John Linton Gardner was born at Manchester in 1917 and grew up in Ilfracombe - when not at school!.
He was in fact educated at Eagle House School, Sandhurst, Wellington College and Exeter College, Oxford, where (1935–9) he was organ scholar.
After war service he was first a répétiteur at the Covent Garden Opera Company (1946–52); then tutor (1952–76) and director of music (1965–9) at Morley College; visiting director of music at St. Paul’s Girls’ School (1962–75); and professor of harmony and counterpoint, RAM (1956–86). He was made a CBE in 1976.
Gardner composed copiously from childhood. At Oxford the influence of Adorno was more significant than his teachers, and before World War II some chamber works were performed although they were subsequently withdrawn. His compositional career effectively recommenced with the première of the Symphony no. 1 (1947) at the 1951 Cheltenham Festival under Barbirolli.
Some of his productions:
Symphony no. 1 in D minor, opus 2, 1947
Symphony no. 2, in E flat, opus 166, 1985
Symphony no. 3, in E minor, opus 189, 1989
Piano concerto no. 1 in B flat, opus 34, 1957
Trumpet concerto, opus 53, 1962
Oboe concerto, opUS 193, 1990
Flute concerto, opus 220, 1995
Chamber concerto, opus 102, for organ and ten players, 1969
String quartet no. 1 - withdrawn ?
String quartet no. 2, opus 148, 1978
String quartet no. 3, in D major, opus 176, 1987
He was in fact educated at Eagle House School, Sandhurst, Wellington College and Exeter College, Oxford, where (1935–9) he was organ scholar.
After war service he was first a répétiteur at the Covent Garden Opera Company (1946–52); then tutor (1952–76) and director of music (1965–9) at Morley College; visiting director of music at St. Paul’s Girls’ School (1962–75); and professor of harmony and counterpoint, RAM (1956–86). He was made a CBE in 1976.
Gardner composed copiously from childhood. At Oxford the influence of Adorno was more significant than his teachers, and before World War II some chamber works were performed although they were subsequently withdrawn. His compositional career effectively recommenced with the première of the Symphony no. 1 (1947) at the 1951 Cheltenham Festival under Barbirolli.
Some of his productions:
Symphony no. 1 in D minor, opus 2, 1947
Symphony no. 2, in E flat, opus 166, 1985
Symphony no. 3, in E minor, opus 189, 1989
Piano concerto no. 1 in B flat, opus 34, 1957
Trumpet concerto, opus 53, 1962
Oboe concerto, opUS 193, 1990
Flute concerto, opus 220, 1995
Chamber concerto, opus 102, for organ and ten players, 1969
String quartet no. 1 - withdrawn ?
String quartet no. 2, opus 148, 1978
String quartet no. 3, in D major, opus 176, 1987