Brian Bonsor

James Brian Bonsor MBE (21 August 1926 – 22 February 2011) was a Scottish-born composer and teacher specialising in the recorder.

Life and career

Bonsor was born in Hawick in 1926. He was awarded an MBE in 2002 for services to teaching music, especially the recorder.[1] The Enjoy the Recorder (Schott & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0-901938-71-8) book is widely used in schools. His compositions include arrangements for recorders of Mock Morris (Percy Grainger, 1985), Cats (Andrew Lloyd Webber) and the Emperor Waltz (Johann Strauss, 1985). Bonsor was a musical director for the Society of Recorder Players[2] starting in 1957.[3]

Bonsor spent about 35 years in musical education, latterly as Regional Advisor.

Brian Bonsor wrote the piano piece Dreamy, which was featured in Trinity Guildhall's 2012-2014 Grade 6 repertoire. His piece Feelin' Good was included in both the ABRSM's 05/06 grade 6 repertoire and the RCM's grade 7 repertoire, and Willie Wagglestick's Walkabout for the ABRSM's 07/08 grade 7 repertoire.

Bonsor died in Hawick on 22 February 2011.[4]

List of compositions

  • Bagatelle
  • Beguine For Descant, Treble Recorders & Piano 1959
  • Dreamy for Piano
  • Fiesta
  • Feelin' Good
  • Willie Wagglestick's Walkabout
  • Rumba for Descant + Treble Recorders & Piano
  • Three Into 5 for Recorders and Piano
  • Tig

List of arrangements

  • Mock Morris
  • Cats
  • Emperor Waltz

References

  1. ↑ "The Queen's Birthday Honours 2002". BBC News. 14 June 2002. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  2. ↑ "The Society of Recorder Players". The Society of Recorder Players. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  3. ↑ "James Brian Bonsor". Classical Composers Database. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  4. ↑ Alasdair Steven (2 March 2011). "Obituary: Brian Bonsor MBE, music teacher and composer". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.

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