James Stevens (composer)

Unusually, Stevens never confined himself to one particular musical genre, and took many opportunities to take part in pop music, jazz, films, television scores, and musicals. His musical Mamízelle Nitouche was revived in London's West End in the autumn of 2001. Although also concerned with serious avant-garde works, his music was melodic rather than atonal.

In 1998, the Cleveland Orchestra Piano Trio gave the world premiere of Concertante a Tre and in 1999 Stevens was commissioned to write David's Round for a 9-year-old prodigy violinist, also in Cleveland, USA. The following year he was commissioned by members of the Cleveland Orchestra to write a work for cello and piano called Duo Per Umanita. Also in 2000 Stevens completed his magnum opus, The Reluctant Masquerade, dealing with the human psyche and the nature of time. In 2001, he wrote the incidental music for American writer Daniel de Cournoyer's one-man theatre show Bells to Helland, also a "Processional" for a wedding in Australia.

In 1995 he was invited to give a "James Stevens Day" in Cincinnati, shortly after which he was invited by the Musicians Union of Japan to represent English artists at the Hiroshima and Nagasaki 50th anniversary memorial ceremonies.

In 1990, he was nominated for the BAFTA music award for his contribution to Chelworth—eight one-hour episodes.

Orchestral: 1st Symphony – first performed by the BBC Orchestra on Radio 3. 25 mins.2nd Symphony – first performed by the BBC Orchestra on Radio 3. 27 mins.3rd Symphony – 25 mins. first performed by BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra. 25 mins.4th Symphony (Infantes Miseraie – In memoriam Lili Boulanger) – for orchestra and commentator Concerto Capriccioso – harp and small orchestra. 20 mins. Concertetto Concitato – performed by the Prague Sympnony Orchestra 12 mins. Concerto Scenes de Seine – guitar & small orchestra. 22 mins. Lion and Unicorn – overture for orchestra. Eight mins. – first performed by the BBC Orchestra on Radio 3. In a Nutshell – overture for orchestra. 8 mins. – first performed by the BBC Orchestra on Radio 3. Natso No Hikari Ni – translated from Japanese as In the Blinding Flash of Light That Summer – orchestra. 27 mins. Celebration for the Dead – a Buddhist Requiem -Premiered by Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, 37 mins. BDK International AwardThe Reluctant Masquerade- Seppuku and Lullaby, the Buddha Weeps, Satoikoís Song, Natzuko's Song -Prague Sympnony Orchestra 55 mins. Goal! – Commissioned by Brecksville Bees Marching Band, Ohio. First performed at Wembley, England v Argentina, 1980. 10 mins. Celebration – amateur orchestra and chorus, commissioned by Sir Walter St. John School, South London. 20 minsThe Father – amateur orchestra & chorus. first performed Canterbury Sinfonia. 20 mins. Royal Greenwich March – school brass band. Commissioned by Woolwich Polytechnic. 10 mins.

Pop Works and other recordings: Exploding Galaxy – 1968 pop recording did well on the British pop charts, used the pen name Paul James. Queen High (Stan Tracey's commercial recording debut), Guitar (Andreas Herzau) EMI-Electrola. Lullabulerol -written for his infant nephew, years later recorded by that grown nephew and performed by C.D. SommerEmma's Waltz -written for his infant grand niece, performed by C.D. SommerTime and Space -written from the Poetry of John Hughes, performed by Jackkie Herrick (piano) and Michael McMurray (voice)Rio -unpublished written for Rio Olympic games.

James Stevens (5 May 1923 – 26 June 2012) was an English composer of symphonic, operatic and avant-garde orchestral music, including film and television scores, as well as pop music of the 1960s.