Les Penning Explained

Les Penning
Birth Name:	Leslie Penning
Birth Date:	1944 12, df=yes
Birth Place:	Wiltshire, England
Nationality:	British
Years Active:	1975–present
Module:	Embed: yes Genre: ^[1] ^[2] Associated Acts: ^[3]

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 adaption of ‘Kilvert’s Diary’

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] He has recently worked in 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

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 Penhros (2019)^[10] with Robert Reed and Tom Newman

Singles and EPs

• Cuckoo Song (instrumental) 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^[11]
• In Dulci Jubilo (with Rob Reed), 2018^[12]
• The Floral Dance (with Rob Reed), 2019^[13] with Robert Reed

As a contributing artist

• Ommadawn, Virgin Records, 1975^[14] – Recorder, Conductor
• In Dulci Jubilo, Virgin, 1975^{[15] [16]}
• Portsmouth, Virgin, 1976 – Recorders and feet^[15]
• Argiers, Virgin, 1976^{[16] [17] [15]}
• Echo & the Bunnymen, Heaven Up Here, 1981^[18]
• Harmony Revival, Original Copy (LP), Ellie Jay Records, 1981^[19]
• Robert Reed, Sanctuary III (LP, Album), Plane Groovy, 2018
• Theme from Dr Who (with Robert Reed and Tom Newman), 2018^[20]
• Ryan Yard, Going Home, 2018^[21]
• Rob Reed,Tubular Bells - A Minor Tune (2019)^[22] with Robert Reed and Tom Newman

Other music industry work

Mean Street Dealers, Bent Needles Recording Engineer, 1980^[23]

Somerville Gentleman’s Band, Far From Home Recording Engineer and recorder on "Upton Stick Dance", 1980

Manyana, Live Carrots Recording Engineer, 1980^[24]

Diamond Head, Diamond Lights EP – Engineer, 1981^{[25] [26]}

Harmony Revival, Original Copy LP – Recording Engineer, 1981^[19]

Carolyn Robson, Banks of Tyne Recording Engineer, 1981^[27]

Regal Slip, Bandstand Recording Engineer, 1981^[28]

The Forbury Consort, 12th - 20th century Cassette – Recording Engineer, 1991

Esther Davies, With all of my Heart LP – Recording Engineer, 1995

Matthew Smith, Matthew Smith LP – Recording Engineer, 1995

External links

• Official Facebook Page
  • as Les
• as Leslie
• With Miguel Engel de la LLave Jiménez

Notes and References

1. Web site: Les Penning – Credits – AllMusic. AllMusic.
2. Web site: Les Penning/Rob Reed/Phil Bates : Belerion, by robert reed. Robertreed.bandcamp.com.
3. Web site: Les Penning – Discography – Discogs. Discogs.
4. Book: Smith, Bradley . Billboard Books,U.S . 1998 . The Billboard Guide to Progressive Music . 145. 978-0823076659.
5. Book: Dewey, Chris . Brimstone Press . 2013 . Mike Oldfield – A Life Dedicated to Music . 32. 978-1906385354.
6. Book: Maconie, Stuart . Stuart Maconie . Ebury Press . 2010 . Adventures on the High Teas: In Search of Middle England . 135. 978-0091926519.
7. Book: Oldfield, Mike. Changeling: The Autobiography of Mike Oldfield. Virgin Books. 2007. 978-0-7535-1307-1. 165–166.
8. Web site: Richard King of Hay. Richard King of Hay.
9. Web site: 5.1 MIXES - MAGENTA. Magentashopfront.com.
10. Web site: Les Penning & Robert Reed : Return To Penrhos, by robert reed. Robertreed.bandcamp.com.
11. Web site: Sussex Carol with Robert Reed. Robertreed.bandcamp.com.
12. Web site: In Dulci Jubilo, by Les Penning and Robert Reed. Robertreed.bandcamp.com.
13. Web site: The Floral Dance E.P., by robert reed. Robertreed.bandcamp.com.
14. Web site: Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn - Tubular.net. Tubular.net.
15. Web site: Mike Oldfield - Boxed - Tubular.net. Tubular.net.
16. Book: Dewey, Chris . Brimstone Press . 2013 . Mike Oldfield – A Life Dedicated to Music . 184. 978-1906385354.
17. Book: Lemieux, Patrick . Across The Board Books . 2014 . The Mike Oldfield Chronology . 35. 978-0991984060.
18. Web site: Echo & The Bunnymen. Discogs.com.
19. Web site: Harmony Revival - Original Copy. Discogs.com.
20. Web site: Theme from Dr Who, by Tom Newman - Robert Reed - Les Penning. Robertreed.bandcamp.com.
21. Web site: Going Home, by Ryan Yard. Ryanyard.bandcamp.com.
22. Web site: Tubular Bells - A Minor Tune (with Les Penning and Tom Newman), by robert reed. Robertreed.bandcamp.com.
23. Web site: Mean Street Dealers - Bent Needles. Discogs.com.
24. Web site: Manyana - Live Carrots. Discogs.com.
25. Web site: Diamond Head (2) - Diamond Lights. Discogs.com.
26. Web site: Diamond Head - Diamond Lights - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives. Metal-archives.com.
27. Web site: Carolyn Robson - Banks Of Tyne. Discogs.com.
28. Web site: Discogs Login. Auth.discogs.com.