# Keith Beal

Keith Francis Arnold Beal (born 22 December 1933) is an English painter, sound engineer, recording engineer and producer, musician and composer, and author.

## Early years

Born on 22 December 1933 in Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire, Beal grew up in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. After the Second World War, he was sent to Sweden in 1948 to gain strength, staying there for the better part of a year. His formative years were spent in NW London, where he went to school, and in Hamstead, where he explored his interest in painting, which had been instigated in childhood by his painter father.

## Painting

In 1955 Beal spent a year in Paris, aiming to develop his painting skills. On returning to England he found quick success, having an exhibition in a gallery in Bond Street and selling out on the day. Beal has remained actively interested in painting throughout his life. The Miguel de Cervantes novel Don Quixote has been a recurring inspiration for his paintings.

## Sound engineer

Beal worked as a sound engineer and technician for the BBC, as well as commercial television, and freelance in the film business from 1956 to 1973.

## University

Beal studied at the London School of Economics, gaining a BSc degree in economics in 1971. He also studied at Sussex University, gaining an MA in Music and the Sonic Arts in 2013

## Music

On his fortieth birthday in 1973, he acquired a saxophone, and won a bet that he could learn to play it within a year. In 1974, he co-founded Ogun Records, a record label specialising in jazz and modern classical music. Initially, he worked as a recording engineer and editor, but later became a producer, eventually leading the company as managing director. In his time at Ogun, Beal recorded and/or produced some 50 records by such artists as Trevor Watts, Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, Elton Dean, Harry Becket, John Surman and Keith Tippett. After leaving Ogun in 1980 Beal concentrated on playing the saxophone. He toured extensively with Trevor Watts Moiré Music, an avant garde jazz ensemble, playing at most of the European Jazz Festivals between 1982 and 1986.
Since 1987 Beal has divided his time between England and the Netherlands. Initially focusing on jazz, both as a performer and composer, he has increasingly moved towards modern classical composition. Early works include pieces for tuba quartet and saxophone quartet, but he became ever more confident and productive, writing 6 symphonies and 4 concertos, recording his Second Symphony in Kyiv with the Kyiv Modern Symphony Orchestra in 2001, and writing a clarinet concerto to be performed by Alan Hacker. He went on to compose two operas: Dulcinea was written on the 400th anniversary of the Miguel de Cervantes novel Don Quixote, on which the libretto is based, while Merlin has a libretto based on a compilation of myths around Le Morte d'Arthur characters Merlin and Nimue. He has also composed three ballets; the music of which has been played, but not yet danced.

## Novels

In 2011 and 2012, Beal published two strongly autobiographical novels, entitled Counterpoint in Three Parts: Reflexions on the Life and Loves of a Musician, based on the experiences of a touring musician, and Cadmium Red, based on painting and politics in Paris of the 1950s.

## Compositions

The following is an as yet incomplete overview of Beal's major compositions.

### Symphonies

| Title | First performance |
| Symphony No 1, Easter Day, 4 Movements | 1998 |
| Symphony No 2, 5 Movements | Kyiv, 1998 |
| Symphony No 3, 4 Movements | 1998 |
| Symphony No 4, The Browns, 5 Movements | 2000 |
| Symphony No 5, 4 Movements | 2000 |
| Symphony No 6, 4 Movements | 2002 |

### Concertos

| Title | First performance |
| Concerto for Cello | 1995 |
| Concerto for Piano, 1 Movement | Switzerland |
| Concerto for Clarinet, 3 Movements | Royal Leamington Spa 2001 |
| Concerto for Viola, 4 Movements | 2000 |

### Operas and ballets

| Title | First performance |
| 3-minute opera (in Dutch Slang) | Utrecht, 2003 |
| Opera No 1, Dulcinea, 4 Acts | 2004 |
| Opera No 2, Merlin, 3 Acts | 2007 |
| Cantata, "The Knighting of Sir Francis Drake" | 2013 |
| Tilburg||
| Breda||
| Ballet, Fantasy for Wind Orchestrafor Festival Hall | 2000 |

