John Kelsall

On Monday 28 July 2008 the John Kelsall Memorial Recital took place at St Michael's, Cornhill, London, given by the resident organist and Director of Music Jonathan Rennert.

This event celebrating the life and work of John Kelsall and directed by Benjamin Costello, took place at St. Andrew's Church, Surbiton, Surrey, England, on Saturday, 4 November 2006. It marked the exact twenty-year anniversary of Kelsall's death, which occurred on 4 November 1986. Choral Evensong led by the Reverend Val Cory was followed by a reception and a brief panel discussion regarding Kelsall's life and work. The evening concluded with a short chamber concert featuring a selection of Kelsall's secular works.

Music: Benjamin Costello, after John Kelsall / Completed: August 2006

He died in Kingston-upon-Thames on 4 November 1986, aged 39.

After Kelsall's death in 1986, the Chamber Choir was directed by Peter Johnson until his move to Birmingham Conservatoire in 1990.

Text: I Corinthians vs. 15 and 20, and Wie Schön Leuchtet / Completed: 1986

Text: Robert Southwell / Completed: 1985 (published by Oecumuse in 1985) / Commissioned by the John Bate Choir (now Thames Philharmonic Choir)

Music: 16th Century Anon (collected from British Library Egerton 2971 and British Library Add MSS 17786-17791 / Text: Anon / Arrangement completed on 3 December 1985

Text: I Corinthians 13 (vs. 11 – 13) / Completed: 24 January 1984

Music: Traditional / Melody and Text from Mrs Verrall, Monk's Gate, Sussex / Arrangement started on 22 October 1984 and completed on 3 November 1984

Text: National Library of Scotland Ms. Advocates 193.1; f.59a / Completed on 26 December 1983

Text: from the Benedicite / Completed: 14 September 1982

Text: late 15th Century, from Trinity College, Cambridge MS 0.3.58 (adapted) / Completed: 1982

Text: Romance IX – San Juan de la Cruz / Completed: 15 October 1982

Edited by John Kelsall in 1982 Sacred music composed for the use of the choir of Durham (1790–1811) (p. 104 BL: I.219)

Music: Traditional Czech Christmas carol / Text: Shawn Colvin / Arranged: 1981

Text: The Song of Songs Ch. 8 vs. 6 and 7 / Completed: 14 January 1980

Introit: Kelsall – Eternal God, we look to thee (1979); Preces and Responses: Kelsall (Fourth Set, 1979); Canticles: Kelsall – Magnificat (1986) and Nunc Dimittis (Kelsall/Costello, 2006); Psalm 22: Chants by S. S. Wesley, B. Costello and J. Kelsall; Anthem: Kelsall – I call with my whole heart (1969); Organ Voluntary: Kelsall – Rhapsody No. 3 (1986)

Text: Gloria, with poem of 1763 by James Merrick (1720–69) / Completed: 24 January 1979

Music: Maurice Duruflé (orig. F major) / Text: The Lord's Prayer / Arranged: c. 1979

Yes (1978), Sonata for Bassoon and Piano (1978), Three Miniatures (1979), Prelude and Fugue (1979)

Text: George Mackay Brown / Completed: 23 March 1978

Kelsall was a lecturer at Kingston Polytechnic, now Kingston University, from 1977 until his untimely death in 1986. He founded the Polytechnic's Chamber Choir, becoming its first director, composing for the group and establishing a demanding calendar of concerts and cathedral residencies. The Chamber Choir under Kelsall became one of the Polytechnic's premier ensembles, performing at major venues up and down the UK, as well as giving a Purcell Room performance.

Music: Traditional / Text: Traditional 16th Century / Arranged: 1976

Text: Christina Rossetti / Completed: 5 October 1975

Text: attrib. Rabanus Maurus (776–856) / Completed: 7 December 1974

Text: 15th Century; Anon / Completed: unknown (revised on 25 August 1973)

Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s the Music Centre at Kingston Polytechnic was offering a BA Hons Mus Ed degree (CNAA), designed to develop the wider range of skills required in music education, with an emphasis on combining academic and practical aspects of music-making.

Completed: 1970 (MA submission) May to June 1969, revised September 1969.

Text: from Psalm 119 (office of None) / Completed: 1 May 1969 (Aberdeen)

Text: Early 15th Century (slms 2593) to be sung in Middle English / Completed: 24 October 1969

Text: from Psalm 42 / Composed: March 1969 (Aberdeen, Scotland)

Kelsall was born in East Retford and studied composition, piano and organ at Aberdeen University, gaining an MA, with composition a major part of his final submission. His PhD (Compositional Techniques in the Music of Stockhausen (1951–1970)) was completed at Glasgow University in 1975. He completed a Cert. Ed in 1975 and was awarded the FLCM in Composition in 1979. He wrote a considerable amount of sacred and secular repertoire for choir and organ, and numerous chamber works.

John Lawrence Kelsall (31 July 1947 – 4 November 1986) was a British composer, conductor and lecturer.

Text: words taken from the closing lines of Joyce's Ulysses (1914–1921) / Completed: 1978

Text: “Divine Hymns” compiled by J. Smith, USA, 1784 / Completed: 1980

Text: “Divine Hymns” compiled by J. Smith, USA, 1784 / Completed: 1980