Joe St.Johanser

Biographical Details of the Composer

Joe St.Johanser was born in 1941 in Cheltenham , Gloucestershire and educated at Brighton Grammar School and University College London.

His surname is of Austrian origin, though both parents were English. He has had a long career in computer software engineering and management consultancy (BSc Economics 1963, MSc Computer Science 1972) and still practices occasionally as an expert in computer software related litigation.

He began composing in 1997 (BMus 2001), studying with Dr. Steve Goss and Professor Sebastian Forbes at Surrey University,and is an alumnus of the Canford Composers Workshop , taught by Malcolm Singer (composer and Music Director of the Menuhin School).

Major compositions to date are:

- 2000 '3 songs of Norman MacCaig ' 3 elegiac songs for soprano and piano. Duration approximately 10 minutes.

- 2002,'The Year of the Green Parrots' an extended song cycle for 3 sopranos and 7 piece chamber orchestra to poems of Jane Wyatt. Duration approximately 45 minutes.

- 2002,'Bird Parade' 6 short songs to poems of Norman MacCaig for soprano and piano. Duration approximately 10 minutes.

- 2003 'Spem' - full length comic opera in 2 acts, for 7 principal singers, SATB chorus and 15 piece orchestra. The libretto is an adapted version of William Shakespeare's 'Venus and Adonis' with additional dialogue by the composer . Duration is approximately 2 hours.

- 2004 'Ode to Galileo' - a 21st century oratorio for 6 principals , SSATBB chorus and piano. Duration approximately 35 minutes.

- 2005 'Pierrot Alone'' - a song cycle for soprano., mezzo soprano, baritone and chamber orchestra to poems of John Drinkwater. Duration approximately 15 minutes.

- 2006 'The Tempest' - full length opera in 5 acts, for 11 principal singers, SATB chorus and 23 piece orchestra. The libretto is an adapted version of William Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'. Duration is approximately 2 1/2 hours. Not yet performed. Recorded highlights to be released soon.

- 2006 'Raven' - a choral ballet for soprano., mezzo soprano, baritone and chamber orchestra to a poem of Christina Rossetti. Duration approximately 15 minutes.Not yet performed. Recording to be released soon.

- 2006 'Goblin Fruit' - a choral ballet for SSATB and chamber orchestra to a poem of Christina Rossetti. Duration approximately 35 minutes. Duration approximately 35 minutes.Not yet performed. Recording to be released soon.

He is currently working on a third opera (based on Lewis Carroll's 'Through the Looking Glass').

All of his compositions prior to 2005 have received performances and the responses from audiences and critics alike have been extremely positive. Of 'Spem' one reviewer said 'When I heard the first violin humming the main theme of the first movement I knew Joe had a hit'

Joe's composition style is not tonal in the classical sense. His harmonic language is often not functional. However he does create and make extensive use of memorable melodies and motifs. The overall effect is quite different from that of much typical, randomly dissonant abstract modern music. His influences are many. He is much influenced by pop music. He particularly admires Puccini, Janacek, Britten and John Adams.

He is a full member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians. As well as composing he translates opera libretti (‘Cosi fan Tutte’, 2003) directs opera for Starlight Opera (Barn Theatre Oxted 2003), teaches singing Singing teacher in Woking and performs as a singer (baritone) Singing teacher in Woking