### Miscellaneous orchestral pieces

| Title | First performance |
| Contemplations | |
| In the Mean Time | 2002 |
| Hitch | 2002 |
| Music for a Symphony Orchestra, Herbert | |
| Voor Eline | Commissioned 2001 |
| Lory | |
| Chamber Orchestra, High Wickham | 1994 |
| Chamber Orchestra, Admiraal van Gent | 1994 |
| Dartington Piece, Errollynation | c2002 |
| Piece for Saxophone Orchestra No 1, Hannibal Crossing the Alps | |
| Piece for Saxophone Orchestra No 2 | |
| Suite for String Orchestra No 1, comprising: | 1996–1999 |
| – No 1 | 1998 |
| – No 5 | 1998 |
| – No 3 | 1998 |
| – "Star of Eve" | 1999 |
| – "The Heart is Only a Muscle" | 1996 |
| – "Minimal Refinement" | 1999 |
| – "Mooie Neus" | 1994 |
| – "The Aftermath" | 1998 |
| – "Bril" | 1998 |
| – "The Chess Room" | 1998 |
| Suite for String Orchestra No 2, comprising: | 1992–2002 |
| – "George" | 1992 |
| – "Those That Never Were" | 2002 |
| – "Karin" | 1999 |
| Fugue for String Orchestra, "On Returning From Lisbon" | 2008 |
| Piece for 10 piece Brass Ensemble, Tell Brass, comprising: | Utrecht |
| – "So This Is How It Is" | |
| – "If Only" | |
| – "Encore" | |
| – "Fanfare for Nice Teachers" | 1996 |
| Piece for Catalyst Ensemble (13 Piece), The Day We Buried Michael Wilder | 2004 |
| Saxophone Quartet No 1 | |
| Saxophone Quartet No 2 | |
| Saxophone Quartet No 3 | |
| Saxophone Quartet No 4 | |
| Saxophone Quartet No 5 | Utrecht and recorded |
| Saxophone Quartet No 6 | |
| Saxophone Quartet No 7 | |
| Saxophone Quartet No 8 | |
| Saxophone Quartet No 9, comprising: | Breda – Commissioned Sax Quartet |
| – "Black Diamond" | 2002 |
| – "Topaz" | 2002 |
| – "Ruby" | 2001 |
| – "Amber" | 2001 |
| – "Amethyst" | 1998 |
| – "Emerald" | 1998 |
| – "Pearl" | 1998 |
| – "Sapphire" | 1998 |
| String Quartet No 1, 1 Movement, Living Dangerously | 1991 |
| String Quartet No 2 in F | 1991 |
| String Quartet No 3, On Returning from Kyiv | 1995 |
| String Quartet No 4, 4 Movements, with Bass Rotterdam (Amani) | 1997 |
| String Quartet No 5, 3 Movements Minsk | Kyiv and recorded 1998 |
| String Quartet No 6, 3 Movements, Voor Natalia | 1998 |
| String Quartet No 7, 4 Movements, Voor Joost | Commissioned 2000 |
| String Quartet No 8, 4 Movements, | 2002 |
| String Quartet No 9, Koh-i-Nor | |
| String Quartet No 10, 3 Movements, The Inner and the Outer | 2013 |
| String Quintet No 1 (with Bass), Investigations | 2012 |
| Tuba Quartet No 1, 3 Movements | Holland/Birmingham/Germany/ |
| Tuba Quartet No 2, 3 Movements | |
| Oboe and String Quintet, 3 Movements | |
| Clarinet and String Quintet, 1st Movement "Loredana's Journey" | 2009 |
| Trumpet and String Quintet, 1st Movement "Loredana's Journey" | 2009 |
| Quintet for Cello and 4 Percussionists, 5 Movements | Amsterdam Bachzaal |
| Wind Sextet No 1, Last Summer | 2008 |
| Wind Sextet No 2, Daria | |
| Wind Quintet No 1 | |
| Wind Quintet No 2, comprising: | |
| – "Investigations" | |
| – "A Minimal Effect" | |
| Brass Quintet No 1, For Michael, comprising: | Utrecht |
| – "The Eyes Have It" | |
| – "Nice Teachers" | |
| – "Come Kyiv Come Seattle" | |
| Brass Quintet No 2, Prevarications | |
| Suite for Flute and Harp No 1, comprising: | 1992–1996 |
| – "Flight of Fancy" | 1992 |
| – "A Waltz for the Collector of Dreams" | 1996 |
| – "Minimal Commitment" | 1996 |
