Music close to my heart
Take some time to look around and you’ll find Realisations, Transcriptions, Arrangements of Ensemble and Solo works, all NEW to the Guitar repertoire.
John is a professional musician who is widely acclaimed as an fine instrumental teacher, choral and orchestral conductor. Whilst he has always regarded making music with other singers and instrumentalists to be an essential part of his musical life, the CLASSICAL GUITAR has remained his central focus.
John Forsyth MBE – A History
John was brought up in the North East of England, in a mining community called Washington. In actual fact, the ancestral home of George Washington, the Father of the American Constitution. John was born in 1947 in the post-war period…
Music for sale
This site offers a wide range of publications, new to the Classical Guitar. Every quarter, there will be a new range of pieces available for purchase.
The music is presented within the context of the “Willow Edition” in which there are two strands: “Willow Concert Edition” and “Willow Student Edition”. Click below to see more.
The website
The website is part of John’s, “Willow Music” business and offers ensemble and solo works as well as original scores NEW to the guitar repertoire, in 2 featured Editions:
The Willow Concert Edition: For professional performance.
The Willow Student Edition: To support musical and technical development.
The catalogue of music has resulted from John’s own, extensive repertoire from the past 50 years, as well arrangements that are currently being realised. The vast majority of music is new to the guitar repertoire and John is regularly expanding and updating the catalogue. The aim of the majority of this repertoire is to encourage guitarists to work closely with other performers, both singers and instrumentalists. The experience of shared music making, which is the norm for most other instrumentalists, is often avoided by guitarists in favour of the solo repertoire, which can prove to be a lonely musical experience. John hopes that this repertoire will encourage ensemble collaboration and encourage the guitar to be more widely appreciated for its beauty and versatility.
A brief history
In 2011, John was awarded the MBE for his services to Music and Music Education. He began to play the guitar at the age of 13 and since that time has studied, in Master Class with Julian Bream and John Williams and worked with a wide variety of musicians, including, amongst others: Paul McCreesh ( Director,The Gabriel Consort and Players ); Barrington Pheloung ( The London Contemporary Dance Theatre Ensemble ); Philip Wilbye ( The Aulos Ensemble ); Anna Shuttleworth ( former Professor of Cello at the Royal College of Music ) Sir Thomas Allen ( Bass ‘ Baritone ); Alan Opie ( Baritone); Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts ( Tenor) Anna Stephanie ( Mezzo Soprano ) Rowan Pierce ( Soprano )
John’s work in Education has encompassed; Instrumental Teacher; Director of Music; University Lecturer; County Music Service Director; County Music Adviser; Ofsted Inspector; Guitar Mentor/ Course Leader (The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Professional Development Programme – CTABRSM )
“This new repertoire aims to encourage guitarists to work more closely with other singers and/or instrumentalists.”
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