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Christopher Steel (31st December 1938 — 31st December 1991) was a British composer of contemporary classical music.
Steel was educated at Shrewsbury School England. He began composing in his mid teens. In 1957 he went to the Royal Academy of Music, studying with the aid of a scholarship, in Munich, with Harald Genzmer, who was a pupil of Hindemith.
His first major compositions date from just before his time studying in Munich, and these early works include the Sonatinas for piano and clarinet. Steel broadened his output to be for all forces as his compositions were published by Novello & Co. He became music master at Cheltenham College in 1963, subsequently moving to Bradfield College. In 1977/78 during a brief period in Minnesota USA he wrote what he considered to be his most important work, the oratorio "Passion and Resurrection according to St. Mark". During the 1980s he spent much time composing together with freelance teaching living in Nettlebed Oxfordshire between 1981-1988 where he was organist at St. Bartholomew's Church. In 1988 he moved with his wife Anthea to Cheltenham where he continued to compose and teach until his death in 1991.
In all Steel's catalogue contains seven symphonies, choral works, concerti, and orchestral pieces for large and chamber orchestra. He is described in the New Grove Dictionary of Music as a "fluent and resourceful composer".
His music has similarities to Walton, Britten and Matthias, thus remaining accessible by contemporary classical music standards, displaying traits of neoromanticism. In addition to considerable printed music he has been recorded by Durham Cathedral Choir, Wells Cathedral Choir, and organists including Roger Fisher and Philip Rushforth. Notable CD recordings where his music is featured include the "The King's Trumpeter", with Crispian Steele-Perkins, and Stephen Cleobury, organist, and director of the King's College Choir, Cambridge. Steel's "People Look East", an advent carol, recorded by Durham Cathedral choir for Priory Records on their compilation of Christmas Carols, "A Feast Of Christmas Carols", has been one of his most popular pieces as has his choral anthem "Thou Art The Way".
Steel's music has been performed at The Three Choirs Festival, BBC1's "Songs of Praise" with the premiere of the anthem "The Morning Stars Sang Together" sung by Chester Cathedral, and played on radio including BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, and Classic FM. On March 21st 2009 his "Passion and Resurrection according to St. Mark" received its world premiere performed at Tewkesbury Abbey by the Cheltenham Bach Choir and the Regency Sinfonia conducted by Stephen Jackson.
References
[edit]- [1] Chester Novello
- [2] Fand Music Press
- Hugo Cole "Christopher Steel" New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians ed. Stanley Sadie (London: Macmillan, 1980)