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{{Short description|English musician and record producer (born 1959)}}
{{other people||William Gregory (disambiguation)}}
{{other people||William Gregory (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
<!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
<!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist| name = Will Gregory
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Will Gregory
| image =
| image = William Owen Gregory.webp
| caption =
| caption =
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = William Owen Gregory
| birth_name = William Owen Gregory
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|9|17|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|9|17|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Bristol]], England
| birth_place = [[Bristol]], England
| genre = [[Electronica]], [[trip hop]], [[synthpop]], [[Classical music|Western orchestral/chamber]]
| genre = [[Electronic music|Electronic]], [[trip hop]], [[synthpop]], [[Classical music|Western orchestral/chamber]]
| occupation = Musician, record producer
| occupation = Musician, record producer
| instrument = [[Keyboard instrument|Keyboards]], drum programming, guitars, [[synthesizer]], [[oboe]], [[saxophone]]
| instrument = [[Keyboard instrument|Keyboards]], drum programming, guitars, [[synthesizer]], [[oboe]], [[saxophone]]
| years_active = 1981–present
| years_active = 1981–present
| label = [[Mute Records|Mute]]
| label = [[Mute Records|Mute]]
| associated_acts= [[Tears for Fears]], [[Goldfrapp]]
| associated_acts= [[Tears for Fears]], [[Goldfrapp]]
| website =
| website =
}}
}}


'''William Owen''' "'''Will'''" '''Gregory''' (born {{birth date|1959|9|17|df=yes}}) is an English musician and record producer. He is best known as the lead [[keyboardist]], producer, and composer of the [[electronic music]] duo [[Goldfrapp]].
'''William Owen Gregory''' (born 17 September 1959) is an English musician and record producer. He is best known as the lead [[keyboardist]], producer, and composer of the [[electronic music]] duo [[Goldfrapp]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
Gregory was born in [[Bristol]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.transaudiogroup.com/press-releases/synth-whizz-will-gregory-gears-take-new-goldfrapp-album-masses-atc-assistance/|title=Synth whizz Will Gregory gears up with ATC SCM25A|website=TransAudio Group}}</ref><!-- no IMDB for refs <ref>{{cite web|title=Will Gregory|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339971/|publisher=IMDB|accessdate=13 October 2015}}</ref> --> the son of an actress and an opera chorus-line singer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thebrag.com/goldfrapps-will-gregory-their-enduring-partnership/|title=Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory On Their Enduring Partnership|date=29 March 2017}}</ref>
Gregory was born in [[Bristol]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.transaudiogroup.com/press-releases/synth-whizz-will-gregory-gears-take-new-goldfrapp-album-masses-atc-assistance/|title=Synth whizz Will Gregory gears up with ATC SCM25A|website=TransAudio Group}}</ref><!-- no IMDB for refs <ref>{{cite web|title=Will Gregory|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339971/|publisher=IMDB|access-date=13 October 2015}}</ref> --> the son of an actress and an opera chorus-line singer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thebrag.com/goldfrapps-will-gregory-their-enduring-partnership/|title=Goldfrapp's Will Gregory on Their Enduring Partnership|website=Thebrag.com|date=29 March 2017}}</ref>


<blockquote>"I got into music kind of by default as it was the only thing I was good at – I was the weird one at school who practiced the piano during lunch break. In my teens I met other musicians and was so relieved to find some like-minds that I think I never wanted to leave the ‘weird’ muso club – perhaps it’s the same for many musicians. I ended up playing oboe and then moved on to sax, which got me into diverse musical disciplines."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musictech.net/features/will-gregory-interview-the-moog-ensemble/|title=Will Gregory Interview - The Moog Ensemble!|date=29 September 2014}}</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>I got into music kind of by default as it was the only thing I was good at – I was the weird one at school who practiced the piano during lunch break. In my teens I met other musicians and was so relieved to find some like-minds that I think I never wanted to leave the 'weird' muso club – perhaps it’s the same for many musicians. I ended up playing oboe and then moved on to sax, which got me into diverse musical disciplines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musictech.net/features/will-gregory-interview-the-moog-ensemble/|title=Will Gregory Interview – The Moog Ensemble!|website=Musictech.net|date=29 September 2014}}</ref></blockquote>


