# Michael John Norris

Michael John Norris (Middlesex, 1934) is een Brits-Schots componist en fagottist.

## Career

Norris studied music theory, bassoon and composition in the Trinity College of Music in London and the Royal Academy of Music in London. In 1962 he moved to Scotland, to play bassoon with the BBC Scottish Variety Orchestra 1962-66, and with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra 1966-86. He resumed studies at the University of Glasgow in 1986, graduating with B.Mus. in 1990. He accepted an invitation to join the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama academic staff to teach music theory 1990-99. As a composer he has written works for different genres, including youth opera, orchestra, concert wind-band and brass band, vocal music, chamber and electronic music.

## Compositions
### Works with orchestra

* 1964 Irish Holiday, for light orchestra
* 1982 Concertino, for bassoon and string orchestra
* 1983 Saturday Suite, for youth orchestra
* 1983 Waltz, for string orchestra
* 1990 Concertino, for harpsichord and string orchestra
* 1993 Carousel, for chamber orchestra
* 2007 Thyme, for symphony orchestra

### Works for concert wind-band & brassband

* 1976 Diversions, for brassband
* 1981 Spring Suite, for concert wind-band
* 1985 Sombrero, for solo piccolo trumpet & brassband
* 1987 Harlech Suite, for brassband

### Music Theatre
#### Operas

| Completed in | Title | records | première | libretto |
| 1995 | Tam O' Shanter : A Comedy Drama | | 18 april 1986, Ayr, Gaiety Theatre | Robert Burns |
| Completed in | Title | records | première | libretto |
| 1999 | Sir Patrick Spens : a Scottish Tragedy | | 22 april 1999, Ayr, Gaiety Theatre | Traditional Ballad |

### Vocal music
#### Works for choir

* 1989 Beastly Songs, for children's choir, 2 violins, viola, cello, piano and percussion - text: Hilaire Belloc
* 1997 Celebrating Music, for chorus and orchestra - text: Lisa Hendry
* 1997 The Nutcracker And The Sugar Tongs, for children's choir and piano - text: Edward Lear

#### Songs

* 1988 Five Nonsense Songs, for soprano (or tenor) and piano - text: Lio Moscardini
* 1989 Two Ballads, for soprano, clarinet and piano - text: William Soutar

### Chamber Music

* 1979 rev.2003 Three Bagatelles, for four bassoons and harpsichord
* 1980 Three Dances, for three bassoons
** Waltz
** Tango
** Gallop
* 1980 Three More Dances, for three bassoons
* 1981 A Christmas Carillon, for flute, clarinet and piano
* 1981 Pros And Cons, for piccolo and bassoon
* 1982 Bass Motives, for three double basses
* 1982 Viol Motives, for three cellos
* 1983 Requiem For Brass, for brass quintet (2 trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba)
* 1984 Suite Jazzmin, for saxophone quartet
* 1987 Introduction and Allegro,for cor anglais and piano
* 1989 Suite Assortment, for wind quartet (flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon)
* 1989 Gamex, for ensemble
* 1992 Dulcian Suite, for three bassoons and contra bassoon
* 2000 Persephone, for flute quartet (2 flutes, alto flute and bass flute)
* 2003 Bagatelle Blues, for three double basses
* 2005 Six Bagatelles, for three bassoons
* 2010 Kaleidoscope, for viola and piano

### Works for organ

* 1988 Guided Tour

### Works for piano

* 1997 Six Pieces, for piano

### Electronic music

* 1989 PVG Bach - Variations, on tape

## Media

* ↑ Three Dances - deel 1: "Waltz" door University of Iowa Graduate Bassoon Trio
* ↑ Three Dances - deel 2: "Tango" door University of Iowa Graduate Bassoon Trio. Gearchiveerd op 28 november 2024.
* ↑ Three Dances - deel 3: "Gallop" door University of Iowa Graduate Bassoon Trio. Gearchiveerd op 28 november 2024.
* International Standard Name Identifier: 0000 0001 1235 3389
* Library of Congress Control Number: no2005120016
* Nederlandse Thesaurus van Auteursnamen: 313906440
* Système universitaire de documentation: 083738479
* Virtual International Authority File: 163683216
* WorldCat (via VIAF): 163683216