Robin Orr was born in Brechin. He studied at the Royal College of Music in London and Pembroke College, Cambridge. Following studies with Casella and Boulanger he returned to Cambridge in 1938 as Organist of St John's College. After the War, he became a lecturer at Cambridge and a professor at the Royal College of Music, then Professor of Music at Glasgow University from 1956 until 1965. In 1965 he became Professor of Music at Cambridge University, a post he held until his retirement in 1976 (now Emeritus).
Work list
Three Songs of Innocence (1932)
Instrumentation: for voice and string quartet
Duration: 7' 00" Manuscript
Jesu, Sweet Son Dear (1934)
Instrumentation: for choir
Texts: Anonymus
Text altenglisch.
Duration: 2' 30"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Toccata Alla Marcia (1937)
Instrumentation: for organ
Duration: 5' 30"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
A Prayer To The Trinity (1938)
Instrumentation: for choir
Texts: Richard Stanyhurst
Text: Richard Stanyhurst.
Duration: 3' 30"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Laudate Dominum (1939)
Instrumentation: for eight-part choir (SSAATTBB)
Texts: Bibel / Liturgie
Text: Psalms 117.
Duration: 3' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Sonatina For Violin And Piano (1941)
Duration: 10' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Three Chinese Songs (1943)
Instrumentation: for voice and piano
Texts: Chinesisch (Arthur Waley)
Chinese texts in the English translation by Arthur Waley.
Duration: 6' 30"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
They That Put Their Trust In The Lord (1946)
Instrumentation: for choir
Texts: Bibel / Liturgie
Text: Psalms 125.
Duration: 3' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Sonata For Viola And Piano (1947)
Duration: 17' 30"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Sonatina (1948)
Instrumentation: for violoncello and piano
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
The Prospect Of Whitby (1948)
Overture
Instrumentation: for orchestra (2.pic.2.2.2/4.3.3.0/2perc/str)
Duration: 7' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Serenade In Three Movements (1948)
Instrumentation: for string trio
Duration: 16' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Sicilienne And Chaconne (1949)
Instrumentation: for viola and piano
Duration: 5' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
A Festival Te Deum (1950)
Instrumentation: for choir and organ
Duration: 10' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Oedipus At Colonus (1950)
Instrumentation: for Baritone, choir and piano
Texts: Sophokles (A.G. Lee)
Excerpts from the drama by Sophocles in the English translation by A.G. Lee.
Duration: 35' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Three Pastorals (1951)
Instrumentation: for soprano, flute, viola and piano
Instrumentation: for chamber orchestra (2.2.0.2/0.0.0.0/hpd/str)
A version with two additional trumpets also exists (1960).
Duration: 8' 00"
Edition Peters
London
Te Deum & Jubilate (1953)
Instrumentation: for choir and organ
Duration: 13' 30"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Seven Scots Songs (1954)
Instrumentation: for voice and piano
Duration: 15' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Spring Cantata (1955)
Instrumentation: for mezzo-soprano, choir, piano, timpani, percussion and strings
Texts: Helen Waddell, Thomas Nashe
Text: Helen Waddell, Thomas Nashe.
Duration: 25' 00"
Edition Peters
London
I Was Glad (1955)
Instrumentation: for mixed choir
Texts: Bibel / Liturgie
Text: Psalms 122.
Duration: 6' 30"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Colin's Cattle (1956)
Instrumentation: for mixed choir
Duration: 2' 30"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Rhapsody For String Orchestra (1956)
Duration: 11' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Sonata For Violin And Harpsichord (1956)
Duration: 16' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Three Preludes On Scottish Psalm Tunes (1958)
Instrumentation: for organ
Martyrs - Selma - Balfour.
Duration: 8' 30"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Four Romantic Songs (1949-1960)
Instrumentation: for tenor, oboe and string quartet
Texts: Helen Waddell
Text: Helen Waddell.
