"The premiere of [Stephen Goss'] Oxen of the Sun was one of the events of the year." Classical Guitar Magazine
"The titles of [Oxen of the Sun's] seven sections give some idea of Stephen Goss's many interwoven inspirations for this rich composition, which were derived from not only musical sources. Jonathan Leathwood played a 6-string and a 10-string guitar simultaneously. One guitar was held in the regular playing position on his knee and the second was lying flat in front of him on a cushioned chair." Thérèse Wassily Saba, Classical Guitar Magazine, June 2003
Stephen Goss writes music that draws freely on a number of styles and genres. These eclectic influences result in the unexpected juxtapositions that characterize much of his work. In April 2005, Goss' piece The Garden of Cosmic Speculation was featured on The South Bank Show on ITV1.
His music also has been featured on many other UK radio stations and various radio and TV stations overseas. Stephen Goss' music has been performed throughout the world, and is published in Germany, the USA and the UK. Many of his pieces have been recorded on the Decca, Conifer Classics, Carlton Classics, GSP, quartz music, BGS, Cadenza, BMG and Hallmark labels. Recent commissions have come from: David Russell (winner of the solo instrumental Grammy Award® in 2005), William Bennett, Xuefei Yang, Thomas Carroll, the Bhavan Institute of Indian Arts, and the Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral. He has received funding from Sir Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones, the Wellcome Trust, and Arts Council England. As a guitarist, Stephen Goss has worked with many of today's leading composers; these include Takemitsu, Henze and Elliott Carter.
He has played concertos with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, the English Sinfonia and other leading orchestras, toured and recorded extensively with the Tetra guitar quartet, and performed alongside guitarists John Williams and Paco Peña. Stephen Goss is Head of Composition at the University of Surrey, UK. His teaching reflects his interests in musical pluralism, post-modernism, improvisation, and the late music of Beethoven.
Artist's Website: stephengoss.net/