Compositions
Robert A Howard has been composing for more than three decades, with over 150 published compositions and 400 performances, and accepts commissions from ensembles, choirs and orchestras across the UK. As well as being heard in the UK, Robert’s compositions have been performed as far afield as Denmark, Germany, Colombia, USA, Australia and Africa (Nigeria). His compositions are available to view, hear and purchase via Sheet Music Plus.
In the UK Robert’s works have been widely performed, including at the Bath International Festival and in such prestigious venues as London’s South Bank Centre, Purcell Room, Royal Academy of Music, Conway Hall, British Music Information Centre, Liverpool’s Metropolitan and Anglican Cathedrals, the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester), Capstone Theatre (Liverpool Hope University), the Anvil Concert Hall, (Basingstoke), King’s Place (London), CBSO Centre (Birmingham), the Chapel of Selwyn College (Cambridge), and the Royal Albert Hall (London). Rob’s music has been conducted by, amongst others, Marin Alsop, Baldur Bronnimann, Andrew Mogrelia, Gregory Rose, Adrian Brown, Wyn Davies, Sarah MacDonald, Christopher McElroy, James Luxton, Stephen Mannings, Jonathan Evans, Andy Meyers, Anthony Ridley, Gerry Cornelius (ENO), Jacques Cohen, Ian Wells and Quintin Beer, and composers Michael Finnissy and Joe Cutler. His music has been performed by amateurs, schoolchildren, students, semi-professional and professional musicians.
If you would like to commission a piece by Rob, or perform one of his compositions, please get in touch via the Contact page.
List of Compositions (see chronological list instead)
Click any link for score excerpts, recordings & more information. Please note that these scores and recordings are provided for reference purposes only. Most of Robert’s compositions are available via Sheet Music Plus, with more pieces being regularly added. Many compositions, especially flexibly scored, are available through the COMA Music Library’s online catalogue. Where a piece is not currently available via SMP or COMA, please contact the composer for scores and part sets. Please also inform Robert and the Performing Rights Society of any performances. All of his compositions are registered with the PRS for the dissemination of due royalties.
Orchestral Works – click here for score samples & recordings
Cortege (2015), for South Liverpool Orchestra (Liverpool Hope University) and the 11th Prescot Festival
Festival Suite (2006-7) – in four movements for the Third Prescot Festival and Association of British Youth Orchestras, for Knowsley Youth Orchestra
Festive Fanfare (2005) – for the First Prescot Festival of Music & the Arts and Phoenix Concert Orchestra
Wesleyan Overture (2004) – for Knowsley Youth Orchestra
Like Clockwork (2003) – commissioned by Knowsley Youth Orchestra for Prescot town
The Lantern Tower (2002) – for Kingston Chamber Orchestra, after John Piper
Promenade (2000) – SPNM-shortlisted. For the Goldsmiths Sinfonia, after Anthony Caro
The Island (1999) – SPNM-shortlisted. For the Royal Northern Sinfonia, performed by various
Reflections (1998) – arranged for string orchestra
In Memoriam (1997, rev. 2024) – for chamber orchestra
Archforms (1996) – for Wirral Youth Orchestra
Procession (1995) – for Wirral Youth Orchestra
Journey (2010) – for the Seventh Annual Prescot Festival of Music and the Arts
Fantasy on Anna’s Theme (2006) – for the Second Prescot Festival, after John Corigliano
Three-Way Piece (2005) – after Henry Moore
Carousel (2004) – in up to 7 parts
Music to Hear (2003) – SATB & 4-part instrumental, a COMA collaboration with visual artist Kathy Hinde, celebrating the centenary of Hepworth’s birth and performed in Yorkshire Sculpture Park
In Memory III (2003) – in 10 parts for ‘sinfonietta’
A Babe Is Born (2002) – flexibly scored in four instrumental parts, with solo or unison voices & organ/piano
Ghost (2002) – commissioned by COMA, after Ron Mueck
Alla Campana II (2001) – flexibly scored for up to five parts
Alla Campana (2001) – flexibly scored for three parts
Critical Mass (2001) – a flexibly scored free canon
Lines on a Walk (2001) – in 15 parts, after Paul Klee
Promenade IV (2000) – published by Forum London Composers’ Group (ReSound Pack & COMA)
Promenade III (2000) – flexibly scored in 15 parts
Promenade II (2000) – for any (tuned) instruments
