VORTEX for Wind Orchestra by LEO GEYER (England, 1992)
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
[#345] March 02, 2026
England | 2019 | Wind Orchestra | Grade 5 | 12’ | Jazz - crossover
Premiered by Symphonic Wind Orchestra of North London
conducted by Matthew Hardy on Apr 06, 2019
at Saint Martin's Church, NW London, Great Britain
This piece is available for purchase at Constella
Vortex, by British composer, conductor and presenter Leo Geyer is our Composition of the Week.
Vortex was commissioned by the Symphonic Wind Orchestra of North London and first performed at St. Martin’s Church (NW London) on the 6th of April 2019, by the above mentioned orchestra, conducted by Matthew Hardy.
“Vortex is my first major work for wind orchestra. I embarked on this commission with great enthusiasm as my own musical journey began in the humble Lewisham Schools’ Concert Band. Initially sitting uncomfortably amongst the sea of flutes, I broke away to become the lone bassoonist desperately trying to be heard above the booming tubas. It was for the same band that I wrote my first large ensemble composition. As an ambitious but untrained 13-year-old conductor, I attempted to bring the challenging piece to life with somewhat dubious success… Despite this, it was an informative experience that set me on the path to become a composer and conductor, which is why I will always feel an affinity for the Wind Orchestra. Vortex is named in part after London’s jazz bar of the same name, where I have attended a great many wonderfully unhinged jazz gigs. This work also bears this title due to the usage of a structural form that I have been exploring in a number of recent works, which I have called the ‘vortex structure.’ The form begins with the presentation of a musical phrase followed by an extended variation of the first. The third phrase is then an extended variation of the second, and so it continues; thus, spiraling out as each cyclic variation becomes larger and increasingly more flamboyant.” Program notes by Leo Geyer
Vortex has a duration of 12 minutes, it is scored for standard wind band setting, including double-bassoon, double bass, drum set, as well as three extra percussions.
The work is available on rental. You can find out more here:
Born in London of Anglo-Indian descent, Dr Leo Geyer began his career as a Cover Conductor at the Royal Ballet and Opera. Now, he is the founder and Artistic Director of Constella Music - the creative powerhouse that performs, broadcasts, and publishes Leo’s work. This includes Constella’s performances of Leo's restorations of unheard music written in Auschwitz, resulting in worldwide news coverage and the documentary film The Lost Music of Auschwitz, hailed by the Financial Times as “profoundly moving”.
Leo has a doctorate in composition from Oxford University and has received various accolades for his music which includes the Lord Mayor’s Composition Prize. Leo’s music has been described by The Times as “imaginative and beautifully shaped” and has received performances by ensembles including the English Chamber Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Rambert Dance Company, and Opera North.
Described by James Murphy, CEO of the Royal Philharmonic Society as “one of the great young British conductors to watch,” Leo has worked as a guest conductor with the BBC Concert Orchestra, English National Opera, Birmingham Contemporary Music Ensemble, the National Theatre, Luxembourg Kammerata, Ensemble 212 (USA), AUT (Denmark), and other ensembles.
Leo trained as a broadcast presenter on the BBC Open Music Programme with Katie Derham as his mentor. He made his debut at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms, broadcast live on Radio. Since then, Leo has appeared on numerous radio and television programmes on BBC Radio 3 and 4, ITV, and Sky Arts.
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