John Lawrence Kelsall (31 July 1947 – 4 November 1986) was a British composer, conductor and lecturer.

Studies

Kelsall was born in East Retford and studied composition, piano and organ at Aberdeen University, gaining an MA, with composition a major part of his final submission. His PhD (Compositional Techniques in the Music of Stockhausen (1951–1970)) was completed at Glasgow University in 1975. He completed a Cert. Ed in 1975 and was awarded the FLCM in Composition in 1979. He wrote a considerable amount of sacred and secular repertoire for choir and organ, and numerous chamber works.

Academic work

Kelsall was a lecturer at Kingston Polytechnic, now Kingston University, from 1977 until his untimely death in 1986. He founded the Polytechnic's Chamber Choir, becoming its first director, composing for the group and establishing a demanding calendar of concerts and cathedral residencies. The Chamber Choir under Kelsall became one of the Polytechnic's premier ensembles, performing at major venues up and down the UK, as well as giving a Purcell Room performance. He died in Kingston-upon-Thames on 4 November 1986, aged 39. Much of Kelsall's output has remained unjustly neglected since his death. Kelsall's music is currently published by Benjamin Costello and Reedimensions. On Monday 28 July 2008 the John Kelsall Memorial Recital took place at St Michael's, Cornhill, London, given by the resident organist and Director of Music Jonathan Rennert.

The School of Music, Kingston Polytechnic

Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s the Music Centre at Kingston Polytechnic was offering a BA Hons Mus Ed degree (CNAA), designed to develop the wider range of skills required in music education, with an emphasis on combining academic and practical aspects of music-making. Other courses were offered including a one-year post-graduate/post-diploma course, a BEd Hons (CNAA) course, a BEd in-service course for teachers already in the profession, and supervision of approved research for MPhil and PhD (CNAA). A wide variety of ensembles were available for the students to partake in, and the Music Centre was situated (as it is today) in an elegant Regency mansion set in extensive grounds adjacent to Richmond Park. The professional ensembles based at the Music Centre included the Medici Quartet and the London Sinfonietta, and the International Society for the Study of Tension in Performance was also established at the Music Centre. After Kelsall's death in 1986, the Chamber Choir was directed by Peter Johnson until his move to Birmingham Conservatoire in 1990.

John Kelsall Retrospective

This event celebrating the life and work of John Kelsall and directed by Benjamin Costello, took place at St. Andrew's Church, Surbiton, Surrey, England, on Saturday, 4 November 2006. It marked the exact twenty-year anniversary of Kelsall's death, which occurred on 4 November 1986. Choral Evensong led by the Reverend Val Cory was followed by a reception and a brief panel discussion regarding Kelsall's life and work. The evening concluded with a short chamber concert featuring a selection of Kelsall's secular works.

Choral evensong

Introit: Kelsall – Eternal God, we look to thee (1979); Preces and Responses: Kelsall (Fourth Set, 1979); Canticles: Kelsall – Magnificat (1986) and Nunc Dimittis (Kelsall/Costello, 2006); Psalm 22: Chants by S. S. Wesley, B. Costello and J. Kelsall; Anthem: Kelsall – I call with my whole heart (1969); Organ Voluntary: Kelsall – Rhapsody No. 3 (1986) The choirs of St Andrew and St Mark, Surbiton, and guests, members of the Clerkes of Old Sarum, members of Kingston Chamber Singers. Organist – Simon Harvey. Choirmaster – Benjamin Costello

Panel discussion

Speakers: Peter Johnson, John Bate, Benjamin Costello

Chamber concert

Yes (1978), Sonata for Bassoon and Piano (1978), Three Miniatures (1979), Prelude and Fugue (1979) Performers: Heather Keens (soprano), Victoria Medcalf (bass clarinet), Ingrid Pearson (clarinet), Neil Strachan (bassoon), Julia Crowell (flute), Mary Parker (flute), Roger Beeson (piano), Benjamin Costello (piano)

