MICHAEL COE

Composer, Arranger & Conductor

 

 

 

MICHAEL COE studied music in London, England. He had composition lessons with Richard (Tony) Arnell while still at school, then studied composition with Joseph Horovitz and Bryan Kelly at the Royal College of Music.

 

He was a member of the pop group Nirvana (UK) for a short while - his most memorable moment was chatting to Jimi Hendrix while rehearsing for a TV show. This was followed by a job at the BBC, preparing the music for Prom commissions and working with many composers and conductors, including Pierre Boulez and Norman del Mar.

 

Michael plays the Viola and French Horn, although most of his spare time is spent composing or conducting. He is Musical Director of Baslow Choir and was until recently MD of the handbell group Plague o’ Bells. His many compositions include works for choir, orchestra, band, brass ensemble and handbells. Michael is a member of the Performing Right Society and the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters.

SELECTED WORKS

 

And Unto Men

Rejoysynge

SATB Chorus

Brass Quintet & Strings

 

Sinfonietta

String Orchestra

 

Gallipoli Fanfares

Brass Quintet

 

Horizons

Chamber Ensemble

(12 players)

 

More...

 

 

 

MOST RECENT WORKS

 

Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs

(Gloria in Excelsis Deo)

 

Completed on 25 July 2007, this work is scored for SATB Choir with optional piano or organ accompaniment. It combines a choral fanfare with a new setting of the well-known hymn.

 

First performances:

7 & 8 December 2007

All Saints’ Church

Curbar

Derbyshire, UK

 

Danse Sérieuse

(Morceau pour Manon)

 

Sketched out in France and completed in England, this is a challenging work for 3 octaves of handbells.

 

First performance:

7 July 2007

St Giles’ Church

Hartington

Derbyshire, UK

 

More...