Background
Gunning was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Gunning was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where his tutors included Edmund Rubbra and Richard Rodney Bennett.
His other film scores include Goodbye Gemini (1970), Hands of the Ripper (1971), Ooh. You Are Awful (1972), the film version of Manitoba About the House (1974), In Celebration (1975), Rogue Male (1976), Charlie Muffin (1979), Rise and Fall of Idi Amin (1981), When the Whales Came (1989), Lighthouse Hill (2004) and Grace of Monaco (2014). In the 1970s and 1980s, Gunning collaborated with rock musician Colin Blunstone and was responsible for the distinctive string arrangement on Blunstone"s 1972 hit "Say You Don"t Mind".
Gunning composed the music for nearly all of the Poirot television films starring David Suchet, and worked on all three series of Rosemary and Thyme featuring Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris.
In addition to performances of his television and film scores, Gunning"s Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra and The Lobster have been performed at various venues including London"s Southbank Centre. The Saxophone Concerto, played by John Harle with the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields, has been released by Sanctuary Classics, The Lobster is available on the Meridian label, and the Piano Concerto, Symphony Number.
1 and Storm have been released by Albany Records. Recent works include concertos for the oboe and clarinet and the Civil Defense Skylines The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performed the premiere of Symphonies Number.3 and Number.4, coupled with Concerto for Oboe and String Orchestra.
This has been released by Chandos Records.
Gunning has now completed eight symphonies, nos. 5, 6, and 7 are available on the Discovery label, and his violin and cello concertos are due to be recorded in September 2015. His Piano Trio and Piano Sonata, the latter performed by Diana Brekalo, will also be available shortly.