Welcome to my website! I am a composer and pianist who has been lucky enough to work in a wide range of musical genres, but it is the uniquely fascinating sound of the human voice that always draws me back. It can touch the listener in a way that nothing else quite does, and to a composer it offers endless possibilities.
Audio examples of my work are available here.
BREAKING NEWS: A new novel by Paul Drayton – ULTRAMARINE – available now.
Historical fiction – a gripping story (music is only one of many elements) set in the 14th century
Copies may be pre-ordered on Amazon UK (qvd). For more details click here.
Information on my book “Unheard Melodies” can be found here.
“For Remembrance” is published by OUP and vocal scores can be purchased here.
Here is the version for SSA and piano, sung by Truro Cathedral Girls’ Choir conducted by Christopher Gray with Paul Drayton (piano):
The SATB version can be heard on Spotify – link below:
NEWS
Paul’s arrangements for horn and piano of seven of Mendelssohn’s Songs without Words are now available from Brass Wind Music. You’ll find the new collection on the home page of Brass Wind Publications.
Paul has enjoyed a long and productive partnership with The King’s Singers and they will be singing his “A Rough Guide to the Royal Succession” as part of their new programme celebrating the King’s accession. More details can be found on their website.
Upcoming performances of compositions by Paul Drayton :
Benedicite
A new work for choir, brass, organ and percussion. Saturday, December 6th 2025 at Truro Cathedral with St. Mary’s Singers
The Passion of Christ as told by Mark the Evangelist
A 90-minute setting of the Passion Story, with soloists, choir and orchestra. Saturday, March 21st 2026 at Truro Cathedral with The Three Spires Singers. First performed 2015 and later broadcast by the BBC Singers.
Recent performances of compositions by Paul Drayton :
Paul has composed a new setting of the evensong canticles Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for the choir of Truro Cathedral. They gave the first performance (conducted by Christopher Gray) on November 24th, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong.
Paul’s new arrangement of Vaughan Williams’s “THE LARK ASCENDING” for violin and choir has now had several performances in Sweden and Denmark. The score is published by Oxford University Press. The recording by Chandos in June 2019 with the Swedish Chamber Choir, conducted by Simon Phipps and the acclaimed violinist Jennifer Pike, has now been released. it was chosen by Radio 3 “Music Matters” on November 16th as “Disc of the Week” and described as “ingenious and highly effective“.
“THE PASSION OF CHRIST AS TOLD BY MARK THE EVANGELIST” was broadcast on Good Friday, April 19th, 2019 on the BBC Radio 3 “Afternoon Concert”. It is performed by the BBC Singers, with soloists, and organist Richard Pearce. The conductor is Martin André.
A new song-cycle “ONE NIGHT….” for tenor and piano received its premiere in Wells Cathedral with Edward Goater (tenor) and Christopher Sheldrake (piano).
“SIR AGLOVAILE AND THE GHOST-GIRL”– a Gothic melodrama for SATB chorus and harp. It was performed by the English Baroque Choir, conducted by Jeremy Jackman, in “A Halloween Special” at St. Pancras Church, London
A new anthem “FOR REMEMBRANCE” – was performed by the Cathedral Choir, Truro Cathedral Evensong and was published by Oxford University Press.
A new carol “IN THE ENDING OF THE YEAR” – was premiered by the Swedish Chamber Choir, Gothenburg, Sweden
The “ANTIQUE SUITE” for 10 brass was played in Florence by the brass ensemble of the orchestra of Maggio Fiorentino in the Piazza della Signoria.
Once again one of Paul Drayton’s educational pieces for young players has been selected for the ABRSM grade one piano list – 2017 / 18
Meanwhile various projects are under way. Plans are taking shape for a new opera, to follow in the footsteps of The Hanging Oak.
