Mark Goddard: Recent Episodes
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In March 2023, Spartan Press was dissolved by the government. This came as a potent shock to Pat and myself. It was 33 years ago that we founded the company and when we sold Spartan Press in 2018 it was a thriving enterprise. So sad.
But… there is good news: after talking to the various exam boards, other music publishers, music dealers, legal boffins and numerous former Spartan composers, Pat and I decided to start again from scratch.
Our new company is called ‘Clifton Edition Ltd.’ and we have signed an exclusive distribution deal with Stainer and Bell Ltd. starting in May 2023.
We have embarked on an ambitious re-publishing schedule and are energetically upgrading the quality of the editions: re-typesetting the music to the highest modern standards and printing all the new books in ‘Concert Size’ (9”x12”) with full laminated colour covers. We are sharing the work between Halstans and Caligraving:- both top notch specialist music printers.
What’s new at Clifton Edition
During Februrary 2023, a Goddard family initiative was launched to keep in touch using ‘Zoom’, including each sibling presenting their own ‘Desert Island Discs’ selections. Roughly following the time-honoured Radio 4 programme, we each, in turn, chose eight pieces of music to represent our lives to date.
Watch the YouTube Video (20 minutes)
It’s been a terrific exercise and I found it particularly difficult to choose just eight favourite pieces. So hard to simply discard so many ‘old and trusted friends’ that I’ve grown to love on this long journey through life, particularly having chosen music as a career.
At first, I thought about presenting eight soppy tunes, each paying tribute to the people I love most in life… Tunes that have strong associations, starting with our parents, (sisters, obviously[!]), Pat and the children — Tess, George and Rose. But this wouldn’t necessarily be MY desert island choices.
Next, it occurred to me that it was an opportunity to present eight pieces of music that I’d composed. An unadulterated display of egotism! But then, thinking sensitively about my beloved audience, (my sisters) I ultimately felt that I just couldn’t do it to them! Perhaps there will be another occasion.
So, in the end, it occurred to me that Lauren Laverne would want me to work chronologically through the decades. And she’d insist on some variety too, which is a good thing. And having been born rather conveniently at the beginning of a decade in 1960 — it makes the decade plan rather neat!
No. 1
Hubert Parry’s Hymn tune ‘Repton’: ‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’
No.2
Robert Farnon’s Colditz theme
No. 3
Cole Porter’s “Let’s Do It”, in a version by Noel Coward
No. 4
Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring”
No. 5
Mark Goddard’s “The Heat of the Sun — a Dream Cycle for Strings”
No.6
Bernstein/Sondheim: West Side Story (Anita/Maria duet) “A Boy Like That”
No. 7
J. S. Bach: Magnificat — The “Gloria”
No. 8
Mark Goddard: ‘Theseus’ from ‘About Gods’
See the YouTube video
New Studies for PianoMusic by Mark Goddard Op. 90Six short piano studies, each about a minute long,
and each portraying a contrasting emotion or state of mind.
Contents1. Contentment
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Apprehension
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Disquiet
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Mischief
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Fulfilment
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Assimilation
September 1982Pat and Mark Goddard were married on 11th September 1982, and as part of their 40th Wedding Anniversary celebrations, the following media was produced:
Short video based on the old music hall song ‘My Old Dutch’.
A 6 minute video – a more relaxed version of our Ruby Anniversary video. This allows more time to peruse each of the ‘slides’ – one for each year, 1982-2022. Mark’s Cockney Music Hall singing is gone and replaced by some gentle 19th Century Polish piano music.
Our first 40 years of marriage: a PDF
Our first 40 years of marriageDownload
About Gods: Six Preludes for Piano Op. 88 Six Legendary Figures from Greek Mythology, each with their own unique musical character. Approximately grades 6-8. Full duration: 10-11 minutes. Published by EVC Publications — Buy the book here. The final piece of the set (Theseus) was printed in International Piano Magazine during the autumn of 2020. […]
Op. 69 New Edition! First performed in Oxford in February 1989 and features three solo trumpets. The ingredients of a “Rip-roaring Seafarer’s Yarn” permeate the music throughout. See YouTube video trailer link to get a taste of the music. Described as a ‘Tone Poem’, this new edition of Sea Legend, carefully revised and fully typeset, […]
Five short movements for string quartet — Op. 43 Music by Mark Goddard New Edition! Mark Goddard’s Halloween was originally composed in 1982. It has recently been fully revised by the composer during October 2021 and fully typeset to the highest standards. This new edition replaces the old legacy edition of 1982. Total duration: about […]
Bassoon Quartet — Op. 89Music by Mark Goddard New Edition! A rampant, 4 minute bassoon quartet arrangement by Mark Goddard – a tongue in cheek ‘Spot the Tune’ competition, to satisfy a challenge issued by Barry Lee in October 2021. The score and parts for four bassoons are available free of charge: See below to […]
Five short movements for trumpet, piano, violin, viola and cello — Op. 47 Music by Mark Goddard New Edition! Mark Goddard’s Circles is available in various versions. This brand new edition is for chamber ensemble. Composed in 1982, this work won the Royal Academy of Music’s Humphrey Searle Composition Prize, and has recently revised by […]
A Suite for Strings — Op. 66 Music by Mark Goddard New Edition! Mark Goddard’s Chesterton Flowers: A Suite for Strings Op. 66includes: Hollyhocks, Deadly Nightshade, French Marigolds and Canterbury Bells. This music was commissioned for a performance at a flower festival, held in the picturesque Oxfordshire village of Chesterton. The first performance was given […]
A Christmas Story for Wind Quintet and Narrator — Op. 57 Story by Stephen Pegg. Music by Mark Goddard New Edition! A charming Christmas story, ideal for a family Christmas concert. The Narrator tells the story, while the music features each of the instruments of the wind quintet in turn. The bassoon (a sleepy bear), […]
ABOUT GODS Op. 88 Six Legendary Figures from Greek Mythology, each with their own unique musical character. Approximately grades 6-8. Full duration: 10-11 minutes. Soon to be published by EVC Publications — Buy the book here. The final piece of the set (Theseus) will be reproduced as part of an article: “Mark Goddard at 60” […]
Op. 72 New Edition! First performed by Wantage Silver Band, England in June 1983. Pasodoble Demento is a popular sort½ ‘lollipop’ for Brass Band. First performed by Wantage Silver Band, England in June 1983, this encore piece has been republished as part of Spartan’s 30th birthday celebrations during 2020 and replaces the legacy ‘Facsimile Edition’ […]
Op. 49 New Edition! New 2020 edition now available: carefully revised and fully typeset. This short overture, which parallels some of the traditional circus acts (for example trapeze, jugglers, clowns etc.), is a tribute to, and an affectionate parody of, a long lost and much missed musical genre. First performed by Wantage Silver Band in […]
Op. 70 New Edition! First performed by Wantage Silver Band, England in June 1983. Featuring three solo cornets, the ingredients of a “Rip-roaring Seafarer’s Yarn” permeate the music throughout. Described as a ‘Tone Poem’, this new edition of Sea Legend for Brass Band (SP125), carefully revised and fully typeset, is published as part of Spartan’s […]