2025 Competition Entry:

“Father” by Mark Glentworth

Genre

Pop

Co-writer(s)

no

Performer(s)

I (Mark Glentworth) am the performer

Description

The song”Father” of the big show stoppers in my award winning solo Autobiographical Musical
“SEVEN and a half YEARS”… the song has a double narrative, Firstly as a working class kid growing up in the 60’s in Lincolnshire, musical possibilities were very limited. This did not stop my father finding an old upright piano for me as I dreamed of going to music college as a percussionist and needed a second study instrument…

It was on the old piano that I started to write and try to play some Ray Charles songs..and more significantly I wrote the beginning of a piece that would go on to become the most performed of it’s kind ever,(and counting!, see YouTube) for solo Vibraphone called “Blues For Gilbert”

So the song is about my love for my father and the support and influence on my music and life’s journey…. but it is also and a point in the story of my extreme breakdown and withdrawal from the world, hence the title of the show “SEVEN and a half YEARS” where I haven’t moved or left the house, four years, or engaged in any activities, conversations etc and especially played, listened or composed any music… hence the line in the chorus “The sound of this piano, such a long time never heard, can you hear me play now as I write this song for you”…..

Performing this song live in the show and concerts, has always presented huge emotional challenge for me as is comes at a point in the story where my father is dying and I am unable to get to him…. It is my homage, my love and my farewell to my dear Father…

Bio

My composition work has covered a very wide spectrum of music ranging from commercial songwriting to orchestral composition and opera, and most recently the composing and performing of my award winning “Off-Fest nominated” solo autobiographical Gig Theatre Show, “SEVEN and a half YEARS”. I have recently started working with Singer-Pianist Frida Bollani, creating a new show “TWO LIVES” I have composed music for television, radio and film as well as music for children in the form of audiobooks. I have also written and orchestrated two chamber Operas. I recently scored the music for play staged in London, Kafka’s “A hunger artist “and in reviews of my past works I have been described as a musician and composer of the very highest calibre..
At the age of Sixteen I was the youngest percussionist ever to attend the Royal Northern College of music. My first published composition “Blues from Gilbert” has gone on to become the most studied, recorded and performed solo tuned percussion piece of all time with thousands of performances on YouTube and collectively over a million views.
I’m also widely known for my forty plus years collaboration with the British playwright/actor Steven Berkoff on many of his celebrated theatre productions.
During my career I have travelled the world as a performer both performing my live scores in theatre as well as a percussionist playing with the late Sir Peter Maxwell Davis’s contemporary ensemble “The Fires of London, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the London Sinfonietta.
My first commercial single “These Three Words” is now available to listen to on all streaming platforms as well as Bandcamp and SoundCloud.

Lyrics

SONG: FATHER
A sentimental country song plays on Sunday morning
I think of you my father and the music that you love an
Honest man, strong and true, hard-working all your life the
Same old jokes you used to make that always brought a Smile the

Crs 1
Sound of this piano such a long time never heard
Can you hear me play now as I write this song for you
You are always here you are always on my mind can you
Hear me now as I play this song for you

Vrs 2

Here I sit so many years these walls are so familiar
In this room I live my life the years they slip away
I’ve got so much to say to you I just can’t find the Words
In my dreams I’ll find some wings and I’ll be there By your side

Crs 2

The sound of this piano such a long time never heard
Can you hear me play now as I write this song for you
You are always here you are always on my mind can you
Hear me now as I play this song for you
End build…….
You were the one who helped me bring music into my life
It helped me through my childhood years my constant Company
I will fly to you if my dreams come true
Father can you hear me now? I want to let you know
I want to let you know that you were always by my side
Father can you hear me now can you hear my song
Father I am with you now as I play this song to you
I love you and I miss you…
Always… Always…

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