John Brunning reveals the name of his first guitar concerto

9 February 2015, 18:52 | Updated: 17 April 2023, 11:44

Classic FM Drive presenter John Brunning has composed a guitar concerto - and asked for your help to give it a name before its world premiere by Craig Ogden. All is revealed below...

Having recently completed his first Guitar Concerto, all set for its world premiere on 21 February, John Brunning thought there must be a better name for his work than Guitar Concerto No.1.
 
So he asked Classic FM listeners to suggest something superb for his magnum opus.

And the winning name is:

MAGNA CARTA
Suggested first by William Holding from Houghton le Spring, Co. Durham (and later by Charles Kitching from Polegate, East Sussex).

Listen to John announcing the winner on Classic FM Drive:

Runners up:
2nd BLACKWATER
Suggested by Ray Hill from Solihull

3rd THE AWAKENING
Suggested by Carole Hulatt in Bedford.

We recorded three samples from John's newly named work, the Concerto Magna Carta, with star guitarist Craig Ogden to give you a taste of what it sounds like. You can listen to them below.

Listen to an extract from the first movement:

Listen to an extract from the second movement: 

Listen to an extract from the third movement:

The piece will be premiered by Craig Ogden himself on 21 February at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich.

"I’ve always been a fan of Craig Ogden’s playing and enjoyed the recordings he's made of some of my other works for guitar," says John. "I love his open mindedness when it comes to music and his ‘can do’ attitude, which is why I’m delighted he’s going to be giving the premiere of my concerto on 21 February."