He studied [[Classical music|Western orchestral and chamber music]] at the [[University of York]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Will Gregory composes debut opera for BBC Concert Orchestra: Piccard In Space|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/01_january/24/gregory.shtml|publisher=BBC|accessdate=19 November 2015}}</ref><!-- <ref>[https://vimeo.com/95893145 Will Gregory's Moog Ensemble] on [[Vimeo]]</ref><ref>[http://www.factmag.com/2015/03/21/real-world-solutions-why-radiophonic-workshop-and-a-moog-orchestra-are-releasing-insanely-high-quality-albums/ Real World Studios, Bowers & Wilkins, and Society of Sound : Radiophonic Workshop reunited and The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble]</ref> -->
He studied [[Classical music|Western orchestral and chamber music]] at the [[University of York]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Will Gregory composes debut opera for BBC Concert Orchestra: Piccard in Space|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/01_january/24/gregory.shtml|publisher=BBC|access-date=19 November 2015}}</ref><!-- <ref>[https://vimeo.com/95893145 Will Gregory's Moog Ensemble] on [[Vimeo]]</ref><ref>[http://www.factmag.com/2015/03/21/real-world-solutions-why-radiophonic-workshop-and-a-moog-orchestra-are-releasing-insanely-high-quality-albums/ Real World Studios, Bowers & Wilkins, and Society of Sound : Radiophonic Workshop reunited and The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble]</ref> -->


==Career==
==Career==
In the 1980s, Gregory predominantly recorded and toured with [[Tears for Fears]].<ref>http://www.willgregorymoogensemble.co.uk/players/</ref>
In the 1980s, Gregory predominantly recorded and toured with [[Tears for Fears]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.willgregorymoogensemble.co.uk/players/ |title=Players &#124; Will Gregory Moog Ensemble |website=www.willgregorymoogensemble.co.uk |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221340/http://www.willgregorymoogensemble.co.uk/players/ |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


In the 1990s, Gregory performed with artists including [[Peter Gabriel]], [[The Cure]], and [[Portishead (band)|Portishead]], as well as playing [[oboe]] for [[Tori Amos]] and recording with [[Paula Rae Gibson]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Biography of Paula Rae Gibson|url=http://www.jazzcds.co.uk/artist_id_923/biography_id_923|publisher=Jazz CDs|accessdate=19 November 2015}}</ref> In 1991, he played saxophone with the [[London Sinfonietta]] for the [[Nixon in China (opera)#Performance history|Paris début of John Adams's opera ''Nixon in China'']].<ref>{{cite web|title=Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory tackles opera with Piccard in Space|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/music/classical/article2951518.ece|publisher=The Times|accessdate=19 November 2015}}</ref> In 1999, vocalist [[Alison Goldfrapp]] and Gregory formed the [[Goldfrapp|duo Goldfrapp]]. The pairing has led to international critical, popular, and commercial success.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Raphael|first1=Amy|title=A siren sings|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/oct/16/electronicmusic.popandrock|accessdate=19 November 2015|work=Guardian|date=16 October 2015}}</ref>
In the 1990s, Gregory performed with artists including [[Peter Gabriel]], [[the Cure]], and [[Portishead (band)|Portishead]], as well as playing [[oboe]] for [[Tori Amos]] and recording with [[Paula Rae Gibson]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Biography of Paula Rae Gibson|url=http://www.jazzcds.co.uk/artist_id_923/biography_id_923|publisher=Jazz CDs|access-date=19 November 2015}}</ref> In 1991, he played saxophone with the [[London Sinfonietta]] for the [[Nixon in China (opera)#Performance history|Paris début of John Adams's opera ''Nixon in China'']].<ref>{{cite news|title=Goldfrapp's Will Gregory tackles opera with Piccard in Space|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/music/classical/article2951518.ece|newspaper=[[The Times]]|access-date=19 November 2015}}</ref> In 1999, vocalist [[Alison Goldfrapp]] and Gregory formed the duo [[Goldfrapp]]. The pairing has led to international critical, popular, and commercial success.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Raphael|first1=Amy|title=A siren sings|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/oct/16/electronicmusic.popandrock|access-date=19 November 2015|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=16 October 2015}}</ref>


In the 2000s, as well as [[Goldfrapp]] activities, he played saxophone on Portishead's 2008 album [[Third (Portishead album)|''Third'']] (on the tracks "[[Magic Doors (Portishead song)|Magic Doors]]" and "Threads").
In the 2000s, as well as Goldfrapp activities, he played saxophone on Portishead's 2008 album [[Third (Portishead album)|''Third'']] (on the tracks "[[Magic Doors (Portishead song)|Magic Doors]]" and "Threads").


