. (pub. Hafabra)
First Performance: Colorado State University-Pueblo
Colorado State University-Pueblo Wind Ensemble cond. Alan W. Mills 24th February 2018
CD Recording HAFABRA MUSIC 89157
The Path to Heaven: a Descent
Picc, 2, 2, Eb Cl, 3, BCl, 4 Sax, 1, Cbsn, 4, 3, 3, Euph, 1, Pno, 4 perc, DB.
18 mins (Pub. Composers Edition)
First Performance: Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music Wind Ensemble Wind Ensemble cond. Mark Heron
January 16th 2020
Concerto for Violin, Viola and Wind Ensemble
USA consortium commission
Violin and viola solos Picc, 2,1,2,Bcl,Alto sax, 1,Cbsn, 2,2,2,1, 3 perc.
23 mins Pub. Maecenas
First Performance: Hugh Hodgson School of Music University of Georgia USA
Michael Heald, violin and Maggie Snyder, viola and the University of Georgia Wind Ensemble cond. Jaclyn Hartenberger April 21st 2022