Grayston Ives

Charles John Grayston Ives(born 1948), also known asBill Ives,is a British composer, singer and choral director.

Education and career

The chapel ofMagdalen College, Oxford,where Ives was organist and choir director from 1991 to 2009.

Ives was a chorister atEly Cathedraland later studied music atSelwyn College, Cambridge,where he held a choral scholarship.

He began his career as a music teacher, before joining theKing's Singersfrom 1978 to 1985.His voice can be heard on a number of recordings from that period, including Paul McCartney'sFrog Chorus.

From 1991 to 2009 he was the organist and choir director atMagdalen College, Oxford,where he was also a Fellow and tutor in music. As well as being responsible for the daily musical life of the college chapel, he directed the choir in recordings on theHarmonia Mundilabel. The albumWith a Merrie Noyse,made with the viol consortFretworkand featuring the works of the English composerOrlando Gibbons,was nominated for aGrammyin 2004.Paul McCartney'sEcce Cor Meumwas written especially for the college choir, and the subsequent EMI recording won theClassical BRIT Awardfor album of the year in 2007. Other recordings with Magdalen College Choir includeListen Sweet Dove,a selection of Ives's liturgical works, andDuruflé'sRequiem.The choir developed a fruitful relationship with the film composerGeorge Fenton,notably forShadowlands(1993), directed byRichard Attenborough.

For his contribution to church music, Ives was made a Fellow of theRoyal School of Church Musicin 2008. The same year, he was awarded aLambeth degrees(Doctor of Music) by theArchbishop of Canterbury,Rowan Williams.He is also an Emeritus Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford.

Compositions

As a composer, Ives's work consists mainly of sacred and secular music for choir, much of it written for the liturgy at Magdalen College chapel. His "CanterburyTe Deum"(1991) for SATB and brass quintet was commissioned for the enthronement ofGeorge CareyasArchbishop of Canterbury.He was also commissioned to compose the centre-piece anthem, "The Gift of Grace", for the national commemoration service marking the 200th anniversary of theabolition of the slave trade in the British Empire,held atWestminster Abbeyin 2007, which was attended byQueen Elizabeth II,Tony Blairand other high-ranking politicians and public figures. Westminster Abbey later commissioned three new arrangements of music byHubert Parry(I was glad,Hear my words, ye people,and theCoronation Te Deum) for a recording released in 2015.

Ives composes as Grayston, but prefers to be known as "Bill", a nickname he acquired at an early age as a result of a role-playing game with his brother.

Choral works

Canticles and service music

• Canterbury Te Deum
• Missa Brevis(1987, for the choir ofNew College, Oxford)
• The Edington Service
• The Exon Service
• The Magdalen Service(ATB)
• The Salisbury Service
• The Warwick Service
• Jubilate
• Preces and Responses(SATB and ATB)

Anthems

• A Song of Christ's Glory
• A Song of Divine Love
• Lord, is it I?
• Listen sweet Dove(forPentecost)
• Nova, nova
• Let all the world
• Nos autem gloriari
• O Sacrum Convivium
• Sicut lilium
• Sweet was the song
• The Canticle of Brother Sun
• There is a land of pure delight
• This is the record of John
• Three Latin Motets
• Ubi caritas
• The Beatitudes(girls' voices, for the 10th anniversary ofDerby CathedralGirls' Choir)
• Ave Maria (SATB)
• All People that on Earth do dwell(for patronal festival of St Matthews, Northampton, 2018)

Arrangements

• I've got you under my skin
• Name that tune
• Rise up, shepherd

Spirituals

• Amazing Grace
• Deep River
• Were you there?

Folksongs

• Buy broom besoms
• The lark in the clear air
• The tailor and the mouse

Organ solo

• Intrada
• Processional
• Lullaby
• Partita on "Hursley"

External links

• Official website
• Biography on King's Singers fansite