On 31 March 2011, Gregory's first opera, ''Piccard in Space'', premiered at the [[Queen Elizabeth Hall|Queen Elizabeth Hall, London]]. The Hattie Naylor [[libretto]] focused on [[Auguste Piccard]] and Paul Kipfer's first balloon ascent, and the theories of [[Albert Einstein]] and [[Isaac Newton]], both of whom are characters in the drama. The reviews were generally negative.<ref>1 April 2011 press on ''Piccard in Space'', included: {{cite web| url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/reviews/gregory-piccard-in-space-queen-elizabeth-hall-2259208.html| title= Gregory Piccard in Space, Queen Elizabeth Hall - Reviews - Classical - The Independent| date= 1 April 2011| publisher= [[The Independent]]}}; {{cite web
On 31 March 2011, Gregory's first opera, ''Piccard in Space'', premiered at the [[Queen Elizabeth Hall|Queen Elizabeth Hall, London]]. The [[libretto]] by [[Hattie Naylor]] focused on [[Auguste Piccard]] and Paul Kipfer's first balloon ascent, and the theories of [[Albert Einstein]] and [[Isaac Newton]], both of whom are characters in the drama. The reviews were generally negative.<ref>1 April 2011 press on ''Piccard in Space'', included: {{cite web| url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/reviews/gregory-piccard-in-space-queen-elizabeth-hall-2259208.html| title= Gregory Piccard in Space, Queen Elizabeth Hall – Reviews – Classical – The Independent| date= 1 April 2011| work= [[The Independent]]|location=London}}; {{cite web
| url= http://Telegraph.co.UK/culture/music/opera/8422093/Piccard-in-Space-Queen-Elizabeth-Hall-review.html
| url= http://Telegraph.co.UK/culture/music/opera/8422093/Piccard-in-Space-Queen-Elizabeth-Hall-review.html
| title= Piccard in Space, Queen Elizabeth Hall, review - Telegraph
| title= Piccard in Space, Queen Elizabeth Hall, review – Telegraph
| date= 1 April 2011
| date= 1 April 2011
| publisher= [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]}} and {{cite web
| work= [[The Daily Telegraph]]}} and {{cite web
| url= http://FT.com/cms/s/2/54c55c18-5c42-11e0-8f48-00144feab49a.html
| url= http://FT.com/cms/s/2/54c55c18-5c42-11e0-8f48-00144feab49a.html
| title= Piccard in Space, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London - FT.com
| title= Piccard in Space, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London – FT.com
| date= 1 April 2011
| date= 1 April 2011
| publisher= [[Financial Times]]
| newspaper= [[Financial Times]]
| url-access=subscription }}</ref>
| url-access=subscription }}</ref>


On 11 March 2013, a newly commissioned [[baroquesque music|baroquesque]] Gregory work (for orchestra and [[Moog synthesizer|Moog]], based on a [[sarabande]] of [[Johann Sebastian Bach]]) was performed at [[Roundhouse (venue)|The Roundhouse]] in London. The performance was part of [[BBC Radio 3]]'s [[Baroque Remixed|''Baroque Remixed'' series]], which also included a piece by [[Matthew Herbert]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.UK/programmes/b01r5np4| title= Baroque Remixed - Part 2| publisher= bbc.co.uk| year= 2013| accessdate= 11 March 2013}}</ref>
On 11 March 2013, a newly commissioned [[baroquesque music|baroquesque]] Gregory work (for orchestra and [[Moog synthesizer|Moog]], based on a [[sarabande]] of [[Johann Sebastian Bach]]) was performed at the [[Roundhouse (venue)|Roundhouse]] in London. The performance was part of [[BBC Radio 3]]'s ''Baroque Remixed'' series, which also included a piece by [[Matthew Herbert]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.UK/programmes/b01r5np4| title= Baroque Remixed – Part 2| publisher= BBC| year= 2013| access-date= 11 March 2013}}</ref>


