Terry Johns

ABGS 1955-62

Terry Johns has travelled the world as a member of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and of the London Symphony Orchestra.  Until late in 2016 he lived in the Granton area of Edinburgh overlooking the Firth of Forth. However, at the end 2016 he moved abroad to Torrox, Adalucia in Spain. In June 1973, at St. Stephen’s Church Edinburgh, Terry married Karin (née Bruce) who was a dancer. They have raised two children: Dylan who is a professional diver, and their daughter the Edinburgh-based artist Sally-Ann Johns. In his musical career Terry has recorded jazz albums, and appeared on television with Shirley Bassey, Tony Bennett and Peggy Lee.  He can be heard on the soundtracks of many films including Superman, Raiders of the Lost Ark and the original Star Wars trilogy.

Terry also composes instrumental music, and one of his best-known tunes was the theme to Harlech Television’s “The Pretenders”.  His piece “Holland Park” was first recorded by Terry for his Divine Art album Classic and Romantic and was chosen as an examination work in the syllabus of Trinity College of Music.

KT came to the school from Hirwaun, where his father was employed as a miner, and where his early musical education began. As a teenager he began conducting, and at the age of fifteen he directed a Hirwaun Brass Band at the area finals of the “Daily Herald” contest at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea when the bandmaster was indisposed. In 1961, he composed the opening fanfare for the Urdd Eisteddfod hosted that year in Aberdare. In 1984, he arranged some of the music for the memorial service for film star Richard Burton at the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

Some of Terry Johns’ sheet music is listed here

 

Terry Talks about his new composition ‘Fanfare’ on a YouTube video. Sir Karl Jenkins speaks first, then Terry at about 1 min 25 seconds into the video linked to at
The Glam Reunion 2015.

In 2014, Terry was interviewed by the British-American horn player Sarah Willis for her on-line series called Horn Hangout Live. It was a special live webcast from the International Horn Society in London.

The discussion ranged widely, from Terry’s days in the Hirwaun Brass Band, to his college days, orchestral playing, session playing, to his composing and conducting experiences.

The interview lasted almost an hour, and featured a few questions from the audience and from viewers who were watching the webcast from various locations over the world.

Terry was in good form, and he humorously recounted many anecdotes about people and experiences from his long career in music.

The interview can be seen on YouTube at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zggM8d1OmQ

 

This is the cover of the sheet music for one of Terry’s numerous compositions. He was inspired to write this piece for flute and piano whilst walking near the Red Lion Inn in Penderyn on an autumn Sunday. He heard a hymn in the distance, coming from the nearby church of St Cynog, and if you were to hear the piece you would certainly recognise echoes of a well known Welsh hymn in the piano part of the resulting composition. Terry’s paternal grandmother was a farm girl who lived in Penderyn, so the village has a special significance for him.

The piece is suitable for flautists with a standard of about Grade 6. Its slow adagio tempo and calm lilting melodies should be appealing to young flautists, especially ones from Hirwaun and Penderyn!

The music is available from Broadbent & Dunn Ltd - Music Publishers.

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Photograph of St Cynog’s copyright C.R. Lewis, 2007. Licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence