Les Penning is a British folk musician and composer, best known for his work with Mike Oldfield on the album Ommadawn and several of Oldfield's singles.[4] He is credited with introducing Oldfield to medieval music through their time playing together at Penrhos Court.[5][6][7] He has worked with many other artists, playing woodwind, as producer or as recording engineer, and has created radio drama for BBC Hereford and Worcester and music for two S4C television series: Gwyddion and an adaption by Gareth Miles of the William John Griffith novel Storïau'r Henllys Fawr. In 1978 he was a musician and performer on the BBC adaptation of ‘Kilvert’s Diary’.
Les Penning | |
|---|---|
 Penning in 2014 | |
| Born | Leslie Penning 14 December 1944 Wiltshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | [1][2] |
| Instruments | |
In 1977 he was given the title of Sir Les Penning, Master of the King's music, by Richard Booth, the King of Hay.[8][failed verification] He has recently worked on several projects in collaboration with Robert Reed including "Doctor Who Theme" and "Sanctuary II" and his albums Belerion, Return to Penrhos, and The Ringmaster Part One and Two.
Discography
edit- Albums
- The Worldes Goodnyte (2007)
- Througham Slad's Lost Sessions (2014) with Mike Oldfield (unofficial release)
- Belerion (2016)[9] with Robert Reed, Phil Bates, and Miguel Engel de la LLave Jiménez
- Return to Penrhos (2019)[10] with Robert Reed and Tom Newman
- Pipes of Penning (2021)[11] with Robert Reed
- The Last Bells of Winter (2021)[12] with Robert Reed
- The Goat of Christmas Past (2021)[13] with Robert Reed
- Singles and EPs
- Cuckoo Song with Mike Oldfield, Virgin, 1977
- The British Grenadiers, Polydor Records, 1977
- The Hay National Anthem, Hay Gramophone Gesellschaft, 1977
- Should Have Been Forever, Plant Life Records, 1983
- Willow Fair, Plant Life Records, 1983
- Sussex Carol (with Rob Reed), 2016[14]
- In Dulci Jubilo (with Rob Reed), 2018[15]
- The Floral Dance (with Rob Reed), 2019[16]
- As a contributing artist
- Ommadawn, Virgin Records, 1975[17] – Recorder, Conductor
- In Dulci Jubilo, Virgin, 1975[18][19]
- Portsmouth, Virgin, 1976 – Recorders and feet[18]
- Argiers, Virgin, 1976[19][20][18]
- Echo & the Bunnymen, Heaven Up Here, 1981[21]
- Harmony Revival, Original Copy (LP), Ellie Jay Records, 1981[22]
- Robert Reed, Sanctuary III (LP, Album), Plane Groovy, 2018
- Theme from Doctor Who (with Robert Reed and Tom Newman), 2016[23]
- Robert Reed, The Ringmaster Part One and Two, Tigermoth Productions, 2021
- Tubular World, Hergest Ridge 50th Anniversary Edition,2021[24]
- The Weaver Sands, Secrets of the Pecking Order, 2022[25][26]
- The Weaver Sands, Moonfish: Songs Of Love And Water, 2024[27][26]
Other music industry work
edit- BBC Hereford and Worcester – Radio Drama
- S4C television series: Gwyddion and Storïau'r Henllys Fawr (composer)
- BBC series: Kilvert’s Diary (musician and performer), 1978
References
edit- ^ "Les Penning – Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Les Penning/Rob Reed/Phil Bates : Belerion, by robert reed". Robertreed.bandcamp.com.
- ^ "Les Penning – Discography – Discogs". Discogs.
- ^ Smith, Bradley (1998). The Billboard Guide to Progressive Music. Billboard Books,U.S. p. 145. ISBN 978-0823076659.
- ^ Dewey, Chris (2013). Mike Oldfield – A Life Dedicated to Music. Brimstone Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-1906385354.
- ^ Maconie, Stuart (2010). Adventures on the High Teas: In Search of Middle England. Ebury Press. p. 135. ISBN 978-0091926519.
- ^ Oldfield, Mike (2007). Changeling: The Autobiography of Mike Oldfield. Virgin Books. pp. 165–166. ISBN 978-0-7535-1307-1.
- ^ "Richard King of Hay". Richard King of Hay.
- ^ "5.1 MIXES - MAGENTA". Magentashopfront.com.
- ^ "Les Penning & Robert Reed : Return To Penrhos, by robert reed". Robertreed.bandcamp.com.
- ^ "Les Penning & Robert Reed : Pipes of Penning".
- ^ "Les Penning & Robert Reed : The Last Bells of Winter".
- ^ "Les Penning & Robert Reed : The Goat of Christmas Past".
- ^ "Sussex Carol with Robert Reed". Robertreed.bandcamp.com.
- ^ "In Dulci Jubilo, by Les Penning and Robert Reed". Robertreed.bandcamp.com.
- ^ "The Floral Dance E.P., by robert reed". Robertreed.bandcamp.com.
- ^ "Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn - Tubular.net". Tubular.net.
- ^ a b c "Mike Oldfield - Boxed - Tubular.net". Tubular.net.
- ^ a b Dewey, Chris (2013). Mike Oldfield – A Life Dedicated to Music. Brimstone Press. p. 184. ISBN 978-1906385354.
- ^ Lemieux, Patrick (2014). The Mike Oldfield Chronology. Across The Board Books. p. 35. ISBN 978-0991984060.
- ^ "Echo & The Bunnymen". Discogs.com.
- ^ "Harmony Revival - Original Copy". Discogs.com.
- ^ "Theme from Doctor Who - EP by Robert Reed". Robertreed.bandcamp.com.
- ^ "Hergest Ridge 50th Anniversary Edition". Bandcamp.
- ^ "Secrets of the Pecking Order - The Weaver Sands". Bandcamp.
- ^ a b "The Weaver Sands Official Site". the-weever-sands.com.
- ^ "Moonfish: Songs Of Love And Water - The Weaver Sands". Bandcamp.