Nigel Springthorpe

Nigel Springthorpe BMus PhD FLCM PGCE is Director of Music at St Albans High School for Girls where he conducts the school's Senior and Chamber Orchestras as well as several choirs. He is also an examiner for the Trinity Guildhall examination board. His professional interests include conducting and 18th century Passion works. In 1989 he co-authored a book with John Lumley The art of conducting: A guide to essential skills (London: Rhinegold, 1989, revised 2nd edition: Westminster Publications, 2005).
Conducting
Nigel Springthorpe specialised in conducting in his time at the University of Surrey, going on to study conducting and piano at the Royal College of Music where he won the Sir Adrian Boult Conducting Prize. He then studied conducting with Helmuth Rilling in Stuttgart.
Springthorpe runs his own orchestra, the Amici Chamber Orchestra and has been involved in several youth orchestras, operatic societies and choirs in north London including the Harrow Choral Society. He has twice appeared as conductor at the St Albans International Organ Festival.
Research (and publications)
Three important première performances of 18th century Passion works (CPEBach: Markus Passion -British premiere (1988); JSBach: St Mark Passion - London premiere; JSBach: St Mark Passion (Gomme reconstruction)- World and London premieres) led to an interest in 18th century choral music on which Nigel Springthorpe has completed fellowship and doctoral dissertations. Currently he is working on the thematic catalogue of the works of Johann Georg Röllig (1710-1790) & Johann Christian Röllig (b.1716) and a large project on the 18th century keyboard concerto. He is author of three articles in New Grove Dictionary of Music, of programme notes for Naxos recordings, and has read several papers in conferences in England and Germany.
Publications - articles and editions
*‘The Zerbst Passion Tradition’ published in Fasch Studien 6, Johann Friedrich Fasch und sein Wirken für Zerbst (Dessau: 1997)
*Review: Telemann: Fortsetzung des harmonischen Gottesdienstes Early Music (May 1997)
*‘'Zerbst'’, ‘'Johann Georg Röllig'’ and ‘'Georg Peter Weimar'’ - Three articles for New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (London: 2000)
*Symphony in G and Symphony in F by Christoph Nichelmann (edited Springthorpe) (Prima la musica! 2004)
*‘'Mich vom Stricke meiner Sünden - a work for Zerbst?'’; published in Schriften zur Mitteldeutschen Musikgeschichte Band 14. (Beskow 2007)
*Trinity, don’t they do recorder exams? - article for The Recorder Magazine (Dec. 2006) pp. 130-132.
*Viola Duet in C and Bassoon Quartet by Johann Georg Röllig (edited Springthorpe) (Prima la musica! 2007)
*J.F. Fasch: ‘Mich vom Stricke meiner Sünden’ - programme notes for ‘Naxos’ CD recording (2008) and for the performance at the Zerbst International Musicological Conference 16.4.2008
*“Who was Röllig? - Röllig and the Sing-Akademie collection” Published in Fasch-Studien 10: Musik an der Zerbster Residenz : Bericht über die Internationale Wissenschaftliche Konferenz vom 10. bis 12 . April 2008 im Rahmen der 10. Internationalen Fasch-Festtage in Zerbst (Ortus Musikverlag, Beskow 2008)
*Symphonies in C, D, Eb and Bb by Johann Christian Röllig (edited Springthorpe) (Prima la musica! 2009) Symphony in Bb performed at the Zerbst International Musicological Conference, April 2008
*‘Recorders in the repertoire of the court of Anhalt-Zerbst’ - article for The Recorder Magazine (Aug. 2009)
*Edexcel AS Instrumental Music: The Definitive Guide for 2011 (endorsed by Edexcel) Zigzag Education (2010). http://zigzageducation.co.uk/synopses/3915-AS-Edexcel-Instrumental-Set-Works-2011.asp?filename=3915-AS-Edexcel-Instrumental-Set-Works-2011
*Edexcel A2 Instrumental Music: The Definitive Guide for 2011 (endorsed by Edexcel) ZigZag Education (2010). http://zigzageducation.co.uk/synopses/3915-AS-Edexcel-Instrumental-Set-Works-2011.asp?filename=3915-AS-Edexcel-Instrumental-Set-Works-2011
*Edexcel AS Instrumental Music: The Definitive Guide for 2012 Zigzag Education (2011).
*Edexcel AS Vocal Music: The Definitive Guide for 2012 Zigzag Education (2011). http://zigzageducation.co.uk/order.asp?useridMusic&SubjectSplitA*space*Level
*Edexcel A2 Instrumental Music: The Definitive Guide for 2012 ZigZag Education (2011)
*Edexcel A2 Applied Music: The Definitive Guide for 2012 ZigZag Education (2011)
*Edexcel AS Instrumental Music: The Definitive Guide for 2013 Zigzag Education (in preparation).
*Edexcel A2 Instrumental Music: The Definitive Guide for 2013 ZigZag Education (inpreparation)
Teaching
After completing formal studies Springthorpe started teaching at The John Lyon School and in 1988 was appointed Director of Music at St Albans High School for Girls.
Composing
Nigel Springthorpe has written a variety of works for solo voice, mixed and upper-voice choirs, string orchestra and solo instruments including: The Hollow Men for mixed choir, baritone and orchestra (unpublished); Gloria for SA choir, solo sop., brass quintet and organ (1989, rev.2000 - unpublished); Ringwood (St Albans High School Hymn) (Aug. 2008 - unpublished).
A number of works are published by GoodMusic (Roberton); Presto Publications Ltd.; Beartramka and by Kevin Mayhew Ltd., for whom Nigel is an 'in-house' composer:
Published works include:
*Choral works:
A litel childe thereis ibore (2001) SSA and organ, Goodmusic (2006);
A litel childe thereis ibore (1991) SATB and organ, Goodmusic (2006);
Lute-book Lullaby (2003), SSA and harp, Goodmusic (2006);
Lullay, my child and weep no more (2008) SSA and organ, Goodmusic (2009);
Lullay, my child and weep no more (2008) SATB and organ, Goodmusic (2009);
The Lord bless you and keep you (2008) SATB and organ, Kevin Mayhew (2010);
The Lord bless you and keep you (2008) SAB and organ, Kevin Mayhew (2010);
Jesus Christ The Apple Tree (2010) SSA and organ, Goodmusic (2010);
A Boy is born (Puer natus est) (2003) SSA and organ, Presto Publications (2011);
Angels Song (1998, rev. 2006) SSA and organ, Presto Publications (2011);
Blake's Cradle Song (2010) SSA and organ), Presto Publications (2011);
Corpus Christi Carol (1986) SATB, Presto Publications (2011);
God be with you (1992) SATB, Presto Publications (2011);
Lullay my liking (2003) SSA and piano/harp, Presto Publications (2011);
There is no Rose (1984) SATB and organ, Presto Publications (2011);
There is no Rose (2000) SSA and organ, Presto Publications (2011);
Ubi caritas (2011) SA and organ, Goodmusic (2011)
*Choral Arrangements:
Vivaldi: Magnificat (2001) for SSA and string orchestra - Vocal score: Kevin Mayhew (2008)
Full score and parts: Prima la Musica! (2008);
O Waly, Waly (2001) for SSA, 2 clarinets, 2 violins and cello, Presto Publications (2011);
Silent Night (2000) for SSA, Presto Publications (2011);
published in Songs every choir loves to sing, Kevin Mayhew (2011):
Dem dry bones, It's a long way to Tipperary, On Ilkley Moor baht'at, Ye banks and braes
*Descants:
published in St Albans High School Hymnal (2000 & 2005):
Nun danket, Thornbury, Woodlands, Richmond,Kelvingrove, Praise my Soul, Abbot’s Leigh

