Peter Thompson [born 1955]

I like this composerʼs language, pungent and spicy
John York, Piano
…a genuinely creative talent
Musical Opinion
I look forward to becoming familiar with more music from this underrated composer.
Murray McLachlan, International Piano (May/June 2015)
Peter Thompson has been a staunch and open-handed friend to British music for many years.
Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International (August 2016)

Peter Thompson was born in Peterborough. He studied composition with Carey Blyton at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 1983, his String Quartet no 1 won first prize in the MidNAG national composition competition.

Since that date, his music has been widely performed, often at London’s South Bank and other cultural centres. His music has also been broadcast, notably on Classic FM, and is available on CD from Fand Music Recordings.

In 1995 he was a prizewinner in the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) International Composers’ Competition, and in 1996 he won the competition.

In 2014 his Cello Sonatina was featured on the Sleeveless Records label by cellist Lionel Handy and pianist Nigel Clayton on their CD, From Bohemia to Wessex. You can listen to the entire recording of this work, in full, on YouTube:

Peter Thompson’s Sonatina for Cello and Piano, from the disc From Bohemia to Wessex, is a fine example of tonal British music written in the 1980s. It is intelligent without being grating and is infused with rich and brooding British landscape. Try playing the slow movement, Andante sostenuto (4½ mins).
Julian Farmer

He has written music in most genres – chamber music, vocal music, piano music and orchestral music (including four symphonies).

Further information about Peter Thompson can be found on his Web site.

Portrait of Peter Thompson sketched by Jennie Slater.


