David Pentecost

David John Pentecost (born 1940) is a British composer, a writer, a retired information technology specialist, and a retired British computer industry history researcher. He is a Certified Information Technology Professional, a Member of the British Computer Society,[lower-alpha 1] and also a Member of the Computer Conservation Society.[lower-alpha 2]

David Pentecost
Pentecost in 1988
Born1940 (age 80–81)
London, England
Occupation
Years active1959-present

Early life and education

David Pentecost was born in London. He was educated privately in piano playing for seven years, from age 6. He attended Christ’s College, Finchley[1] (a grammar school in north London), until age 18, and then studied mathematics at Brunel College of Technology. Pentecost passed three examinations at the London College of Music, up to Intermediate level. He then taught himself a large repertoire of classical piano music, during subsequent years.

Significant information technology projects

Elliott Brothers (London) Ltd

1960 - 1962 Pentecost worked as a computer programmer[lower-alpha 3] at computer manufacturer Elliott Brothers in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire - the first British company to become seriously involved with digital computer technology.[2] Pentecost wrote software on the Elliott 405 computer to measure the precise execution time taken by another computer program running simultaneously on the same computer.[3] This software was used to demonstrate that Elliott's employee Tony Hoare’s new sorting techniques method Quicksort was faster than previous sorting techniques.[4][lower-alpha 4] The Quicksort method, or a version of it, now forms the basis of most computer sorting programs.[5][6]

Mills Associates Ltd

In 1962, Pentecost moved to Mills Associates Ltd,[lower-alpha 5] where he headed a small team of programmers to implement a unit trust administration system, believed to be the first of its kind.[7][lower-alpha 6]

Unit Trust Services Ltd

In 1967, Pentecost joined Unit Trust Services Ltd in the City of London, and in 1972 he was appointed as a director.[lower-alpha 7] He designed and implemented what was thought to be the first fully computerised unit trust contract note production system. He chose Honeywell’s new H316 industrial process control mini-computer, having persuaded Honeywell that it would be the first of its type to be used for commercial applications in the UK.[8][lower-alpha 8][9][lower-alpha 9]

Coward Chance (later Clifford Chance)

In 1980, Pentecost joined Coward Chance as Business Systems Manager. In 1985 Pentecost designed and implemented a system on a large Burroughs Corporation mainframe computer, to revolutionise the administrative aspects of the office, replacing typewriters with word processors, all linked to the central computer, for accounting, billing and other purposes. The system was called the Office Automation System, and it incorporated an internal electronic mail system, before electronic mail over the Internet became widely available to the general public.[lower-alpha 10]

Computer industry history research

In 2003, Pentecost learned that Simon Lavington, Emeritus Professor of Computer Science at the University of Essex, was leading a project called Our Computer Heritage, to document the history of British computers for the Computer Conservation Society, whilst pioneers with the knowledge of these computers were still alive. The results of the project are now recorded on the website of the Computer Conservation Society.[10] Pentecost offered, and was asked[lower-alpha 2] to lead part of the project, as co-ordinator for the Elliott 400 series of computers section of the website, and from 2003 to 2011 he collected information about the hardware, software and systems relating to these computers. One of his tasks was to find out about the Elliott 403 computer, which was also known as WREDAC. Only one had been built, in 1955, for the Government’s Weapons Research Establishment,[11] in Salisbury, South Australia, for the analysis of guided missile trials at Woomera.[12] Simon Lavington referred to Pentecost’s work on the 403 computer in two of his works.[13][14]

Pentecost wrote an autobiography, and included details of his research for the Computer Conservation Society’s project to document early British computers. The Society regards his autobiography as a unique book, describing the complete working life experiences of a 20th-century computer programmer.[15]

Music career
David Pentecost in 2018

In 1987 Pentecost took organ lessons from Catherine Ennis, at St Lawrence Jewry church, which led to his becoming, for a few years, one of the organists at St. Barnabas’ Church, in Linslade, Bedfordshire.

In 2001, he was accepted as a member of the Chopin Society in London.[16][lower-alpha 11] From 2002 to 2005, before emigrating to Cyprus, he played at five of the Society’s Members’ Matinée concerts, and included in his programmes a few of his early piano compositions.[lower-alpha 12]

From 2007 to 2011, after emigrating to Cyprus, Pentecost formed and organised two groups of amateur pianists in Cyprus, one in Paphos, the other in Limassol. They were called Pianists’ Circles and were based on similar principles to those of the Chopin Society’s Members’ Matinée concerts.[17][lower-alpha 13]

He began teaching himself to compose piano solo music in 1996, and he has continued this activity since then, as a professional composer. Russian pianist Tatiana Stupak played one of his compositions at a concert at Cyprus’ Presidential Palace.[18] She and another Russian pianist, Natalia Lezedova, played his early piano works in Cyprus at a public concert in Paphos.[19] He has been administering concerts in Cyprus for Tatiana Stupak since she turned professional.[20]

The Cyprus national broadcaster, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation classical music radio station RIK 4 Classic, has played some of Tatiana Stupak’s recordings of his compositions.

In 2015, Pentecost researched the life of the once world-famous Scottish pianist Frederic Lamond (pianist), who was a pupil[21] of Franz Liszt, shortly before Liszt’s death in 1886. As a result, he made a documentary video,[22] intended for students of music history, about Lamond and his time spent with Liszt.

