John Boswell Maver
Encyclopedia
John Maver is an Australia
n pianist and composer.
Maver was born in Sydney
, where he studied the piano: first under Miss Purcell of Botany Bay, then with Kathleen Horne and Ramsay Pennycuick. As a student of the NSW Conservatorium of Music
, he studied piano with the noted pianist/composer Frank Hutchens
(a pupil of Tobias Matthay
), and composition with Raymond Hanson. In Sydney, he performed on radio 2CH, gave recitals and taught before sailing for London in 1968.
Since then, he has given a wide range of concerts, including the Wimbledon Summer Festival, Leighton House, and a much-publicised 1981 Royal Wedding Day concert at St. Martin-within-Ludgate.
He is one of the very few composer-pianists on the circuit today. In addition to a wide repertoire of neo-classical music and virtuoso Romantic music, he has established a considerable reputation with the performances of his own compositions, as well as his own poetry (Albion Enigma) and he has presented concerts of extemporised keyboard work.
He has worked with Ballet Rambert, the Royal Ballet, Arts Educational Schools and the mime artists Adam Darius
and Nathaniel. He was also Musical Director of the International Arts Centre—participating in an American production (Pantomime) of Hansel and Gretel.
Maver returned to Australia for two years' sojourn, where he continued to give recitals, most notably for the Polish-Australian Cultural Society (which was filmed) and performances at the Sydney Opera House with the Australian Ballet and the English dancer Maina Gielgud for a television film Frozen Music He also appeared in the Sydney Spectacular for the Australian Broadcasting Commission. At the same time he made himself known as an actor—appearing in TV. Series, commercials, and feature films—chief among which have been Bodyline, The Last Bastion playing opposite Timothy West, Land of Hope, and Burke and Wills-in the role of conductor (an operatic sequence with Greta Scacchi).
Returning to Britain in 1986, Maver resumed his career with a performance of his Toccata Australis, a substantial work which has been well praised by many international pianists including Vladimir Horowitz
, Nelson Friere, and Shura Cherkassky
. This work was first performed in Britain by Alan Brown. The American virtuoso pianist Janice Weber has praised several of Maver's compositions as "Very Horowitzian"; an Étude for the Left Hand Alone as "Very effective. Sounds as difficult as it is." He has recorded a programme of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Franz Liszt
, in addition to his own compositions and extemporisations.
An unpublished novel has been completed, he has established himself as a photographer in the casual style and has exhibited a collection of photos charting the rebuilding of part of the Arts Educational Schools (theatre) in Chiswick. Recently a London photo agency has accepted some of his photographic work to be included in their catalogue. Photographs have featured in the local press, Musical Theatre Pantomime Programmes, Spotlight, C.D record Covers, and the Kyoto Gardens Exhibition portfolio.
He is related to Sir Harry Lauder, the Scots baritone, music hall singer and composer.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n pianist and composer.
Maver was born in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, where he studied the piano: first under Miss Purcell of Botany Bay, then with Kathleen Horne and Ramsay Pennycuick. As a student of the NSW Conservatorium of Music
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia...
, he studied piano with the noted pianist/composer Frank Hutchens
Frank Hutchens
Francis "Frank" Hutchens OBE was a pianist, music teacher and composer originally from New Zealand. He became a popular concert pianist in Australia, and was a founding member of the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music, where he taught for fifty years.-Early life and education:Hutchens'...
(a pupil of Tobias Matthay
Tobias Matthay
Tobias Augustus Matthay was an English pianist, teacher, and composer.-Biography:Matthaw as born in London in 1858 to parents who had come from northern Germany and were naturalised British subjects...
), and composition with Raymond Hanson. In Sydney, he performed on radio 2CH, gave recitals and taught before sailing for London in 1968.
Since then, he has given a wide range of concerts, including the Wimbledon Summer Festival, Leighton House, and a much-publicised 1981 Royal Wedding Day concert at St. Martin-within-Ludgate.
He is one of the very few composer-pianists on the circuit today. In addition to a wide repertoire of neo-classical music and virtuoso Romantic music, he has established a considerable reputation with the performances of his own compositions, as well as his own poetry (Albion Enigma) and he has presented concerts of extemporised keyboard work.
He has worked with Ballet Rambert, the Royal Ballet, Arts Educational Schools and the mime artists Adam Darius
Adam Darius
Adam Darius is an American dancer, mime artist, writer and choreographer. As a performer, he has appeared in over 85 countries across six continents...
and Nathaniel. He was also Musical Director of the International Arts Centre—participating in an American production (Pantomime) of Hansel and Gretel.
Maver returned to Australia for two years' sojourn, where he continued to give recitals, most notably for the Polish-Australian Cultural Society (which was filmed) and performances at the Sydney Opera House with the Australian Ballet and the English dancer Maina Gielgud for a television film Frozen Music He also appeared in the Sydney Spectacular for the Australian Broadcasting Commission. At the same time he made himself known as an actor—appearing in TV. Series, commercials, and feature films—chief among which have been Bodyline, The Last Bastion playing opposite Timothy West, Land of Hope, and Burke and Wills-in the role of conductor (an operatic sequence with Greta Scacchi).
Returning to Britain in 1986, Maver resumed his career with a performance of his Toccata Australis, a substantial work which has been well praised by many international pianists including Vladimir Horowitz
Vladimir Horowitz
Vladimir Samoylovich Horowitz was a Russian-American classical virtuoso pianist and minor composer. His technique and use of tone color and the excitement of his playing were legendary. He is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.-Life and early...