Choral & Vocal Works – click here for score samples & recordings
Love Came Down at Christmas (2024) – version for unaccompanied solo voice
Love Came Down at Christmas (2024) – version for unaccompanied SA choir
Love Came Down at Christmas (2024) – version for unaccompanied SATB choir
Praise the Lord (2022) – version for SA choir & organ/piano
Praise the Lord (2022) – version for SA & lower unison voices & organ/piano
Praise the Lord (2022) – version for solo or unison voices & organ/piano
The Little Child (2022) – for solo voice or unison voices & organ/piano
The Little Child (2022) – version for SA choir & organ/piano
The Little Child (2022) – version for SATB choir & organ/piano
Ave Maria (2021) – version for SA choir & organ/piano
Ave Maria (2021) – version for SATB choir & organ/piano
Ave Maria (2021) – for unison voices, or solo voice, & organ/piano
This Little Babe (2021) – version for two-part choir or duet (S/T & A/B) & organ/piano
This Little Babe (2021) – version for solo voice (S/T) & organ/piano
God of All Creation (2021) – version for solo voice or unison choir & organ/piano
God of All Creation (2021) – version for SA choir & organ/piano
God of All Creation (2021) – for 3-part choir (S, A & men) & organ/piano
I Gave You Love… (The Reproaches)(2020) – version for SA choir & organ/piano (& congregation)
Alleluia (2020) – unaccompanied version for SATB choir
God So Loved the World (2020) – for solo voice (soprano or tenor) & organ/piano
God So Loved the World (2020) – version for SA choir & organ/piano
God So Loved the World (2020) – version for SATB choir & organ/piano
Hope (2020) – version for SA choir & organ/piano
Magnificat & Nunc dimittis (2020) – version for solo/unison voices & organ/piano
This Little Babe (2019) – for SATB choir & organ/piano
Glory, Love, and Praise, and Honour (2019) – for SATB choir & organ/piano
Glory, Love, and Praise, and Honour (2019) – version for solo or unison voices & organ/piano
Glory, Love, and Praise, and Honour (2019) – version for two-part choir or duet (S/T & A/B) & organ/piano
Bread of the World (2019) – for SATB choir or quartet, unaccompanied, ad lib.
For Mary, Mother of Our Lord (2019) – version for SA choir & organ/piano
For Mary, Mother of Our Lord (2019) – version for solo voice or unison voices & organ/piano
I Gave You Love… (The Reproaches) (2019) – version for solo voice & organ/piano (also congregation)
I Gave You Love… (The Reproaches) (2019) – for SATB choir & organ/piano (& congregation)
Once in Royal David’s City(2018 & 1997) – for SATB choir & organ/piano
Once in Royal David’s City (2018 & 1997) – flexible version for any voice(s) & organ/piano
For Mary, Mother of Our Lord (2018) – for SATB choir & organ/piano
A Babe Is Born (2018) – version for SA choir & organ/piano (original 2002)
Gloria Patri (2018) – version for SSA choir & organ/piano (original, as part of the Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis, 2011)
Jubilate Deo (2018) – version for SA choir & organ/piano
Ave verum corpus (2018) – version for SA choir & organ/piano
Alleluia (2018) – version for SA choir & organ/piano
Alleluia (2017) – version for solo voice & organ/piano
Alleluia (2017) – for SATB choir & organ/piano
A Babe Is Born (2016) – version for SATB choir & organ/piano
Jubilate Deo (2016) – version for solo voice & organ/piano
Ave verum corpus (2016) – version for solo voice & organ/piano
Jubilate Deo (2016) – for SATB choir & organ/piano , for Prescot Parish Church Choir on the occasion of the 12th Annual Prescot Festival of Music & the Arts
Ave verum corpus (2016) – for SATB choir & organ/piano, for Prescot Parish Church Choir
A Babe Is Born (2015) – for voice (soprano or tenor) & organ/piano
There Is No Rose (2012) – for unaccompanied SATB choir/soloists
Gloria Patri (2011) – separate edition of the Gloria from Magnificat & Nunc dimittis
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (2011) – SATB choir & organ/piano, for Prescot Parish Church Choir and the Seventh Annual Prescot Festival of Music and the Arts
Eurydice to Orpheus (2006) – for soprano & piano
Timanfaya (2004) – an improvisational text piece for any voices (& instruments)
Music to Hear (2003) – unaccompanied version for SATB choir/soloists
A Babe Is Born (2002) – Christmas carol for choir and organ/piano or orchestra
Music, When Soft Voices Die (2001) – for Monica Acosta (mezzo-soprano and piano)
Alter? When the Hills Do (2000) – for mezzo-soprano & piano