Duration: 15' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Come, And Let Yourselves Be Built (1961)
Instrumentation: for mixed choir and organ
Duration: 5' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Symphony In One Movement (1963)
Instrumentation: for orchestra (2.pic.2.2.2/4.2.3.1/4perc/pf/str)
Duration: 18' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
The Kelvin Series of Scots Songs (1964)
Instrumentation: for voice and piano
Texts: Volkslied
1. An Thou Were My Ain Thing
2. Ay Wakin O
3. The Blythsome Bridal
4. The Bonny Earl Of Murray
5. My Daddy’s A Delver Of Dykes
6. Our Gudeman Cam’ Hame At E’en
7. There’s Nae Luck About The House
Duration: 20' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Duo für Violine und Violoncello (1953-1965)
Duration: 16' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Magnificat And Nunc Dimittis (Short Service) (1967)
Instrumentation: for choir and organ
Duration: 7' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Elegy (1968)
Instrumentation: for organ
Duration: 2' 30"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Full Circle (1968)
Chamber opera
Texts: Sydney Goodsir Smith
Score: MezTBar (bcl.bn/tpt.tbn/1perc/vn.va.db)
Duration: 35' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Sing Aloud Unto God (1968)
Instrumentation: for choir and organ
Texts: Bibel / Liturgie
Text: Psalm 81 und 98.
Duration: 4' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
From The Book Of Philip Sparrow (1969)
Instrumentation: for mezzo-soprano and strings
Texts: John Skelton
Text: John Skelton.
Duration: 17' 00"
Edition Peters
London
Make A Joyful Noise Unto The Lord (1969)
Instrumentation: for female choir (SS) and organ
Texts: Bibel / Liturgie
Text: Psalms 100.
Duration: 3' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Symphony No 2 (1970)
Instrumentation: for orchestra (2.pic.2.2.2/4.2.3.1/5perc/pf.str)
Duration: 16' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Journeys And Places (1971)
Instrumentation: for mezzo-soprano, string quartet and double-bass
Texts: Edwin Muir
1. The Threefold Place2. The Grave of Prometheus3. The Late Wasp4. The Road.
Duration: 16' 00"
Edition Peters
Postfach 746 D-04007 Leipzig
Liebeslied (1972)
Instrumentation: for Mezzo-soprano and organ (or piano)
Texts: Rainer Maria Rilke
A composition based on Richard Strauss.
Duration: 3' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Hermiston (1975)
Opera in three acts
Texts: Robert L. Stevenson (Bill Bryden)
Libretto by Bill Bryden based on the novel 'Weir of Hermiston' by R.L. Stevenson. Score: SMez2T4Bar2B, choir and orchestra (2.2.2.2/3.2.2.0/3perc/cel/str)
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Songs Of Zion (1978)
Instrumentation: for choir
Texts: Bibel / Liturgie
Text: Psalmen.
Duration: 16' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Symphony No 3 (1978)
Instrumentation: for orchestra (2.pic.2.2.2/4.3.3.1/4perc.cel/hp/str)
Duration: 25' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Versus From Ogden Nash (1978)
Instrumentation: for voice and paino
Text: Ogden Nash.1. Pastoral2. The Seagull and the Ea-gull
Duration: 9' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Versus From Ogden Nash (1978)
Instrumentation: for voice and strings
Texts: Ogden Nash
1. Who Did Which?2. Pastoral3. The Seagull and the Ea-gull
Duration: 15' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
O God, Ruler Of The World (1982)
Instrumentation: for choir and organ
Texts: Bibel / Liturgie, Byrthnoth
Text based on Byrthnoth (991) and the second book of Judas Maccabaeus.
Duration: 4' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
On The Razzle (1986)
Opera in three acts
Texts: Johann Nestroy (Tom Stoppard, Robin Orr)
Text: Robin Orr based on a piece by Tom Stoppard ('Johann Nestroy: Einen Jux will er sich machen').
Score: 2S6MezA2T3BarB, choir and orchestra (2.2.2.2/3.2.2.0/3perc/pf/cel/str)
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Trinity Blessed (1987)
Instrumentation: for a-cappella choir
Duration: 4' 00" Manuscript
Sinfonietta Helvetica (1990)
Instrumentation: for orchestra (2(pic).2.2.2/4.3.3.1/3perc.cel/str)
Duration: 17' 00"
Scottish Music Information Centre
1 Bowmont Gardens Glasgow G 12 9 LR
Rondeau des Oiseaux (1994)
Instrumentation: for recorder and flute
Duration: 9' 00" Manuscript
Three Lyric Pieces (An Alpine Triptych video) (1994)