Composer…

  ComposerWorkGradeVocal rangeDurationPublishedPrice
FM203Peter ThompsonA Red, Red RoseVideo
for unaccompanied choir (SATB)
3 mins16th January 2017£1.50
Words: Robert Burns
Forces: Choir (SATB)
FM241Peter ThompsonAir and Two EcloguesSoundVideo
arranged for Tenor Recorder and Piano
5 mins18th January 2022£5.50
Forces: Tenor recorder, Piano
FM254Peter ThompsonApple-GatheringSoundVideo
Autumn Poem
for orchestra
10½ mins8th September 2022
Purchase options
Forces: Orchestra
FM212Peter ThompsonArcadia Calls
for Violin and Piano
3 to 65½ mins16th September 2018£5.95
Forces: Violin, Piano
FM074Peter ThompsonAt the Window
for SATB
2000
Purchase options
Words: Richard Burns
Forces: Choir (SATB)
FM092Peter ThompsonAubade
for flute and piano
2001£6.00
Forces: Flute, Piano
FM022Peter ThompsonBalladSoundVideo
for piano
6 mins1994£5.00
Forces: Piano
FM111Peter ThompsonBallad
for solo violin
2002£7.00
Forces: Violin
FM090Peter ThompsonBalletSound
for clarinet in B♭, ’cello and piano
10½ mins2000£10.50
Forces: Clarinet, ’Cello, Piano
FM019Peter ThompsonBicycle Ride
for piano
1993£4.75
Forces: Piano
FM221Peter ThompsonBrazilian ScherzoSound
for Two Pianos
83 mins2nd March 2020£6.99
Forces: Two Pianos
FM156Peter ThompsonBurlesqueSound
for piano
3½ mins2007£6.50
Forces: Piano
FM183Peter ThompsonCalydon Eclogue
for violin solo
33 mins19th February 2014£3.50
Forces: Violin
FM072Peter ThompsonCapriccioSoundVideo
for Violin and Orchestra
9 minsMarch 2011
Purchase options
Forces: Violin, Orchestra
FM075Peter ThompsonCapriccio
for Violin and Orchestra
Reduction for violin and piano
9 minsMarch 2011£12.50
Forces: Violin, Piano
FM077Peter ThompsonCarolSoundVideo
(Choral version)
for SATB
2 mins1995£2.50
Forces: Choir (SATB)
FM061Peter ThompsonCarol
(Unison version)
for voices in unison and piano
C to E'1995£4.45
Words: Elizabeth W. Thompson
Forces: Voice, Piano
FM269Peter ThompsonConcertinoSoundVideo
for Violoncello and Orchestra
17 mins7th October 2023
Purchase options
Forces: ’Cello, Orchestra
FM270Peter ThompsonConcertino
for Violoncello and Orchestra
Piano Reduction
17 mins7th October 2023£15.50
Forces: ’Cello, Piano
FM180Peter ThompsonDark Veils
for low voice and piano
,B to D'1½ mins8th June 2013£3.50
Words: Felicity Cook
Forces: Low voice, Piano
FM116Peter ThompsonDawnSoundVideo
for voice and piano
A to F'2½ mins2003£5.00
Words: Richard Burns
Forces: Voice, Piano
FM060Peter ThompsonEchoes
for voice and piano
D to F♯'1992£4.45
Words: Walter de la Mare
Forces: Voice, Piano
FM102Peter ThompsonÉcossaisesSound
for ’cello and piano
3½ mins2002£7.45
Forces: ’Cello, Piano
FM049Peter ThompsonElegiac BalladSound
for solo ’cello
9¼ mins1999£5.45
Forces: ’Cello
FM053Peter ThompsonEpithalamium I
for organ
1995£5.45
Edited by Maureen McAllister FRCO
Forces: Organ
FM055Peter Thompson
arr. Maureen McAllister
Epithalamium II
for organ duet
1995£9.45
Forces: Organ duet
FM054Peter ThompsonEpithalamium IIISound
for organ
8 mins1995£7.45
Edited by Maureen McAllister FRCO
Forces: Organ
FM084Peter ThompsonFanfare
for Junior String Orchestra
1994£12.50
Forces: Junior String Orchestra (3× Vn, 2× Vc, Cb and optional Va)
FM101Peter ThompsonFive Elegiac FragmentsSound
for small orchestra
9¼ mins2002
Purchase options
Forces: Small orchestra
FM258Peter ThompsonFlower Piece
for string orchestra
6 mins24th February 2023£18.95