Christmas: 1924 (1998) – for baritone & piano
The Day of Pentecost (1998) – for unaccompanied SATB choir
Hark! the herald-angels sing (1998) – for solo or unison voices & organ/piano
Mary Magdalen’s Song (1998) – for solo female voice (& men in chorus)
Soldiers’ Marching Song (1998) – for solo male voice (bass)
May You Be Always Joyful (1997, rev. 2023/4) – version for mezzo-soprano, wind quintet & piano
May You Be Always Joyful (1997, rev. 2023/4) – version for mezzo-soprano & piano
Once in Royal David’s City (1997) – for solo or unison voices & organ/piano
Away in a Manger (1996) – for unison voices or solo voice & piano
O Little Town of Bethlehem (1996) – for unison voices or solo voice & piano
This Little Babe (1994) – Christmas carol for unison voices & organ/piano
Hope (1992) – for voice(s) & organ/piano
Piano Works – click here for score samples & recordings
Minute Bagatelle (2024)
Piano Sonata No. 1 ‘Bells’ (2022/3)
Lauda (2022)
Variations on ‘Barbara Allen’ (2022)
Berceuse (2021)
Bread of the World (2019) – version for organ/piano
Alleluia (2017) – version for organ/piano
Resonance (2017) – for Barbara Kelly
Reclining Figure (2015) – after Henry Moore
Cortege (2015) – for piano
Six Fragments (complete set of Fragments I-VI, 2009-14)
Fragment VI (2014)
Strathspey (2014)
Spiral (2013, completed 2020) – for piano
Chagall Reflection II (elaboration) (2013)
Fragment V (2013)
Seven Sketches (complete set of Sketches I-VII, 2005-2011)
Fragment IV (2012)
Fragment III (2011)
Sketch VII – ‘End Sequence’ (2011)
Fragment II (2010)
Stasis (2010) – for piano
Sketch VI – ‘Chorale’ (2010)
Departure (2009) – for piano
Fragment I (2009)
Rotations (2009) – for Mensa
Sketch V – ‘Theme’ (2009)
The Haunted Woods (2008)
Niarbyl (2008)
Sketch IV – ‘Points’ (2008)
Harmony (2007) – for David Kernick
Sketch III – ‘Toccata’ (2007)
Sketch II – ‘Ground’ (2007)
Rocking (2006)
Rocking (sketch) (2006)
People in the Wind II (2006) – for piano (1 hand)
Farewell (2006)
Chagall Reflection I (original) (2005)
Sketch I – ‘Sequence’ (2005)
Addition I & II (2003) – for JT
Sonnet II (2003)
Sonnet III (2003)
Three Sonnets (complete set of Sonnets I-III, 2002-2003)
In Memory (2002) – for Vee Margolis
The Lantern Tower (Chorales I) (2002)
The Lantern Tower (Chorales II) (2002)
Sonnet I (2002)
Porthleven (2001)
Still (2001) – after Anthony Gormley, for Judith Serota
Chorale for St Andrews (2001) – for Stephen Gutman
Broadway Boogie-Woogie (2000) – after Piet Mondrian
Mother and Child (2000)
Promenade IVa (2000) – version for piano or organ
Solitaire (2000)
Ascension (1999)
Six of One(1999) – in six short movements
Prelude to 1984 (1999) – after George Orwell
Mirror Image (1998) – in 3 movements: Recollections (1997), Reflections, From S to Z
The Mystery of the Trinity (1998)
A, B & C (1997)
Toccatina (1996)
Intrada (1995)
Music for a Film Scene (1995)
Prelude in E-flat ‘Neo Rhapsody’ (1994)
Prelude in C minor (1994)
Two Pastoral Intermezzi (Nos. 1 & 2, 1993-1994)
Pastoral Intermezzo No. 2 (1994)
Alla Marcia (1993)
Pastoral Intermezzo (1993)
Prelude in B-flat (1993)
Prelude in F (1993)
Prelude in G (1993)
Prelude on the Whole Tone Scale (1993)
Nocturne (1992)
Prelude in C (1992)
Arietta (1990)
Waltz in D (1990)
String Quartet – click here for score samples & recordings
String Quartet No. 2 – ‘Locomotion’ (2023)
The Stations of the Cross (2002-3) – for the Kreuzer Quartet, after Barnett Newman
Ghost (2002), Promenade IV (2000) & other flexibly scored pieces
Sequence IV (1999) – for string quartet
String Quartet No. 1 (1998) – for Goldsmiths College New Music Ensemble
Axis (1996)
Chamber & Solo Works – click here for score samples & recordings
Violin Sonata No. 1 (‘Circling’) (2024) – for violin & piano
Vigil (2024) – for organ
Fanfare in Canon (2023) – for brass quartet
Invocation & Dance (2023) – for bassoon & piano
Postlude in Glory (2023) – for organ
People in the Wind III (2020) – for four horns
Tantara (2020) – for solo trombone
Two Studies for Snare (1993/1995, elab. 2019) – for snare drum
Study for Snare (1995, elab. 2019) – for snare drum
Study for Snare No. 2 (1993, elab. 2019) – for snare drum
Soliloquy (2019) – for viola
Flourish (2017) – for trumpet
Mosaic VI (2015) – for solo tuba
Meditation (2014) – for organ, after Olivier Messiaen (La Trinite, Paris) & William Mathias (St Asaph Cathedral). For Tim Hall & the 10th Prescot Festival. Click here for more background.