, Nelson Friere, and Shura Cherkassky
Shura Cherkassky
Shura Cherkassky was an American classical pianist known for his performances of the romantic repertoire. His playing was characterized by a virtuoso technique and singing piano tone...
. This work was first performed in Britain by Alan Brown. The American virtuoso pianist Janice Weber has praised several of Maver's compositions as "Very Horowitzian"; an Étude for the Left Hand Alone as "Very effective. Sounds as difficult as it is." He has recorded a programme of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
, in addition to his own compositions and extemporisations.
An unpublished novel has been completed, he has established himself as a photographer in the casual style and has exhibited a collection of photos charting the rebuilding of part of the Arts Educational Schools (theatre) in Chiswick. Recently a London photo agency has accepted some of his photographic work to be included in their catalogue. Photographs have featured in the local press, Musical Theatre Pantomime Programmes, Spotlight, C.D record Covers, and the Kyoto Gardens Exhibition portfolio.
He is related to Sir Harry Lauder, the Scots baritone, music hall singer and composer.
Maver compositions for piano
- Etude No. 1 in C Sharp Minor, 1985.
- Etude No. 2 in C Sharp Minor, 1987.
- Tzigane Etude, 1988.
- Etude. For the Left Hand Alone, 1992.
- Toccata "Australis", 1983.
- Soiree de Vienne, 1985.
- Die Fledermaus Johann StraussJohann Strauss IIJohann Strauss II , also known as Johann Baptist Strauss or Johann Strauss, Jr., the Younger, or the Son , was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas...
, Concert Transcription, John Maver - Soiree de Madison Square Garden
- Concert arrangement of The Stars Stripes Forever (John Philip SousaJohn Philip SousaJohn Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
) / John Maver, 1985
- Die Fledermaus Johann Strauss
- Paraphrase On A Prelude (Prelude op.43 no.1 Reinhold Gliere), John Maver, 1996.
- Encore Etude/ John Maver, 1995.
- Hungarian Dance no.7Hungarian Dances (Brahms)The Hungarian Dances by Johannes Brahms , are a set of 21 lively dance tunes based mostly on Hungarian themes, completed in 1869.They vary from about a minute to four minutes in length. They are among Brahms' most popular works, and were certainly the most profitable for him. Each dance has been...
(Johannes BrahmsJohannes BrahmsJohannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
), Concert Transcription, John Maver, 1996. - Sabre Dance (Aram KhachaturianAram KhachaturianAram Ilyich Khachaturian was a prominent Soviet composer. Khachaturian's works were often influenced by classical Russian music and Armenian folk music...
), Concert Transcription/ John Maver, 1997. - Carmen Etude
- (Gypsy Song, Act 2, CarmenCarmenCarmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
(George Bizet), Concert Transcription, John Maver, 1997.
- (Gypsy Song, Act 2, Carmen
- Wiegenlied (song) Richard StraussRichard StraussRichard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
- Lullaby—Bereceuse, op 40(a) no.1
- Piano Solo Arrangement/ John Maver,1997.
- Paganini Etude
- Eight variations on Caprice no.24, Niccolò PaganiniNiccolò PaganiniNiccolò Paganini was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique...
, 2000.
- Eight variations on Caprice no.24, Niccolò Paganini
- 5 Easy pieces (For Children), 1974.
- Indian and Soldier.
- The Tortoise.
- Two Cuckoos (Basis for Toccata 'Australis').
- Rain.
- Valse.
- 5 Pieces for Ballet,1968.
- Valse Lente.
- George Street Rag.
- Minor march.
-
- Little Mephisto Waltz.
- Melodie.
- Serenade (Franz SchubertFranz SchubertFranz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
), piano Solo Version, John Maver, Bagatelle, 2000. - Caprice-Etude, 2001.
- I got Rhythm (George GershwinGeorge GershwinGeorge Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
), Concert Transcription/ John Maver, 2002. - Deep Purple (Song) Billy de Rose, arrangement, John Maver, 2002.
- Toccata,2003. from (Australis), original version with extra Cadenza, John Maver.
- Botany Bay Waltz/ John Maver, 2004.
- Toccata-Etude, John Maver, 2004.
- Boogie Etude, John Maver, 2004.
- Little Mephisto Waltz. John Maver, 2004.
- Rimsky-Etude 2009
- Paganini-Etude 2010
- Turkish March-Beethoven/Arrangement John Maver 2010
- Carmen Encore, John Maver 2011
External links
- Maver - Etude No.1 C Sharp Minor on google video
- / Guy's and st Thomas' people
- - Pianist John Maver playing Sabre dance arr.by Maver , shot No 2.
- -Pianist John Maver improvisation.
- - Pianist John Maver Playing Don't explain-Billie Holliday+ Chopin Prelude C minor
- - Pianist John Boswell Maver Playing Sabre dance-Khachaturian arr.J.Maver.
- - Pianist John Boswell Maver Playing Bethena-Scott Joplin. arr. J.Maver.
- - Pianist John Boswell Maver Playing Ecossaises-Beethoven/Busoni arr. J.Maver.
- - Pianist John boswell maver Playing Paganini-Encore , Extemporization no 2.
- - Pianist John boswell maver Playing Aria-Bwv-512 Bach.
- _ John Boswell Maver Photography Works
- - John Boswell Maver's Photographic Works