Orchestra

Orchestral Works

Gloucester Cathedral cloisters

Symphony No.1
'The Gloucester Symphony'
In four movements. Duration 52 minutes.
Dedicated to Gloucester Cathedral

Scored for: pic, 2 fl (2nd dbl alt fl), 2 ob, cor anglais, bass clarinet, 2 bsns, contra-bsn, 4 hns, 3 tpts, 2 ten trb, bass trb, tba, timps, percussion -
3 players, bass drum, snare drum, sus. cymbal, tgl, tam-tam, celeste, piano, harp, organ, hand bells (3 players), Full Strings.

Symphony No.1 was composed in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, in response to the news that vandals had broken the medieval stained glass windows of Gloucester Cathedral - I wanted to turn a 'destructive act into a creative one!'.

It begins with a simple motif on solo clarinet that represents both early Gloucester man and the first stone that breaks the cathedral's window. The development of the symphony is a journey through the modern city of Gloucester or through the land now occupied by the city. But it is also a journey through time, from Glevum (the Roman garrison) to today’s Gloucester City with its frenetic traffic and busy streets.

The assault on the Cathedral itself (the central focus and spiritual heart of the city) was the main inspiration for the work. The ‘Cathedral theme’ appears several times as big, uplifting parallel chords, whilst the River Severn flows steadily onward flooding its banks at times. The hand bells ring out at the very end of the piece with a 6th Century chant known as Christe Redemptor Omnium, which used to be heard every day on the cathedral bells played by a mechanical device .

The composer received a standing ovation at the premiere in Gloucester Cathedral in 2008.
With conductor of the Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra Mark Finch

- "Christe, Redemptor ominum, ex Patre Patris uni ce solus ante principum...."

Christe Redemptor Omnium
- a 6th century chant

Third movement complete

Extract from finale

Children's Games by Adam White

This large watercolour painting (240 x 165 cms) was created in response to the Gloucester Symphony by artist Adam White.
For this work he was awarded First prize in the Excellence in Watercolour Award of the Royal West of England, Autumn Open Exhibition in 2008..

Gustav Holst

Symphony No.2
'The Cheltenham Symphony'
In three movements. Duration 42 mins
- dedicated to Lord Nigel Jones.
(The final movement is 'in memoriam Gustav Holst')

Scored for: 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl, 2 bsns, 4 hns, 2 tpts, 2 ten trb, bass trb, tba, timps, percussion - 4 players, bass drum, snare drum, sus. cymbal, clshd cym, Whip, woodblocks, tgl, tam-tam, tamb,, piano, whistle, Full Strings.

I began my second Symphony whilst attending the University of East Anglia in Norwich, where I was studying secondary music education. It was completed later in Cheltenham.

'The Cheltenham Symphony' speaks of Cheltenham during the Second World War when it was bombed by the German Luftwaffe. The black and white newspaper picture that partly inspired the work shows a lady whose home has just been destroyed by a random bomb. Even though the theme of the symphony is 'triumph over adversity' there are lighter moments such as a comical braying donkey and a runaway (Toddington) train.

picture courtesy of the Gloucestershire Echo

CHELTENHAM SYMPHONY AND SUPPORT FOR MUSICAL TALENT
18.03.2004
Jones, Nigel
That this House congratulates the composer Colin Decio and the Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra on the world premiere of The Cheltenham Symphony; notes that the symphony tells of the architecture and history of Cheltenham and of the surrounding rolling hills; further notes that the strings open out at times as if soaring over the edge of a ledge like a bird of prey looking down on a Cotswold landscape; commends the composer on including a harmonic reference to the Cheltenham composer Gustav Holst, and for remembering a tragic bombing raid on Cheltenham in World War II, as well as providing lighter musical representations of a braying donkey, a runaway train and his family's Ukrainian background; appreciates that the aim of the symphony is one of hope and triumph over adversity; wishes Colin Decio success with this work and anticipates with relish the world premiere of his Gloucester Symphony, which has yet to be performed; and urges the Government to ensure that musical talent is adequately supported in Britain as it is in other advanced countries.