published in The Really Big Descant Book, Kevin Mayhew (2009):
Blessed Assurance, Down Ampney, Gott will’s machen, Gwalchmai, O Lord my God!, Kingsfold, Laudes Domini, Mount Ephraim, Ratisbon, St Michael, Surrey, Victory.

*Instrumental Works - works for harp:
Heart’s Journey, Idyll& Rondo - published in Lever Harp 2000, Beartramka (2000);
Carol(in Eb major)- published in Lever Harp World Beartramka (2006);
Carol(in E major), Christkind & Mary’s lullaby - published as Three Christmas Pieces, Beartramka (2007)
*Works for cello:
14 works for cello and piano: Bossa Nova, Tango, Whistful memories, Bustling Boulevarde, Sentimental Sarabande, Jazz Waltz, Calypso, Russian Dance, Dangerous Pastimes, Snow Falling, Hoe down, Return to Aranjuez, Go with the flow, Lute book lullaby - published in Go with the flow, Kevin Mayhew(2009)
*Works for Organ:
Were you here when they crucified my Lord? (arrangement) - published in The Great Sprituals, Kevin Mayhew (2011)
On Ilkley Moor baht 'at & Ye Banks and Braes (arrangements) - published in Melodies of the Isles, Kevin Mayhew (2011)
*Examination pieces:
Three harp pieces published in Lever Harp 2000 are currently in the Trinity-Guildhall and ABRSM syllabuses. A further piece is published in Lever Harp World and is also in the Trinity-Guildhall examination syllabus. Four cello pieces in Go with the flow are included in the grade 2, 3 & 4 Trinity-Guildhall syllabuses.

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