Gregory's other saxophone work includes playing with [[Apollo Saxophone Quartet]], [[Spiritualized]], and [[Michael Nyman]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble|url=https://www.barbican.org.uk/media/upload/music/0Will%20Gregory%20Freesheet%20HR.pdf|publisher=Barbican|accessdate=19 November 2015}}{{dl}}</ref>
Gregory's other saxophone work includes writing for and playing with the [[Apollo Saxophone Quartet]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.apollosaxophonequartet.com/styled-2/index.html|title=Biography &#124; Apollo saxophone quartet|website=Apollosaxophonequartet.com}}</ref> and playing with [[Spiritualized]], [[Moondog]] and [[Michael Nyman]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theartsdesk.com/brighton-festival/10-questions-musician-will-gregory|title=10 Questions for Musician Will Gregory|website=theartsdesk.com|date=4 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thevikingof6thavenue.com/blog/2017/3/15/moondog-and-goldfrapp|title=Post|website=The Viking of 6th Avenue|date=9 June 2014 }}</ref>


He composed the music for the 2017 series ''[[Spy in the Wild]].''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/spyinthewild|title=BBC - Spy In The Wild - Media Centre|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>
He composed the music for the 2017 series ''[[Spy in the Wild]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/spyinthewild|title=BBC – Spy in the Wild – Media Centre|publisher=BBC}}</ref>


He composed the music for The [[Royal Shakespeare Company]]'s 2019 production of ''[[King John (play)|King John]]'' at the [[Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsc.org.uk/press/releases/ivor-novello-award-winning-composer-will-gregory-joins-rsc-winter-season|title=Latest Press Releases &#124; Royal Shakespeare Company|website=www.rsc.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Michael |last=Davies |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/stratford-upon-avon-theatre/reviews/king-john-swan-rsc-shakespeare_49994.html|title=Review: King John (Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon) &#124; WhatsOnStage|website=www.whatsonstage.com}}</ref>
He composed the music for the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]]'s 2019 production of ''[[King John (play)|King John]]'' at the [[Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsc.org.uk/press/releases/ivor-novello-award-winning-composer-will-gregory-joins-rsc-winter-season|title=Latest Press Releases &#124; Royal Shakespeare Company|website=Rsc.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Michael |last=Davies |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/stratford-upon-avon-theatre/reviews/king-john-swan-rsc-shakespeare_49994.html|title=Review: King John (Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon)|website=Whatsonstage.com|date=27 September 2019 }}</ref> It was announced in 2021 that Gregory would provide an original score featuring Alison Goldfrapp and [[Adrian Utley]] for the [[BBC]] and [[Amazon Prime Video]] psychological thriller series [[Chloe (TV series)|''Chloe'']].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/04/20/goldfrapps-will-gregory-to-score-amazons-bbcs-chloe/|title=Goldfrapp's Will Gregory to Score Amazon's & BBC's 'Chloe' &#124; Film Music Reporter}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
Line 63: Line 65:


'''with [[Peter Gabriel]]'''
'''with [[Peter Gabriel]]'''
* ''[[OVO]]'' (2000)
* ''[[OVO (album)|OVO]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Up (Peter Gabriel album)|Up]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Up (Peter Gabriel album)|Up]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Long Walk Home: Music from the Rabbit-Proof Fence]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Long Walk Home: Music from the Rabbit-Proof Fence]]'' (2002)
Line 75: Line 77:
* ''Gas Giants'' – Gas Giants (1994)
* ''Gas Giants'' – Gas Giants (1994)


'''Film Soundtracks'''
'''Film soundtracks'''
* ''[[I.D. (1995 film)|I.D.]]'' (1995)
* ''[[I.D. (1995 film)|I.D.]]'' (1995)
* ''Serengeti'' (2020, BBC/Discovery Channel wildlife documentary)<ref>{{Cite web|first=Melinda |last=Newman |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/will-gregory-interview-scoring-serengeti-8527620/|title=Scoring 'Serengeti': Goldfrapp's Will Gregory on Writing for Baboons, Hyenas and Lions|website=billboard.com}}</ref>

