PHILIP NORMAN
07939 064 247
pkn@pnms.co.uk
Based near Abergavenny,
Monmouthshire, Wales
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Qualifications
Philip is a:
Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO);
Associate of the Royal College of Music (ARCM);
Licentiate of Trinity College of Music, London (LTCL); and
Graduate of Trinity College of Music, London (GTCL).
In 1990, Philip Norman's UK qualifications were closely examined by Norway's Organists' Association (Norges kantor- og organistsforbund). They declared that his qualifications were equivalent to the highest awarded in Norway. ("... tilsvarende diplomeksamen i Norge [6.årig utdanning].")
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Choral Conducting
As a choral conductor, Philip has directed such works as (*= with orchestra):
Beethoven: Mass in C Major*,
Bizet: Te Deum*,
Brahms: Schicksalslied*,
Bruckner: Requiem,
Cherubini: Requiem,
Dubois: Sept Paroles du Christ,
Elgar: Te Deum and Benedictus*,
Gounod: Messe Solenelle de ste. Cécile,
Handel: Messiah*, Samsom*,
Haydn: Die Schöpfung*, Te Deum*, Kleine Orgelmesse*,
Liszt: Missa Choralis, Via Crucis,
Mozart: Kronungsmesse,
Puccini: Messa da Gloria*,
Rheinberger: Stabat Mater,
Rossini: Stabat Mater,
Salieri: Messa da Requiem, Hoffkapellmeister-Messe*,
and many other sacred and secular pieces.
Above: The Questors Choir, Ealing
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Orchestral Conducting
As an orchestral conductor, Philip has directed such works as:
Bach: Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, Brandenburg Concerto no. 4,
Beethoven: Symphonies 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, Overtures Leonora 1, Fidelio, Prometheus,
Bizet: Symphony in C,
Brahms: Symphonies 1, 2, 3, 4, Akademische Festouvertüre, Piano Concerto no. 1,
Bruch: Violin Concerto in G Minor,
Debussy: Petite Suite,
Dvorak: Symphonies 7, 8, 9, Cello Concerto in B Minor, Carnival,
Haydn: Symphonies 100, 101, 104,
Hummel: Trumpet Concerto in E flat,
Mendelssohn: Hebrides, Calm Sea, Symphonies 1, 3, 4, 5.
Mozart: Symphonies 31, 35, 40, Piano Concerti 21 and 24, Flute and Harp Concerto, Clarinet Concerto,
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto 2;
Schubert: Symphonies 3, 4, 8, 9,
Schumann: Cello Concerto, Symphony 1,
Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations, Symphony 5,
etc, etc.
Above: rehearsing with Woodford Symphony Orchestra
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Organists Online
Organists Online is an internet based system for facilitating contact between organist and those who need their services. The online requests for organists is updated daily.
There is no charge for using this system, neither for organists nor for clients seeking their services.
The site includes basic information (Registered Organists) and much information (RegisteredPlus Organists) about over 1,100 players and a statistical survey of fees paid to organists over several years.
Philip founded Organists Online in 2000.
Further information is available HERE
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Small Choirs
The Small Choirs website is particulary designed for church choirs with few or no men.
It provides over 1,300 pieces of free, downloadable music by composers, editors and arrangers from around the world, ranging from unison anthems through to complex motets for SSS-AAA-Men.
Many of the pieces have flexible requirements.
An annual Small Choirs Festival is organised early in the year, and occasional local/district festivals are arranged.
Philip founded Small Choirs in 2004.
Further information is available HERE.
Above: a Small Choirs Festival in Walthamstow
Here is a piece by Gerry Howe, available from the site:
And here is another by Hazel Hudson
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Sangerstevne
The London Sangerstevne, founded by Philip in 2004, was an international, non-competitive choral festival, based on a Norwegian model, in which choirs sing a repertoire of their own choosing and also combine to form massed Festival Choirs.
The first London Sangerstevne lasted just a few hours with about 100 singers.
Present day Sangerstevner lasts a whole weekend with a main Festival Concert in central London and Fringe Concerts across the city. The Festival commonly includes 800-1000 voices with participants from across Europe.
Above: Oppdal Songlag from Norway at a London Sangerstevne
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Organist
Philip plays for churches of many denominations. However, he is particularly experienced in playing for Catholic and Anglo-Catholic services and for Lutheran liturgies. This last is backed up by his five years playing for the state church of Norway from 1986 - 1991, and his appointment at St Marien mit St Georg in London WC1 from 2000 - 2020.
Above: the organ of San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti, Venice. The choir hoped that Philip would accompany Fauré and Brahms on this instrument. Luckily, there was a worn out Allen in the Sanctuary.
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Arranging and Composing
Philip makes no claims to be an original or exciting composer or arranger. However, working as he often does with groups of shifting and/or uncertain membership, he is frequently called upon to provide music to fill a gap or need not covered by published material.
His tailor-made, bespoke gap-fillers range from simple a cappella music for two-part choirs through to arrangements for full symphony orchestra.
Just As I Am
This is a simple arrangement of the melody Saffron Walden made for a choir with a few women (who weren't sure whether they were altos or sopranos) and a couple of men. If most people already know the tune, there are very few new notes to learn.
Sing Praise to God
This piece was originally written for massed choirs in Norway on an occasion when the singers had very little rehearsal time. Apart from the last couple of bars, it consist entirely of just two melodies, presented as a series of canons and double canons.
The organist on both recordings is Gary Sieling.
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Visiting Choirs
Philip Norman often acts as a tour manager for visiting foreign choirs, undertaking as much or as little of the organization as is necessary to ensure a good experience for the visitors. In recent years he has worked with: Cantilena (Norway, 2003, 2008), Amber Music (Latvia, 2008), Musica con Grazia (Austria, 2008), Oppdal Songlag (Norway, 2010), Korisma (Norway, 2010), Scenario (Norway 2013), Moss Kammerkor (Norway, 2015), Young Voices (Norway, 2016), Caritatis (Norway, 2016), and Olavs Menn (Norway, 2017).
Above: some of the publicity for the tour by Caritatis
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Projects
On an occasional basis, Philip initiates various, short-term choral projects, which may range from providing a choir for a special occasion through to a workshop-like day/weekend study of a particular work/genre of music ending with a public concert.
Once in a while, these projects become longterm endeavours, such as the London Sangerstevne and Small Choirs.
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Illustrated Talks
Philip gives a number of music related talks with rich audio and visual illustrations. Each lasts about 60 minuntes. He is full equipped with projector, screen, and sound system, so these talks can take place in a variety of locations.
Further information is available HERE.
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To Sum Up
Philip is a Jack of (not all, but many) trades and a Master of none. Take any one aspect of his musical work and you could find someone who does it better. However, his musical qualifications, varied orchestral and choral experience, and ancillary IT and project managing skills allow him to adopt a flexible and (hopefully) inventive approach to promoting live music making in a variety of settings.
Further information
is available from:
Philip Norman
pnms.co.uk
pkn@pnms.co.uk
07939 064 247
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