Works by John Kelsall

Original choral works

Text: 15th Century; Anon / Completed: unknown (revised on 25 August 1973) Text: from the Benedicite / Completed: 14 September 1982 Text: Robert Southwell / Completed: 1985 (published by Oecumuse in 1985) / Commissioned by the John Bate Choir (now Thames Philharmonic Choir) Completed: unknown Completed: 1978 Text: T S Eliot / Completed: 1983 Text: I Corinthians vs. 15 and 20, and Wie Schön Leuchtet / Completed: 1986 Text: ICET Text (adapted) / Completed: 1985 Text: Gloria, with poem of 1763 by James Merrick (1720–69) / Completed: 24 January 1979 Text: from Psalm 119 (office of None) / Completed: 1 May 1969 (Aberdeen) Text: Early 15th Century (slms 2593) to be sung in Middle English / Completed: 24 October 1969 Text: From Psalm 121 / Completed: unknown Text: “Divine Hymns” compiled by J. Smith, USA, 1784 / Completed: 1980 Text: “Divine Hymns” compiled by J. Smith, USA, 1784 / Completed: 1980 Completed: 1970 (MA submission) May to June 1969, revised September 1969. Text: from Psalm 42 / Composed: March 1969 (Aberdeen, Scotland) Text: Christina Rossetti / Completed: 5 October 1975 Completed: 19 September 1986 Completed: 1981 Completed: unknown Completed: unknown Completed: unknown Text: Latin Mass / Completed: 1978 Completed: 16 May 1974 Completed: April 1979 Music: Benjamin Costello, after John Kelsall / Completed: August 2006 Text: BCP / Completed: 24 June 1967 (Nuthall) Text: BCP / Completed: 1972 Text: BCP / Completed: unknown Text: BCP / Completed: 1979 Text: I Corinthians 13 (vs. 11 – 13) / Completed: 24 January 1984 Text: late 15th Century, from Trinity College, Cambridge MS 0.3.58 (adapted) / Completed: 1982 Completed: 1963 Text: The Song of Songs Ch. 8 vs. 6 and 7 / Completed: 14 January 1980 Text: Shakespeare / Completed: 18 July 1983 Words: Christina Rossetti / Composed: 1985 Text: National Library of Scotland Ms. Advocates 193.1; f.59a / Completed on 26 December 1983 Text: attrib. Rabanus Maurus (776–856) / Completed: 7 December 1974

Choral arrangements

Music: Traditional Czech Christmas carol / Text: Shawn Colvin / Arranged: 1981 Music: Traditional / Text: Traditional 16th Century / Arranged: 1976 Music: Basque Noel / Text: S. Baring-Gould / Arranged: unknown Music: Maurice Duruflé (orig. F major) / Text: The Lord's Prayer / Arranged: c. 1979 Music: Traditional/Paul Simon / Arranged: 1976 Music: Traditional / Melody and Text from Mrs Verrall, Monk's Gate, Sussex / Arrangement started on 22 October 1984 and completed on 3 November 1984 Music: 16th Century Anon (collected from British Library Egerton 2971 and British Library Add MSS 17786-17791 / Text: Anon / Arrangement completed on 3 December 1985

Instrumental works

Completed: 1 December 1977 Completed: 1978 Completed: unknown (Piano part missing) Completed: 1970 (MA submission) Completed: Kingston-upon-Thames 27 July 1979 Completed: 1978 Text: Romance IX – San Juan de la Cruz / Completed: 15 October 1982 Completed: April 1979 Completed: 1983 Completed: 1983 Completed: 15 March 1986 Completed: 1 July 1986 Completed: 29 June (?) 1983 Completed: 1978 Completed: 2 September 1979 Completed: Easter 1970 (MA Aberdeen submission) Completed: 1985

Instrumental works with voice

Text: Anne Muir (b. 1948) Text: words taken from the closing lines of Joyce's Ulysses (1914–1921) / Completed: 1978 Text: Various / Completed: Christmas 1978 Text: George Mackay Brown / Completed: 23 March 1978 Text: Shakespeare / Completed: 27 August 1979

Editions

Edited by John Kelsall in 1982 Sacred music composed for the use of the choir of Durham (1790–1811) (p. 104 BL: I.219) Edited by John Kelsall in 1978 Edited by John Kelsall in 1978 Edited by John Kelsall in 1986 Edited by John Kelsall in 1984 (List correct as at July 2008.)