'''Television soundtracks'''
* ''[[Old Bear Stories]]'' (Carlton Television for ITV, 1993-1997)


==See also==
==See also==
Line 93: Line 99:
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160430220004/http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2008/06/16/goldfrapp-will-gregory-interview-pt2/ Goldfrapp: Will Gregory Interview PT2]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160430220004/http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2008/06/16/goldfrapp-will-gregory-interview-pt2/ Goldfrapp: Will Gregory Interview PT2]
*[http://www.synthtopia.com/content/tag/will-gregory/ Will Gregory] » Synthtopia
*[http://www.synthtopia.com/content/tag/will-gregory/ Will Gregory] » Synthtopia
*[https://vimeo.com/95893145 Will Gregory's Moog Ensemble] - [[Vimeo]]
*[https://vimeo.com/95893145 Will Gregory's Moog Ensemble] – [[Vimeo]]
*[http://www.musictech.net/2014/09/will-gregory-interview-the-moog-ensemble/ Will Gregory Interview - The Moog Ensemble! - MusicTech]
*[http://www.musictech.net/2014/09/will-gregory-interview-the-moog-ensemble/ Will Gregory Interview – The Moog Ensemble! – MusicTech]
* [https://fbiradio.com/goldfrapp-interview-will-gregory-on-death-happiness-and-drama/ GWill Gregory Interview with Tanya Rae] [https://d1kt6vnx6cjjqh.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/Goldfrapp-interview-w-Tanya-Rae.mp3 mp3] - FBi 94.5FM, [[Sydney]]
* [https://fbiradio.com/goldfrapp-interview-will-gregory-on-death-happiness-and-drama/ GWill Gregory Interview with Tanya Rae] [https://d1kt6vnx6cjjqh.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/Goldfrapp-interview-w-Tanya-Rae.mp3 mp3] – FBi 94.5FM, [[Sydney]]


{{Goldfrapp}}
{{Goldfrapp}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gregory, Will}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gregory, Will}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:English songwriters]]
[[Category:English male songwriters]]
[[Category:English saxophonists]]
[[Category:English rock saxophonists]]
[[Category:British male saxophonists]]
[[Category:English classical saxophonists]]
[[Category:English keyboardists]]
[[Category:English male saxophonists]]
[[Category:English rock keyboardists]]
[[Category:English record producers]]
[[Category:English record producers]]
[[Category:Goldfrapp members]]
[[Category:Goldfrapp members]]
[[Category:People from Bristol]]
[[Category:Musicians from Bristol]]
[[Category:Musicians from Bristol]]
[[Category:Ivor Novello Award winners]]
[[Category:Ivor Novello Award winners]]
[[Category:English classical musicians]]
[[Category:English classical musicians]]
[[Category:English classical composers]]
[[Category:English new wave musicians]]
[[Category:English new wave musicians]]
[[Category:British synthpop new wave musicians]]
[[Category:British synth-pop new wave musicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of York]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of York]]
[[Category:21st-century saxophonists]]
[[Category:21st-century British saxophonists]]

Latest revision as of 14:47, 18 November 2024

For other people with the same name, see William Gregory (disambiguation).

Will Gregory
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Owen Gregory
Born (1959-09-17) 17 September 1959 (age 65)
Bristol, England
GenresElectronic, trip hop, synthpop, Western orchestral/chamber
Occupation(s)Musician, record producer
Instrument(s)Keyboards, drum programming, guitars, synthesizer, oboe, saxophone
Years active1981–present
LabelsMute

William Owen Gregory (born 17 September 1959) is an English musician and record producer. He is best known as the lead keyboardist, producer, and composer of the electronic music duo Goldfrapp.

