Ronald Center

Ronald Center (2 April 1913 - 18 April 1973) was a Scottish composer.

Biography

Center was born in Aberdeen where he studied piano under Julian Rosetti and organ under Willan Swainson. In 1943 moved to Huntly, Aberdeenshire as music master of Huntly Gordon School for a period of six years, before turning to private teaching and composition. He remained in Huntly for the rest of his life.^[1]

from 1944 onwards, his works were broadcast by the BBC, particularly in their Modern Scottish Composers series. He performed many of his song settings with his wife, the soprano Evelyn Center (Morrison), and also gave piano recitals. His symphonic poem The Coming of Cuchulain was given by the Scottish Orchestra under Warwick Braithwaite.

Works

Notable works include the symphonic poem The Coming of Cuchulain and the choral piece Dona Nobis Pacem.^[1]

Orchestral and strings

• Symphony No. 1
• The Coming of Cuchulain
• Divertimento
• Sinfonietta
• Nocturne
• Lacrimae
• Elegy

Chamber

• String Quartet No. 1
• String Quartet No. 2
• String Quartet No. 3
• Violin Sonata
• Suite for solo violoncello
• Dance Rustique for violoncello and piano
• Duo for violin and violoncello (also violin and bassoon, oboe and violoncello, oboe and bassoon)
• Little Canon for violin and violoncello

Piano

Sonata Sonatine Suite Three Movements Larghetto Pantomime in 3 movements Prelude, Aria and Finale 6 Bagatelles

3 Preludes and Fugues Three Studies From Childhood Rumba Prelude Toccata Giglot Burlesca

Homage Impromptu Air Sarabande Melodie Molto Allegro 2 Andantes Phantasy

Recordings

• Ronald Center: Instrumental and Chamber Music, Vol. I: Music for Solo Piano^[2] Piano Sonata, 6 Bagatelles, and world premiere recordings of Pantomime, Andante, Sarabande, Air, Larghetto, Sonatine, Hommage, Three Etudes, Impromptu,Three Movements for Piano. Christopher Guild, piano. TOCC0179. Release date: 2 September 2013.
• Center of Huntly String Quartet No. 2, Violin Sonata, Piano Sonata. Emily White and the Isla Quartet. Deveron Arts CD 8 80992 14514 5

References

1. "Ronald Center". Bardic Edition. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
2. http://www.toccataclassics.com/cddetail.php?CN=TOCC0179

External links

• Biographical page at Bardic-music.com, accessed 12 December 2011
• Huntly Deveron Arts page
• Essay on Center by James Naughtie 17 June 1978, accessed 12 December 2011
• National Library of Scotland R Center inventory, accessed 12 December 2011