Forces: String orchestra
FM108Peter ThompsonFour Swinburne PicturesSound
for voice and piano
C to G'6¾ mins£8.00
Words: A. C. Swinburne
Forces: Voice, Piano
FM070Peter ThompsonHampshire SummersSoundVideo
Orchestral Rhapsody
for orchestra
12 mins1996
Purchase options
Forces: Orchestra
FM076Peter ThompsonHope and Fear
for five-part choir
1992£4.00
Words: A. C. Swinburne
Forces: Choir (SATBB)
FM249Peter ThompsonHope and FearSoundVideo
arranged for solo baritone and piano
,F to E'5½ mins1st September 2022£9.50
Forces: Baritone, Piano
FM248Peter ThompsonHope and FearSoundVideo
for solo baritone and string orchestra
,F to E'5½ mins1st September 2022£12.50
Forces: Baritone, String orchestra
FM050Peter ThompsonIn Rutland
for solo ’Cello
2000£10.45
Forces: ’Cello
FM143Peter ThompsonJune TuneSoundVideo
for piano
2¼ mins2005£5.00
Forces: Piano
FM181Peter ThompsonMarch HaresSound
for piano
6 to 81 minute8th June 2013£2.50
Forces: Piano
FM115Peter ThompsonMay Song
for piano
4 mins2003£6.00
Forces: Piano
FM044Peter ThompsonMeditationSound
for soprano, flute and harp
,A to A'6¾ mins1994£9.45
Words: Peter Thompson
Forces: Soprano, Flute, Harp
FM250Peter ThompsonNonetSound
in twelve movements
for woodwind, horn and strings
16½ mins23rd May 2022£14.99
Forces: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, French horn, Two Violins, Viola, ’Cello, Double bass
FM040Peter ThompsonPastoral
for violin and piano
1997£6.45
Forces: Violin, Piano
FM255Peter ThompsonPiano SonataAdvanced (post-Grade 8)17½ mins8th September 2022£15.95
Forces: Piano
FM218Peter ThompsonPigeon
for Voice and Piano
2 mins22nd June 2019£5.50
Words: Julian Farmer
Forces: Voice, Piano
FM145Peter ThompsonPrayer Against Lightning
for SATB
2005£6.45
Words: St Columba • Translated by Julian Farmer
Forces: Choir (SATB)
FM154Peter ThompsonPrelude for Orchestra
“Stress”
12th June 2009
Purchase options
Forces: Orchestra
FM177Peter ThompsonRomance
for Viola and Piano
7 to 82 mins26th September 2012£5.95
Forces: Viola, Piano
FM186Peter ThompsonRomance
for Clarinet in B♭ and Piano
7 to 82 mins1st September 2014£5.95
Forces: Clarinet, Piano
FM146Peter ThompsonRoundels
for violin and ’cello
2006£9.50
Forces: Violin, ’Cello
FM227Peter ThompsonSerenadeSound
for orchestra
13½ mins17th August 2020
Purchase options
Forces: Orchestra
FM210Peter ThompsonSestina
for Piano
85½ mins7th May 2018£7.50
Forces: Piano
FM124Peter ThompsonSidlesham QuaySoundVideo
for piano
5 to 72 mins13th November 2011£2.50
Forces: Piano
FM023Peter ThompsonSketches & FanciesSoundVideo
for piano
1996£10.00
Forces: Piano
FM121Peter ThompsonSlumber Song
for ’Cello and Piano
2003£6.45
Forces: ’Cello, Piano
FM120Peter ThompsonSlumber Song
for Violin and Piano
2003£6.45
Forces: Violin, Piano
FM190Peter ThompsonSoliloquyVideo
for Piano
8 to Advanced (post-Grade 8)4¼ mins12th April 2015£5.95
Forces: Piano
FM046Peter ThompsonSonataSound
for ’Cello and Piano
13½ mins1999£9.45
Forces: ’Cello, Piano
FM099Peter ThompsonSonatina
for treble recorder (or flute) and piano
1995£7.45
Forces: Flute, Recorder, Piano
FM128Peter ThompsonSonatinaSound
for bass clarinet (or bassoon) and ’cello
7¾ mins1997£8.50
Forces: Bass clarinet, Bassoon, ’Cello
FM094Peter ThompsonSonatinaSoundVideo
for ’Cello and Piano
10 mins2001£8.45
Forces: ’Cello, Piano
FM174Peter ThompsonSonatina
for Piano
812½ mins13th November 2011£9.50
Forces: Piano
