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Roger Steptoe

In a career as a composer spanning more than three decades, Roger Steptoe, born in 1953, has produced a comprehensive output of works in the major vocal, instrumental and orchestral genres. A pupil of Alan Bush, he has been especially noted for music that adroitly combines meticulous craftsmanship with a romantic sensitivity to colour and atmosphere. His style is heard at its most distinctively individual in his concertos for oboe, for clarinet and for tuba, all recently recorded, in his cello concerto, and in his songs, including two sets of Chinese Lyrics. Several of his shorter chamber pieces have been included in the major examination syllabuses, and both as a composition teacher, currently resident in France, and as a solo pianist and accompanist with an international reputation, he is highly regarded.

For further information about Roger and his other compositions, go to http://www.rogersteptoe.com.

Works

These titles can be ordered in our online shop, or, in the case of rental works, through our Hire Library. The items with [PDF] after them are links to free sample pages in the Adobe Actobat format.

Woodwind

Concerto for Clarinet & Strings. 1989 [27'] (Rental Ref. HL285) [PDF]
Solo clarinet & Str(s) 8.8.6.6.4.
Concerto for Oboe & Strings. 1982 [23'] (Ref. H217)
Trans. Oboe & Piano
Concerto for Oboe & Strings. 1982 [23'] (Rental Ref. HL261) [PDF]
Solo oboe & Str(s) 8.8.6.6.4.
Duo for Oboe & Harp. 1991 [8'] (Ref. AC92) [PDF]
Impromptus for Clarinet, Two 1978 [6'] (Ref. H315) [PDF]
Studies for Bassoon & Piano, Two 1983 [7'] (Ref. H209) [PDF]

Brass

Concerto for Tuba & Strings 1983 [15'] (Ref. H210) [PDF]
Transcription for Tuba & Piano
Concerto for Tuba & Strings. 1983 [15'] (Rental Ref. HL263)
Solo tuba & Str(s) 8.8.6.6.4.
Recorded by The Royal Ballet Sinfonia with James Gourlay (tuba), conducted by Gavin Sutherland.
Label: Naxos. Catalogue reference: 8.557754

'Roger Steptoe’s Tuba Concerto is a work that was, until now, unknown to me. It’s in three movements and is a very welcome addition to our ever-growing, but still limited, repertoire. Each movement sings and, although twelve –toned, is very easy on the ears' ..... The Royal Ballet Sinfonia under the direction of Gavin Sutherland provides excellent accompaniment and James Gourlay’s playing is awe-inspiring.'

Scott Mendoker, http://www.tubanews.com

Roger Steptoe's lyrical Concerto differs from orchestral tuba-writing, as it's usually in the higher register where a baritone singer might be singing or a cello might be playing, and that's a register that's not often exploited in orchestral writing. In the orchestra you're supporting the brass by being its foundation, but as a soloist you join those ranks of, if you like, baritone to tenor instruments, like the bassoon or the cello.

"James Gourlay on the tuba repertoire" Interview by Martin Cullingford, The Gramophone, April 2006

Roger Steptoe's Concerto from 1983 was new to me and explores some exquisite timbres and sepia-like images in its vocalised rhetoric.

Jonathan Freeman-Attwood. The Gramophone, April 2006

The opening movement moves with a purposefulness reminiscent of its counterpart in the Vaughan Williams [tuba] concerto. The second movement, a fleet scherzo, has the tuba dancing as fast as it can, without losing its essential character. The finale, a slow one, is genuinely beautiful.

S.G.S. (May 2006) http://classicalcdreview.com

The atmospheric slow movements, especially the finale, feature a cobweb of gentle and wistful dissonance with nostalgia sidling in and out almost imperceptibly.

.
Rob Barnett. Musicweb International (http://www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/2006/Jun06/British_Tuba_8557754.htm)

Sonata No. 3 for Brass Quintet. 1982 [12'] (Ref. AC27)
Sonnets for Brass Quintet, Four. 1984 [20'] (Ref. AC28)

Strings

Concerto for Cello & Orchestra 1991 [25'] (Rental Ref. HL293)
Solo cello, flute, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani & Str(s) 6.6.5.4.2.

'... there is a fullness of life in this piece that sweeps through its four dance movements with passionate, almost ecstatic immediacy.'

Michael White, The Independent on Sunday, December 1992

'The concerto is fastidiously crafted. Steptoe is an accomplished writer.'