Early life

[edit]

Gregory was born in Bristol,[1] the son of an actress and an opera chorus-line singer.[2]

I got into music kind of by default as it was the only thing I was good at – I was the weird one at school who practiced the piano during lunch break. In my teens I met other musicians and was so relieved to find some like-minds that I think I never wanted to leave the 'weird' muso club – perhaps it’s the same for many musicians. I ended up playing oboe and then moved on to sax, which got me into diverse musical disciplines.[3]

He studied Western orchestral and chamber music at the University of York.[4]

Career

[edit]

In the 1980s, Gregory predominantly recorded and toured with Tears for Fears.[5]

In the 1990s, Gregory performed with artists including Peter Gabriel, the Cure, and Portishead, as well as playing oboe for Tori Amos and recording with Paula Rae Gibson.[6] In 1991, he played saxophone with the London Sinfonietta for the Paris début of John Adams's opera Nixon in China.[7] In 1999, vocalist Alison Goldfrapp and Gregory formed the duo Goldfrapp. The pairing has led to international critical, popular, and commercial success.[8]

In the 2000s, as well as Goldfrapp activities, he played saxophone on Portishead's 2008 album Third (on the tracks "Magic Doors" and "Threads").

On 31 March 2011, Gregory's first opera, Piccard in Space, premiered at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. The libretto by Hattie Naylor focused on Auguste Piccard and Paul Kipfer's first balloon ascent, and the theories of Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton, both of whom are characters in the drama. The reviews were generally negative.[9]

On 11 March 2013, a newly commissioned baroquesque Gregory work (for orchestra and Moog, based on a sarabande of Johann Sebastian Bach) was performed at the Roundhouse in London. The performance was part of BBC Radio 3's Baroque Remixed series, which also included a piece by Matthew Herbert.[10]

Gregory's other saxophone work includes writing for and playing with the Apollo Saxophone Quartet,[11] and playing with Spiritualized, Moondog and Michael Nyman.[12][13]

He composed the music for the 2017 series Spy in the Wild.[14]

He composed the music for the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2019 production of King John at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon.[15][16] It was announced in 2021 that Gregory would provide an original score featuring Alison Goldfrapp and Adrian Utley for the BBC and Amazon Prime Video psychological thriller series Chloe.[17]

Discography

[edit]
See also: Goldfrapp discography

with Tears for Fears

with Tori Amos

with Peter Gabriel

with Portishead

with other artists

  • Four Ways to Cook a Goose – Loggerheads (1987)
  • Gas Giants – Gas Giants (1994)

Film soundtracks

  • I.D. (1995)
  • Serengeti (2020, BBC/Discovery Channel wildlife documentary)[18]

Television soundtracks

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Synth whizz Will Gregory gears up with ATC SCM25A". TransAudio Group.
  2. ^ "Goldfrapp's Will Gregory on Their Enduring Partnership". Thebrag.com. 29 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Will Gregory Interview – The Moog Ensemble!". Musictech.net. 29 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Will Gregory composes debut opera for BBC Concert Orchestra: Piccard in Space". BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  5. ^ "Players | Will Gregory Moog Ensemble". www.willgregorymoogensemble.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Biography of Paula Rae Gibson". Jazz CDs. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Goldfrapp's Will Gregory tackles opera with Piccard in Space". The Times. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  8. ^ Raphael, Amy (16 October 2015). "A siren sings". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  9. ^ 1 April 2011 press on Piccard in Space, included: "Gregory Piccard in Space, Queen Elizabeth Hall – Reviews – Classical – The Independent". The Independent. London. 1 April 2011.; "Piccard in Space, Queen Elizabeth Hall, review – Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph. 1 April 2011. and "Piccard in Space, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London – FT.com". Financial Times. 1 April 2011.
  10. ^ "Baroque Remixed – Part 2". BBC. 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Biography | Apollo saxophone quartet". Apollosaxophonequartet.com.
  12. ^ "10 Questions for Musician Will Gregory". theartsdesk.com. 4 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Post". The Viking of 6th Avenue. 9 June 2014.
  14. ^ "BBC – Spy in the Wild – Media Centre". BBC.
  15. ^ "Latest Press Releases | Royal Shakespeare Company". Rsc.org.uk.
  16. ^ Davies, Michael (27 September 2019). "Review: King John (Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon)". Whatsonstage.com.
  17. ^ "Goldfrapp's Will Gregory to Score Amazon's & BBC's 'Chloe' | Film Music Reporter".
  18. ^ Newman, Melinda. "Scoring 'Serengeti': Goldfrapp's Will Gregory on Writing for Baboons, Hyenas and Lions". billboard.com.
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