FM048Peter ThompsonSonnetVideo
for solo guitar
1992£4.45
Forces: Guitar
FM252Peter ThompsonSouth Coast PostcardsSound
for orchestra
9¾ mins23rd May 2022
Purchase options
Forces: Orchestra
FM042Peter ThompsonString Quartet no 1Sound
(score and parts)
13¼ mins1993£14.50
Forces: Two Violins, Viola, ’Cello
FM043Peter ThompsonString Quartet no 2
‘Integration’
(score and parts)
1997£9.50
Forces: Two Violins, Viola, ’Cello
FM098Peter ThompsonString Quartet no 3
‘Biblical Studies’
(score and parts)
2001£10.50
Forces: Two Violins, Viola, ’Cello
FM142Peter ThompsonString Quartet no 4
(score and parts)
2005£14.50
Forces: Two Violins, Viola, ’Cello
FM165Peter ThompsonString Quartet no 5
(score and parts)
2009£12.50
Forces: Two Violins, Viola, ’Cello
FM189Peter ThompsonString Quartet no 6
(score and parts)
31st December 2014£14.50
Forces: Two Violins, Viola, ’Cello
FM214Peter ThompsonString Quartet no 7
(score and parts)
12 mins23rd February 2019£12.50
Forces: Two Violins, Viola, ’Cello
FM104Peter ThompsonString Trio
for two violins and ’cello
2002£11.50
Forces: Two Violins, ’Cello
FM045Peter ThompsonSuiteSoundVideo
for Oboe and Piano
11¼ mins1997£9.45
Forces: Oboe, Piano
FM014Peter ThompsonSuite no 01
‘Little Suite’
for piano
1998£6.45
Forces: Piano
FM015Peter ThompsonSuite no 02Sound
for piano
9¼ mins1995£7.45
Forces: Piano
FM016Peter ThompsonSuite no 03SoundVideo
‘Marc Chagall Suite’
for piano
7 mins2006£6.75
Forces: Piano
FM017Peter ThompsonSuite no 04
‘Suite of Months’
for piano
4 to 71998£8.45
Forces: Piano
FM018Peter ThompsonSuite no 05
‘Holiday Suite’
for piano
1998£7.45
Forces: Piano
FM129Peter ThompsonSuite no 06
‘Catching the Light’
for piano
2004£6.45
Forces: Piano
FM148Peter ThompsonSuite no 07
for piano
2006£8.45
Forces: Piano
FM152Peter ThompsonSuite no 08Video
‘Nameless Days’
for piano
2007£10.50
Forces: Piano
FM164Peter ThompsonSuite no 09
‘The Magic Box’
for piano
6 to 72009£7.50
Forces: Piano
FM204Peter ThompsonSuite no 10
for piano
7 to 812½ mins4th July 2017£8.95
Forces: Piano
FM231Peter ThompsonSuite no 11
Spring 2020: ‘The Stain’
for piano
76 mins1st February 2021£9.95
Forces: Piano
FM243Peter ThompsonSuite no 12
‘Autumn Sketchbook’
for piano
7 to 87 mins28th February 2022£10.25
Forces: Piano
FM096Peter ThompsonSuite of Six Pipers
for descant (or tenor) recorder or flute and piano
1 to 32001£7.45
Forces: Flute, Recorder, Piano
FM247Peter ThompsonSymphonietta DoppioSound
for orchestra
6¾ mins26th April 2022
Purchase options
Forces: Orchestra
FM131Peter ThompsonSymphony no 1SoundVideo
for orchestra
20 mins2004
Purchase options
Forces: Orchestra
FM153Peter ThompsonSymphony no 2SoundVideo
for orchestra
27½ mins2008
Purchase options
Forces: Orchestra
FM195Peter ThompsonSymphony no 3SoundVideo
for full orchestra
18 mins7th November 2015
Purchase options
Forces: Full orchestra
FM224Peter ThompsonSymphony no 4SoundVideo
for orchestra
15½ mins20th July 2020
Purchase options
Forces: Orchestra
FM157Peter ThompsonThe Fand Grade 5 Piano AlbumSoundVideo
A selection of pieces to Grade 5 standard
52008£9.95
Forces: Piano
FM132Peter ThompsonThe Fand Left-Hand Piano AlbumSound
Contemporary Pieces for the Left Hand alone
2004£11.45
Forces: Piano (left hand)
FM062Peter ThompsonThe Green of the Semiquaver
for voice and piano
C to G♭'1994£5.45
Words: Pat Howell
Forces: Voice, Piano
FM100Peter ThompsonThe Lamb