| – "A Walk on the Beach" | 1996 |
| – "The Return" | 1996 |
| Suite for Flute and Harp No 2, comprising: | 1992–1999 |
| – "Primary Thoughts" | 1992 |
| – "The Nasty Man" | 1992 |
| – "Henk's Waltz" | 1992 |
| – "Tomorrow" | 1999 |
| Suite for Oboe and Accordion No 1, comprising: | 1996 |
| – "Flight of Fancy" | 1996 |
| – "A Waltz for the Collector of Dreams" | 1996 |
| – "Minimal Commitment" | 1996 |
| – "A Walk on the Beach" | 1996 |
| – "The Return" | 1996 |
| Suite for Oboe and Accordion No 2, comprising: | |
| – "Primary Thoughts" | |
| – "The Nasty Man" | |
| Henk's Waltz, comprising: | |
| – "Because" | 1996 |
| – "Alexia of Life" | 1993 |
| – "Mark? My Word" | 1993 |
| Choral Piece No 1, From West Hill, comprising Prelude and Fugue | Hastings/Holland x? and Radio |
| Choral Piece No 2, Dick Fricker's Poems, 3 Movements | 2000 |
| Songs: | 2008–2013 |
| – "Going to Dinner 1st Version" | 2010 |
| – "Merlin's First Aria" | 2013 |
| – "Nimue's First Aria" | 2013 |
| – "Nimue and Merlin's Duet" | 2013 |
| – "A Hymn to Kim" | 2008 |
| – "Je Bent" | 2007 |
| – "Kith and Kin" | |
| – "Morgan la Faye's First Aria" | 2013 |
| – "The Stormcock Song" | 2009 |
| Song Cycle for Soprano and Baritone, with Clarinet and Cello accompaniment, comprising: | 2013 |
| – Cello Solo, "A Letter of Intent" | |
| – Cello Solo, "Consequences" | |
| – Cello Solo, "Ed Hucation" | |
| – Baritone Song, "Going to Dinner 2nd Version" | |
| – Clarinet Solo, "The Red Man" | |
| – "Nimue and Merlin's Duet" | |
| – Baritone Song, "A Hymn to Kim" | |
| – Baritone Song, "Je Bent" | |
| – Baritone Song, "Merlin's First Aria" | |
| – Soprano Song, "Nimue's First Aria" | |
| Clarinet Quartet No 1, 4 Movements | 1993 |
| Clarinet Quartet No 2, Koh-i-Nor, 3 Movements | 1992 |
| Wood Wind Quartet – (FLMco) | 1995 |
| Tuba Quartet No 1, 3 Movements | Holland x? Birmingham/Germany |
| Tuba Quartet No 2, 3 Movements | |
| Double Reed Quartet, 3 Movements | |
| Flute Quartet, 3 Movements | |
| Clarinet Quintet, Kindred Spirit | 1992 |
| Clarinet, Cello and Piano Trio No 1, "Je Bent" | 2007 |
| Horn and Tuba Trio, "Call It Tuesday" | |
| Duet for Two Cellos, "Je Bent" | 2007 |
| Duet for Clarinet and Cello | |
| Horn and Piano Duet, "For Hatie" | |
| Suite for Trombone and Double Bass, No 1/No 2/No 3 | |
| Suite for Basset Horn and Cello, comprising: | |
| – No 1 "Je Bent" | Commissioned 2007 |
| – No 2 | 2008 |
| – No 3 "Pavane for My Mother" | 2008 |
| Suite for Unaccompanied Clarinet, comprising: | |
| – Solo for E♭ Clarinet "Easily Mistaken" | 2008 |
| – Solo for Bass Clarinet "The Red Man" | 2008 |
| – Solo for Baset Horn "Basset on Experience" | 2008 |
| Suite for Unaccompanied Cello, comprising: | 2013 |
| – "Ed Hucation" | 2013 |
| – "A letter for the Cello Group" | 2010 |
| – "A Letter of Intent" | 2010 |
| – "Consequences" | 2013 |
| – "Basset on Experience" | 2008 |
| "Music for Sound Cooking Club", comprising: | |
| – "Convincent" | 1991 |
| – "Cooperation Riff" | |
| – "Easter Chick" | |
| – "Fan and Five" | |
| – "Hen Company" | |
| – "High Klaas" | |
| – "You Can't Ignor Igor" | |
| – "It's A Tjitze" | |
| – "Kindred Spirit" | |
| – "Kith & Kin" | |
| – "Living Dangerously" | |
| – "Lizard the Wizard" | 1990 |
| – "The Man at the Desk" | |
| – "My Goodness" | |
| – "Stars & Sriplings" | |