Mosaic V (2014) – for solo vibraphone
Mosaic IV (2013) – for solo guitar
Flautando (2012) – for solo flute
Mosaic III (2012) – for solo harp
Sub-Bass (2012) – for solo double bass (low C string required)
Mosaic II (2011) – for solo celesta
Mosaic I (2010) – for solo harpsichord
Arioso (2009) – for solo violin
Peasant Song (2008, completed 2020) – for solo violin
Stomping Dance (2008) – for two violins
Tresillo (2007) – for classroom percussion
Rumblin’-Tum! (2005) – a graphic score piece for any solo wind instrument
Klee’s Sketchbook (2004) – a graphic score piece for string quartet
Streight Lines (2004) – graphic score, for two pianos, for Rolf Hind
Achaian II (2002) – for two bassoons
Achaian I (2002) – for solo cello
Contours (2002) – for solo soprano saxophone
Elegy (2002) – for solo French horn (in F)
Mother and Child II (2002) – arranged for ensemble
La Reproduction Interdite (2001) – for solo bassoon, after Rene Magritte
People in the Wind I (2001) – for 8 handbells (4 players)
Lines on a Walk II (2001) – for flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin & cello, after Paul Klee
Distant Bells (2001) – for violin & piano
Still (2001) – version for piano, 4 hands
Dual Form (2000) – for clarinet & cello, after Barbara Hepworth
Introit (2000) – for brass quartet of 1 trumpet in Bb, 2 horns in F & 1 trombone
Promenade V (2000) – for oboist Paul Burnell
Promenade IIa (2000) – for for clarinet in Bb, marimba &/or vibraphone, piano & cello
Trio in Canon (2000) – for bassoon, guitar & trombone
Family of Man (1999) – for flute, clarinet, piano, violin & cello (Gemini), after Barbara Hepworth
Pied Piper (1999) – commissioned by oboist Maria Thomas
Sequence (1999) – for four violas
Sequence II (1999) – for four cellos
Sequence III (1999) – for three violas and three cellos
Summertime (1999) – by George Gershwin, from Porgy & Bess, arr. for clarinet quartet (clarinet & string trio)
Two Forms (1999) – for solo marimba, for Simon Limbrick
Duo Sonatina (1998) – for bassoon & piano
Litany (1998) – for solo bassoon
Poco Variazioni (1998) – for solo cello
Preludium II (1998) – for flute oboe, piano & cello
Prelude to Animal Farm (1998) – for Goldsmiths College New Music Ensemble, after Orwell
Transfigurations (1998) – for piano duet
Trinity, a piano trio (1998) – for violin, cello & piano
Chamber Concerto (1998) – for sinfonietta, for Birmingham University New Music Ensemble
Dances of the Dead (1997, rev. 2024) – for oboe, 2 clarinets in Bb, bassoon, piano, viola, cello & double bass
Mikrokosmos No. 149 (by Béla Bartók, arr. RAH 1997) – for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola & cello
New Routes from an Old Castle (1997, rev. 2024) – for woodwind, brass, piano & percussion
Fantasy (1996) – for solo clarinet
Improvisation (1996) – for solo bassoon
Mirage Sextet (1996, rev. 2024) – for clarinet in A, bassoon, piano, violin, viola & cello, 1996
Scherzetto (1996) – for string trio (violin, viola, cello)
Fiddler’s Air (1995) – for solo violin
For an Unmarked Grave (1995) – for flute, trumpet, piano, cello & bassoon
Monody (1995) – for solo cello
Music for Clapping (1995)
Rondino (1995) – for oboe quartet (oboe, violin, viola, cello)
Folk Lament (1994) – for solo bassoon
Pierrot (1992) – for solo bassoon
Three Bassoon Solos (1994) – for solo bassoon
Duettino (1992) – for violin & cello
Romance (1992) – for cello or bassoon, & piano
The Clown (1991) – for solo bassoon
March in G (1991) – for two violins & cello
Springtide (1991) – for bassoon & piano
Springtide (1991) – for bassoon & piano, alternate version, in C
Jig (1990) – for (classroom) soprano/descant recorder (or flute)