for voice and piano
C♯ to E'2002£4.75
Words: William Blake
Forces: Voice, Piano
FM168Peter ThompsonThe Oblation
for medium voice and piano
,B♭ to D'August 2010£4.95
Words: A. C. Swinburne
Forces: Medium voice, Piano
FM169Peter ThompsonThe Renaissance Spirit
in memoriam J.B.A.
for piano
84th June 2011£7.95
Forces: Piano
FM216Peter ThompsonThe Teazles
for Voice and Piano
1½ mins22nd June 2019£5.50
Words: Roger Eno
Forces: Voice, Piano
FM024Peter ThompsonThe Wessex Piano Album
Nine Easy Pieces by The Wessex Composer Group
(John Barton Armstrong, David Llewellyn Green, Mark Andrews, Peter Thompson)
1996£7.45
Forces: Piano
FM085Peter ThompsonTheme for PASSOSound
for Junior String Orchestra
1¾ mins1996£12.50
Forces: Junior String Orchestra (3× Vn, 2× Vc, Cb and optional Va)
FM251Peter ThompsonThree ExcursionsSound
for Two Flutes or Flute and Oboe
2½ mins23rd May 2022£7.50
Forces: Two Flutes, Flute and Oboe
FM021Peter ThompsonThree Inventions
for easy piano
11999£6.00
Forces: Piano
FM020Peter ThompsonThree November PoemsSoundVideo
for piano
5 mins1999£6.75
Forces: Piano
FM184Peter ThompsonThree PiecesSoundVideo
for Piano
3 to 56¼ mins19th February 2014£5.50
Forces: Piano
FM064Peter ThompsonThree Poems by Helen Clarke
for medium voice and piano
,B♭ to D'1996£7.45
Words: Helen Clarke
Forces: Medium voice, Piano
FM041Peter ThompsonThree Ritornels
for violin and piano
1993£8.45
Forces: Violin, Piano
FM162Peter ThompsonThree Weston Pastels
for easy ’cello and easy piano
2008£3.50
Forces: ’Cello, Piano
FM192Peter ThompsonToccataVideo
for Piano
8 to Advanced (post-Grade 8)1¾ mins31st May 2015£5.45
Forces: Piano
FM047Peter ThompsonTop o’ the Morning
for Brass Quintet
1999£9.45
Forces: Two Trumpets, French horn, Trombone, Tuba
FM105Peter ThompsonTwo Companions
for two ’cellos
4 to 52002£6.00
Forces: Two ’Cellos
FM112Peter ThompsonTwo Henley Poems
for voice and piano
C♭ to E'2002£7.00
Words: W. Henley
Forces: Voice, Piano
FM260Peter ThompsonTwo Interludes
for Piano Quartet
5½ mins25th February 2023£12.95
Forces: Violin, Viola, ’Cello, Piano
FM087Peter ThompsonTwo Marches
for two ’cellos
31994£4.00
Forces: Two ’Cellos
FM217Peter ThompsonTwo Poems by Richard Crashaw
for Medium Voice, Two Violins and ’Cello
(score and parts)
8¼ mins22nd June 2019£9.95
Words: Richard Crashaw
Forces: Medium voice, Two Violins, ’Cello
FM065Peter ThompsonTwo Robert Southey Poems
for voice and piano
C to G♯'1999£6.75
Words: Robert Southey
Forces: Voice, Piano
FM209Peter ThompsonTwo WildflowersSound
for Piano
42 mins3rd February 2018£3.00
Forces: Piano
FM063Peter ThompsonWhen I was One-and-Twenty
from ‘A Shropshire Lad’
for voice and piano
C♯ to F'1997£4.45
Words: A. E. Housman
Forces: Voice, Piano

Arranger…

  AttributionWorkDurationPublishedPrice
FM119 Traditional
arr. Peter Thompson
The Keys of HeavenVideo
Cheshire folksong
for SATB
3 mins13th November 2011£1.50
Forces: Choir (SATB)

Editor…

  AttributionWorkPublishedPrice
FM093Carey BlytonCollected Short Stories
and Summer in the Country (Autobiography)
ISBN 0-9535125-4-1
2002£14.00
Edited by Peter Thompson

Author…

  BookPublishedPrice
FM089Composer Interviews no 1
Carey Blyton, interviewed by Peter Thompson
ISBN 0-9535125-2-5 (second edition)
19th May 2012£7.00
FM155Composer Interviews no 2
John Barton Armstrong, interviewed by Peter Thompson
ISBN 0-9535125-6-8
2007£7.00