Ian Venables studied composition with Richard Arnell at Trinity College of Music, London and
later with John Joubert, Andrew Downes and John Mayer at the Royal Birmingham
Conservatoire. Described as ‘Britain’s greatest living composer of art song’ (Musical Opinion)
and ‘a song composer as fine as Finzi and Gurney’ (BBC Music Magazine), Venables has written
over 80 works in this genre, including eleven song-cycles. Beyond the world of art-song he has
written many chamber works that include a Piano Quintet Op. 27 and a String Quartet Op.32,
as well as smaller pieces for solo instruments and piano.
His most recent large-scale choral work is a Requiem, which has been recorded by both
Gloucester Cathedral Choir and Merton College Choir Oxford, the latter in an orchestral
version. Venables is President of the Arthur Bliss Society, a Vice-President of the Gloucester
Music Society, Chairman of the Ivor Gurney Society and an Honorary Fellow of Exeter
University.
His music is published by Novello (Wise Music Group) and has been recorded on the Regent,
Somm, Signum, Naxos, Delphian and Albion labels. For further information about his music
please visit www.ianvenables.com or www.wisemusicclassical.com
Graham J. Lloyd