Norman was a member of the Orchestra during some of its most defining decades, performing under Principal Conductors Paavo Berglund (1972-79), Uri Segal (1980-82), Rudolf Barshai (1982-88), Andrew Litton (1988-1994) and Yakov Kreizberg (1995-2000). Kees Bakels and Richard Hickox were also regular visitors during this period – as Chief Guest Conductor and Principal Guest Conductor, respectively – as was George Hurst, who held the mantle until 1972.

The Orchestra made a great number of recordings during the Norman’s 29-year BSO career, and his playing can be heard alongside Ray Carpenter – the Orchestra’s former Principal Clarinet (and co-author of ‘BSO: A Centenary Celebration’) – and Kevin Banks, who followed Ray into the Principal seat, in 1988.

Kevin recalled his early memories of the BSO: “I had heard the Orchestra both live and on the famous recordings of that period and it was quite daunting to be the next in line.”

Sitting alongside Norman for a further 11 years, Kevin remembers him fondly: “Norman was very welcoming on my trial and after I had been appointed. He was so easy to play with as he had a superb technique and sound. He was a great support to all the wind section and was a much-loved member of the orchestra. His e flat playing in the Shostakovich 6th Symphony on my trial was brilliant and until his retirement continued to be so.

“During my struggles with the clarinet, he always found a good way of getting me through the weeks without making me feel awful. I remember a few times when he instinctively helped. In Chichester Cathedral at the end of a long choral work ending on a very quiet note my reed was dead and ‘fizzing’. Norman gently took over with his perfect intonation while I was able to fade away with no one noticing.”

In addition to being a wonderful performer, Norman was also respected as a composer and arranger. Originally from Coventry, Norman studied clarinet with Michael Saxton at Birmingham’s School of Music (now Birmingham Conservatoire), and composition with Allan Hawthorne-Baker. He studied at London’s Royal Academy of Music, from 1964-68, and spent two years working as a freelancer ahead of joining the BSO. He was awarded the Royal Academy’s honorary degree of ARAM, in 2005.

Kevin shared his memories of performing Norman’s music: “In 1998 I had the privilege of giving the premier of his clarinet concerto. His skill and humour were very evident as usual. He had listened to me warming up for 10 years and incorporated my ‘twiddles’ into his amazing jazzy piece. I know that he was reviving the work and do hope that at some point it is given another performance.”  Norman also wrote The Dance Suite was written in 1980 as an entertainment vehicle for the Wind Quintet, Canzona, in which Hallam was the clarinettist from the late 1970s.

Kevin added: “There were many fun times on stage with Norman. He liked to be on stage early at each venue and it has remained part of the DNA of the orchestra that the wind section is often to be seen on stage before any other instruments. Such a fine clarinettist, composer and colleague. I will miss him.”