Piano Concerto No. 1
In six interconnected movement. Duration approx. 32 minutes
- 'in memoriam John Ogdon'

Scored for: piano solo, 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl, 2 bsns, C. Bsn, 4 hns, 2 tpts, timps, percussion - 3 players, bass drum, snare drum, sus. cymbal, clshd cym, tgl, tam-tam, tamb,, celeste, whistle, xylo - Full Strings.

In 1986 John Ogdon arrived at the Birmingham School of Music to give a lunchtime concert in the nearby Birmingham Midland Institute. To my surprise he asked me if he could include my newly written Piano Sonata No.1 in the concert. I was absolutely delighted and spent a wonderful few hours with himlooking at the piece in private. As it happened, due to his huge programme that day he only had time to perform the Waltz movement (the finale), which nevertheless was totally stunning to hear, with some of the most wonderful playing and a most sublime pianissimo that lives with me to this day. Some years later I felt that I wanted to develop the work into a new Concerto dedicated to the musical genius John Ogdon and I am delighted to say I have done just that.

Piano Concerto No.1 'in memoriam John Ogdon'
The premiere was on the 31st January 2015 with Mark Tanner as piano soloist

world-premiere with pianist Mark Tanner

Piano Concerto No. 2
- 'In the Flowers of the Sun'
In three movements. Duration approx.
30 minutes. Completed in July 2014.

Scored for: piano solo, 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl, B.Cl, 2 bsns, 4 hns, Full Strings.

“Bodies fell from the sky into sunflower fields in full bloom, it was summer”

This image burned into my mind. The sunflower fields were in my father’s home country of the Ukraine. It was here that commercial flight MH17 was brought down by a ground to air missile killing 298 totally innocent men, women and children.
This was the seed for my Piano Concerto No. 2 ‘In the flowers of the sun’.
But I wanted to create a work of beauty and not of horror. And in that I think I succeeded. C. Decio

Piano Concerto No2

Maidan - 'Pro Defunctis'
Requiem for full orchestra, in one movement. Duration approx 20 minutes.

'Dedicated to the memory of my parents and to all who lost their lives in Maidan Square in Kiev in 2014'

Scored for: piano solo, 2 fl (pic), 2 ob, 2 cl, 2 bsns, 4 hns, 2 tpts, 2 trbs, b. trb, tba, harp, timps, percussion - 1 player, bass drum, sus. cymbal, tamb, tu bells, xylo - Full Strings.

'Tirthankara' (Sanskrit) - 'one who makes a place for your boat, from where it can take you toward the other shore'.

For cello solo and orchestra.
Through composed in one movement.
Duration approx. 20 minutes.

Scored for: Cello solo - 2fl, 2ob, 2cl, B.cl, 2bsn, 4 hns, 2 tpts, timps, percussion, strings.

sketch by Mervyn Peake

Steps of Evermore
Choral work for SATB chorus and full orchestra. In one movement. Duration 20 minutes.
'In memory of John Yarnley'
Scored for - 2 fl (pic), 2 ob, 2 cl Bb, 2 Bsn, 2 tpt, 2 hns, 2 ten trb, timps, percussion (BD, tmb, guirro, marimba, flexatone, sus-cym, tgl, tam-tam, piano, full strings. SATB Chorus (100+)

- "Autumn has descended on the throne before the Queen"

The Cosmic Mandala
For full orchestra in six movements. Duration 40 min

Dominus,
Regina,
Microcosmos,
Fate,
Sun,
Milky Way

Each movement describes a different colour of the Cosmic Mandala, which is an after-death vision as described by the Spiritual Master Adi Da.
The work ends with a vision of the central Divine White Star. The third movement, Microcosmos, is a palindrome.

The Opening of a Rose - 'in memory of 9/11'

In one movement. Duration 6 mins.

For string orchestra

Chamber Works