Richard Thompson (b. 1954)
About the Composer
Richard Thompson (b. 1954) is a Scottish-born composer, pianist, and educator whose work draws freely from both jazz and classical traditions. Originally from Aberdeen, Scotland, he has built an international career as a performer and composer, appearing throughout Europe and the United States in both jazz and classical settings. His music reflects a rare fluency in multiple musical languages, combining the structural rigor of classical composition with the harmonic richness, rhythmic flexibility, and improvisatory spirit of jazz.
Thompson’s works span a wide range of genres, including solo piano music, chamber works, orchestral compositions, vocal music, and opera. In addition to his activities as a composer, he has enjoyed a distinguished career as a pianist and educator, teaching for many years at San Diego State University. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to creating music that communicates directly with performers and audiences while embracing influences from diverse musical traditions.
His music demonstrates that the boundaries between jazz and classical music are often more fluid than they appear. Rather than treating these genres as opposing traditions, Thompson draws upon both to create a musical language that is expressive, personal, and distinctly his own.
About the Piece
Prelude No. 5 comes from Thompson’s Six Preludes for solo piano, composed in 2004. The collection demonstrates the composer’s remarkable ability to move fluently between jazz and classical musical languages, combining the harmonic richness and rhythmic flexibility of jazz with the structural clarity and expressive possibilities of the classical piano tradition.
While I have loved all six of the Preludes since being introduced to Thompson’s music by my dear friend Joe Williams, Prelude No. 5 has become my favorite as I have lived with the set. Despite of its short length, the work spans an immense expressive palette. For a classically-trained pianist with a love of jazz, the sixteenth-note passagework just spills out of the fingers with pure joy.
Thompson’s experience as both pianist and composer is evident throughout, from the elegance of the writing to the natural way the music unfolds at the keyboard. The result is a work of warmth, sophistication, and emotional depth that demonstrates how productive the conversation between jazz and classical music can be.
Explore Further
Sheet Music
The score for the Six Preludes is available from American Composers Alliance.
Myriad Voices 