Michael Brand (composer)


Michael Brand is an English orchestral conductor and composer, also known for his work with members of Van der Graaf Generator. He previously worked as a radio producer for the BBC.

Early life

Brand was born in England in 1952, the son of the composer Geoffrey Brand. He was educated at Haberdashers' Aske's School, and read music at University College, Oxford, graduating in 1974.
After a stint as a freelance conductor and arranger, Brand worked as a producer for BBC Radio from 1979. During his BBC tenure, he produced BBC Radio 2 programmes, including those presented by David Hamilton, Brian Matthew, and Ray Moore. He left the BBC in 1982 to devote himself fully to his music.

Composing

Many of his compositions are published by the firm of G & M Brand Publications, which he runs with his father, Geoffrey.
His Chosen Gems for Winds featured on a Naxos CD of music primarily by Percy Grainger, conducted by Bjarte Engeset.
Together with his wife, Jane Bramwell he is a founder and director of the non-profit Oxford Music Theatre. He composed the musicals "King & Country" and "CLD: The Real Lewis Carroll", and "Guilty of Love", each with lyrics by Bramwell. The reviewer Tim Bano, writing in The Stage, said of "CLD": "Brand's music has a contemporary hymnal quality, the jaunty piano melodies of modern church music".
Music written or arranged by Brand has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

VdGG

of Van der Graaf Generator asked Brand to undertake the orchestral arrangement and conducting for his song "This Side of the Looking Glass", on his 1977 solo album Over. The orchestral track was retained when Hammill reworked the song for his The Love Songs album, of 1984.
Brand also worked with former VdGG member Judge Smith. Smith provided the libretto for Brand's 1992 cantata Pioneer 10. and Brand wrote choral arrangements for Smith's The Climber album, released in 2000. Brand also orchestrated Smith's 1975 Requiem Mass, which was finally released on CD in 2016. Smith described Brand's role in creating the piece:

Personal life

Brand has twice served as an elected member of Buckinghamshire County Council, for the Liberal Democrats, representing the Amersham East ward from June 1998 to June 2001, and representing the Chesham North West ward from June 2009 to May 2013.
Brand's wife also served as a Liberal Democrat councillor. As of 2014, they were residents of Rottingdean.