Music Advisory Council
Richard Allain
Richard Allain is one of the most creative musical voices of his generation. His works encompass a wide range of styles including music theatre, sacred choral music and works for children. Richard has worked with many of the country’s leading choirs and musicians; his music is regularly performed within the UK, and in countries throughout the world.
Salve Regina was broadcast by the BBC Symphony Chorus in 2000 and later made its Proms debut with the National Youth Choir, to whom he was appointed composer in association in 2003. This alliance brought about a new work, Improperia for double choir, which was written for the NYC’s world tour that year. Richard has also worked extensively with the award-winning chamber choir Laudibus. Their relationship of several years has produced work rich in diverse creativity, including the poly-choral Ubi Es? and the ecstatic Love and Sleep for 16 solo voices. The St. Matthew Passion was commissioned by St.Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh in 2002. The same choir later recorded the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for the CD Ascension.
Richard has written many works for children. A Christmas Carol, a setting of Dickens’ classic tale, was written for Richard Stilgoe (narrator) and the Bingham String Quartet; a CD recording followed in 1999. Together with his brother Thomas, Richard has written several cantatas for young voices. Jake and the Right Genie was commissioned by the Surrey Millennium Youth Festival, and it has since been performed by over 3,000 school children.
Other works include the music theatre piece Salomé, after the play by Oscar Wilde and Girlforce V, a musical about a fictitious girl pop band. Recent commissions have afforded the opportunity to work with Sir Willard White, The Bach Choir and the Voices Foundation Children’s Choir. In addition to this, Richard is also in demand as an arranger. Novello has published Richard’s carol settings in the collection Christmas Voices. When I’m Gone, a CD of choral and instrumental works, was released in 2004 to critical acclaim.
Richard lives in Norwich with his wife Rachael and their three children.
