Score excerpts, descriptions and recordings of Robert A Howard’s orchestral compositions.

Cortege (for orchestra, 2015)

Written for David Kernick & the 11th Annual Prescot Festival

Click the thumbnail to view a score excerpt (PDF), or listen to the recording below, by the South Liverpool Orchestra (Liverpool Hope University), conducted by the composer, from its second performance on 28/06/15. Below that is a video of another performance, given by the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra on 17/11/18.

Festival Suite (for orchestra, 2006-7)

Very much in the mould of Britten’s Simple Symphony, the suite is a revision of several of the composer’s earliest works. The recording below is by the South Liverpool Orchestra, conducted by the composer, at the 2016 Prescot Festival (26/06/16).

Like Clockwork (2003)

This is the complete version of the work. It later appeared in abridged form as the final movement of Festival Suite. Robert wrote about this composition, and the process of composing for a youth orchestra, in his 2003 PhD thesis.

Click the thumbnail to view an excerpt from the score, or listen to a recording below, by Knowsley Youth Orchestra, conducted by Simon Gay.

The Island (for chamber orchestra, 1999)

Click the thumbnail to view an excerpt from the score, or listen to a recording below, by Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Baldur Bronnimann.

Reflections (arranged for string orchestra, 1998)

This was originally composed for piano and included in the suite Mirror Image. Click the thumbnail to view a score excerpt, or listen to an electronic recording below.

In Memoriam (for chamber orchestra, 1997, rev. 2024)

Click the thumbnail to view a score excerpt, or listen to an electronic recording below.