Another First

In May 2006 The City of London Symphonic Winds premiered my Euphonium Concerto - "The Willson Concertante" - Charley Brighton soloist with John Andrews conducting. Now Charley is on to another first sort of - the premiere of the Orchestral version. It will take place on 12/9/2007 with Andrew Morley conducting the Southampton University Sinfonietta.

You can hear the live performance of the Symphonic Band version by clicking here. A computer generated MP3 of the orchestral version can be heard by clicking here.

New Clarinet Solo

Plaintive Airs & D...

If you click on the above you can hear my new clarinet piece - Plaintive Airs & Dances

My new Grandson

My first grandchild Colin Joseph Campbell was born 10/20/2006! Have written three pieces so far
The first is Colin's Lullaby, next Colin at Play and then love for Colin. - listen here
You can se more pictures here

It's a wonderful life

A rambling brief history of how I got where I am.

As a young boy (4 or 5 year old) I provided my older brothers with some fun when I would cry when I heard a beautiful piece of music. At 13 my brother bought me a trombone because they needed a trombonist in his band. At 15 I was playing with professionals in symphonic ensembles (mostly orchestras). Even made a faux pas (came in a measure too soon) on a national broadcast. I could also sight-read parts for every instrument in the orchestra or band – and would often have 3^rd/4^th horn or 3^rd trumpet parts on my stand in high school groups. In high school I taught theory and harmony classes. At 17 I won a music scholarship to university. At 18 I quit school (since of course I knew more than they did!?!?). Was scheduled for an audition with a minor city symphony orchestra (believe it was San Antonio??). One month before the date had an accident which destroyed my mouth and ended my trombone playing.

I set off to New York to study to become the world’s greatest composer. But soon some bad experiences and family pressures brought me back home – and into a “safe” life in the business world. In 1960 I became one of those geeks known as a “programmer” and had a pretty successful career. Actually became a technical guru. I never lost my love of music and collected conductor’s scores and read them as I listened to symphonic and operatic music.

In 2001 – at the age of 69 I retired. Discovered music writing software and began composing again. To date I have written over 40 pieces. There are Euphonium, Cello, Tuba, Oboe and Contrabass solos. Woodwind, Brass and String Ensemble works. Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Band and Brass Band works. More than half have been published and actually more have sold more than I expected. Also most of the brass solo and ensemble works have had a least one performance – mostly in the UK.

Also over the years I have supplied several thousand free charts to mostly young college musicians (at last rough count in excess of 5,000). And I've actually had 42 of them thank me!

Ironically my work has been performed in the UK, Japan, California, Australia and even Baghdad! There may have been performances in Spain, Singapore and Malaysia (can’t confirm). But I cannot get anyone in my neighborhood (Chester County Pennsylvania) even interested in looking at my music.

It doesn’t matter I have been having fun and finally doing what I have wanted to do all my life. It’s a wonderful life.

Site update

I've revamped my site. Hopefully made it easier to find your way - cleaner - leaner look. Free music offered a bit sparse right now. Have had too many pieces published!! Need to write some more. By the way click here to go to my site. Waddyathink?

ITEA reviews

Had quite a few pieces reviewed in the summer ITEA journal (International Tuba Euphonium Association). You can read some on my site (the good ones) click here

My publisher Brassworks4 had quite a few pieces reviewed this time. Also a great interview article on Charley Brighton. Check it out.

Some updates to my site

Finally cleaned up my home page some (sort of). Hopefully easier to find the category you are looking for. Also added three new pages - Live performances has (what else!) MP3 files of live performances of my music. Then there is another page of comments and reviews about my stuff.
Finally there is a publishers page where one can find out where to acquire the sheet music.