Tim Souster, The Independent, December 1992

Pieces for Viola & Piano, Three 1982 [8'] (Ref. H197) [PDF]
Sonata No. 1 1983 [12'] (Ref. AC25)
for Violin & Piano.
Sonata No. 2 1986 [13'] (Ref. AC26)
for Violin & Piano.
Study 2 1981 [7'] (Ref. H247)
for Solo Guitar
Study for Solo Violin. 1978 [7'] (Ref. AC80) [PDF]

Solo Piano

Equinox. 1981 [10'] (Ref. H314) [PDF]
Solo Piano
Nocturnes, Three. [8'] (Ref. AC91) [PDF]
Solo Piano.
Piano Sonata No. 2. 1988 [16'] (Ref. AC78) [PDF]
Solo Piano
Preludes, Three. 1976 [10'] (Ref. H242)
Solo Piano

Choral

Introits, Two. 1985 [3'] (Ref. W155)
SATB & Organ
Life's Unquiet Dream. [25'] (Ref. AC93)
Baritone Solo, SATB & Orchestra. Vocal Score.
Life's Unquiet Dream. [25'] (Rental Ref. HL295)
Solo baritone, SATB choir, flute (doubling piccolo), oboe (doubling cor anglais), clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), bassoon, 2 horns, timpani, harp & Str(s) 4.4.3.2.1.
Passionate Shepherd to his Love, The. 1992 [4'] (Ref. W191)
SSA & Piano
Winter. 1976 [2'30''] (Ref. W131) [PDF]
SATB

Chamber Works

Clarinet Quintet. 1980 [35'] (Ref. AC41)
Parts.
Clarinet Quintet. 1980 [35'] (Ref. AC40) [PDF]
Score.
Dance Suite [20'] (Ref. AC24) [PDF]
for Oboe, Clarinet & String Quartet.
In the white and the walk of the morning. 1989, rev. 1990 [8'] (Ref. AC81) [PDF]
Four Guitars.
Oboe Quartet. 1988 [18'] (Ref. AC77) [PDF]
Score and Parts.
Piano Trio. [15'] (Ref. AC95) [PDF]
Score and Parts.
String Quartet No. 1. 1976 [20'] (Ref. AC29) [PDF]
Score and Parts.
String Quartet No. 2. 1985 [17'] (Ref. AC30) [PDF]
Score and Parts.

Voice & Piano/Solo Instrument

Aspects 1978 [16'] (Ref. AC45) [PDF]
Song Cycle. Voice & Piano (Words by Ursula Vaughan Williams).
Chinese Lyrics, Set 1. [9'] Soprano & Piano.(Ref. B663) [PDF]
Chinese Lyrics, Set 2. 1983 [9'] Mezzo soprano or Countertenor & Piano. Ref. B664) [PDF]
Two Folk Songs. 1986 [7'] (Ref. H292) [PDF]
(Early One Spring and Brigg Fair). arr. Baritone & Violin
Rondos, Five [17'] (Ref. AC79) [PDF]
for Soprano, Baritone & Piano.
Sonnets to Delia, Three. [12'] (Ref. AC94) [PDF]
Baritone & Piano.

Voice & Ensemble/Orchestra

Chinese Lyrics, Set 1. 1982 [9'] (Ref. AC22) [PDF]
arr Soprano & String Quintet.
Chinese Lyrics, Set 1. 1982 [9'] (Ref. AC23)
arr Soprano & String Orchestra.
Elegy on the Death and Burial of Cock Robin. 1988 [7.5'] (Rental Ref. HL278)
Counter-tenor & eleven solo strings
In Winter's Cold Embraces Dye. Vocal Score 1985 [18'] (Ref. B671) [PDF]
Mezzo-Soprano & Tenor Soli, SATB & Orchestra.
In Winter's Cold Embraces Dye. 1985 [18'] (Rental Ref. HL275)
Mezzo-soprano & tenor soloists, SATB choir; 2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (2nd doubling cor anglais), 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, harp & Str(s) 6.6.2.2.2.

Orchestra

Cheers! Orchestra. 1993 [6'] (Rental Ref. HL299)
2 flutes, oboe, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, percussion (1) & Str(s) 6.4.4.2.1.
Miniatures for String Orchestra, Two. 1977 [8'] (Ref. H277)
Score & Parts
Sinfonia Concertante. 1981 [18'] (Ref. AC43)
Vln, vla, vcl soli; str (min players 6.6.4.4.2.) Set of Parts
Sinfonia Concertante. 1981 [18'] (Ref. AC42) [PDF]
Vln, vla, vcl soli; str (min players 6.6.4.4.2.) Score only

Recent and Forthcoming Performances

Tuba Concerto
University of Manchester String Orchestra
7 November 2009. Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Manchester University

For information about Roger Steptoe and his works,
please e-mail Caroline Holloway caroline@stainer.co.uk