Gordon Giltrap

Gordon Giltrap is a British guitarist and composer from Brenchley, Kent, active across acoustic and electric guitar music. His work spans folk, blues, folk rock, pop, classical and rock, and he is known for combining a plectrum with the little finger to create a distinctive hybrid playing style.

Early life and beginnings

Born in 1948 in Brenchley, Kent, and raised in Deptford in south-east London, Giltrap develops an interest in stringed instruments as a child after seeing a friend arrive with an out-of-tune Spanish guitar. His parents then buy him a plastic ukulele and later a Martin Coletti archtop jazz guitar. He joins his first band while still in his early teens, playing songs by Cliff Richard, The Shadows and The Everly Brothers.

He then works a series of jobs while continuing to play guitar in his spare time. In November 1966 he gains a recording contract with Transatlantic.

Recording career

Giltrap begins his professional recording career on the London folk club circuit. His self-titled debut album appears in 1968, followed by a long run of studio work that he develops in different directions. He releases 25 original studio albums, along with numerous live albums and compilations.

His recordings include Portrait, A Testament of Time, Giltrap, Visionary, Perilous Journey, Fear of the Dark, The Peacock Party, Airwaves, Elegy, Troubadour, Under This Blue Sky, Drifter, Remember This, Secret Valentine and From Brush and Stone. He also releases live recordings and reissues across labels including Transatlantic, MCA, Philips, Trix, PVK, Modern Music, Prestige, Voiceprint, Demon, BBC-related imprints and others.

Style and collaborations

Giltrap's music moves between acoustic and electric guitar, and draws on rock guitar, folk guitar and classical guitar influences. He cites or is influenced by players including Hank Marvin, Pete Townshend, Bert Jansch, Clive Carroll, John Renbourn, Julian Bream and John Williams.

He works with a wide range of musicians, including Brian May, Rick Wakeman, Midge Ure, Martin Taylor, Raymond Burley, Ric Sanders, Oliver Wakeman and Cliff Richard. He also records and performs with ensembles such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra, the Birmingham Schools Concert Orchestra and the Nottinghamshire Education String Orchestra.

Notable releases and projects

In the late 1970s Giltrap has a brief pop chart period with the album Perilous Journey and the singles “Heartsong” and “Fear of the Dark”. “Heartsong” receives an Ivor Novello nomination and becomes known as the theme tune to the BBC programme Holiday. “Fear of the Dark” is issued as the first 12-inch colour picture disc in the UK.

He later performs in Cliff Richard’s West End musical Heathcliff, where he plays The Troubadour, arranges the overture and writes two pieces of music. Other projects include A Matter of Time with Martin Taylor, Double Vision with Raymond Burley, 3 Parts Guitar with John Etheridge and Ray Burley, and 4 Parts Guitar, which adds Clive Carroll to that line-up.

He also records Ravens and Lullabies with Oliver Wakeman, and earlier releases include concert, live and orchestral works such as The Eye of the Wind, The Brotherhood Suite, Music for the Small Screen, A Taste of Classical Giltrap Wates and Live at the BBC.

Recognition

Giltrap is nominated for an Ivor Novello award for “Heartsong”. In 2000 he is inducted into the Grand Order of Water Rats. He supports charities connected with arthritis and leukaemia. In 2011 his Gordon Giltrap Vintage VE 2000GG signature guitar is included in nominations for Acoustic Guitar of the Year by Guitar Techniques Magazine.

Later work and other releases

Giltrap continues to issue live performances and archival material, including Live at Huntingdon Hall, Live at Oxford, Captured From a Point in Time, As It Happens, Sixty Minutes with Gordon Giltrap and The River Sessions. His catalogue also includes compilation releases and paired reissues of earlier albums.