In 2018, Pentecost won first prize for composition at the 4th International Competition of Musicians in Cyprus.[lower-alpha 14]

To date (January 2021), he has written 54 piano solo works. His music is generally not written in modern styles. He does not write atonal or minimalist music.[23] According to the sheet music published at sheetmusicplus.com, most of his works are in 19th century romantic styles, although a few works are baroque in style.[24]

List of works
List of David Pentecost compositions
Opus Title ISMN
1 Lullaby-Mazurka ISMN 979-0-708013-01-3
2 Mélodie Triste et en Colère ISMN 979-0-708013-02-0
3 Rondo ISMN 979-0-708013-03-7
4 Fantasia ISMN 979-0-708013-04-4
5 Rondo-Scherzo ISMN 979-0-708013-05-1
6 Reverie ISMN 979-0-708013-06-8
7 Waltz ISMN 979-0-708013-07-5
8 Song without Words ISMN 979-0-708013-08-2
11 Prelude ISMN 979-0-708013-11-2
12 Etude ISMN 979-0-708013-12-9
13 Nocturne ISMN 979-0-708013-13-6
16 Theme & Variations ISMN 979-0-708013-16-7
17 Etude ISMN 979-0-708013-17-4
18 Nocturne ISMN 979-0-708013-18-1
19 Nocturne ISMN 979-0-708013-19-8
20 (Printed book of Op.1 – Op.19) ISMN 979-0-708013-20-4
21 Prelude ISMN 979-0-708013-21-1
22 Fantasia ISMN 979-0-708013-22-8
23 Prelude ISMN 979-0-708013-23-5
24 Nocturne ISMN 979-0-708013-24-2
25 Nocturne ISMN 979-0-708013-25-9
26 Theme & Variations ISMN 979-0-708013-26-6
27 Prelude ISMN 979-0-708013-27-3
28 Impromptu Dance ISMN 979-0-708013-28-0
29 Relaxation Video ISMN 979-0-708013-29-7
30 Dreaming ISMN 979-0-708013-30-3
31 Prelude ISMN 979-0-708013-31-0
32 Petit Impromptu ISMN 979-0-708013-32-7
33 St. Petersburg Waltz ISMN 979-0-708013-33-4
34 Fantasia ISMN 979-0-708013-34-1
35 Waltz ISMN 979-0-708013-35-8
36 Prelude ISMN 979-0-708013-36-5
37 Nocturne ISMN 979-0-708013-37-2
38 Impromptu ISMN 979-0-708013-38-9
39 Nocturne ISMN 979-0-708013-39-6
40 Flowers in the Rain ISMN 979-0-708013-40-2
41 Theme & Variations ISMN 979-0-708013-41-9
42 Etude ISMN 979-0-708013-42-6
43 Nocturne ISMN 979-0-708013-43-3
44 Petit Nocturne ISMN 979-0-708013-44-0
45 Mazurka ISMN 979-0-708013-45-7
46 Nocturne ISMN 979-0-708013-46-4
47 Bagatelle ISMN 979-0-708013-47-1
48 Petite Valse ISMN 979-0-708013-48-8
49 Intermezzo ISMN 979-0-708013-49-5
50 Prelude ISMN 979-0-708013-50-1
51 Prelude ISMN 979-0-708013-51-8
52 Etude ISMN 979-0-708013-52-5
53 Impromptu ISMN 979-0-708013-53-2
54 Divertimento ISMN 979-0-708013-54-9
55 Etude for the Sostenuto Pedal ISMN 979-0-708013-55-6
98 (Printed book of Op.1 – Op.55) ISMN 979-0-708013-98-3
List of David Pentecost arrangements
Opus Title ISMN
9 Prelude - J. S. Bach BWV855 ISMN 979-0-708013-09-9
10 A Chloris - Reynaldo Hahn ISMN 979-0-708013-10-5
14 Zueignung - R. Strauss ISMN 979-0-708013-14-3
15 Musetta’s Waltz - Puccini ISMN 979-0-708013-15-0

Genealogy research projects

From about 1981 to 1991, he researched the history of his father’s family, tracing it back in England to about 1480, and publishing a book.[25] He became a member of the Society of Genealogists in London. He also researched for a few years up to 2014, the history of his mother’s family and associated families, producing several books totalling more than 800 pages, which were distributed electronically privately to family members.

References
  1. The Centenary Book Of Christ"s College, Finchley 1857 - 1957. printed for the School by G F Amory & Sons Ltd, Finchley. 1 January 1957. ASIN B001U0Z94Q.
  2. Lavington, Simon Hugh (May 1980). Early British Computers The Story of VINTAGE Computers and the People Who Built Them. Manchester University Press. p. 58. ISBN 9780719008108.
  3. Pentecost, David John (11 February 2011). SOFTWARE AND SAMPLE PROGRAMS FOR ELLIOTT 401, 402, 403, 405 COMPUTERS (PDF) (Technical report). Computer Conservation Society. pp. 16–25.
  4. Hoare, Charles Antony Richard (1 January 1962). "Quicksort". The Computer Journal. 5 (1): 13. doi:10.1093/comjnl/5.1.10. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  5. Wild, Sebastian (13 Aug 2018). "Quicksort Is Optimal For Many Equal Keys". arXiv:1608.04906.
  6. Edelcamp, S.; Weiss, A.; Wild, Sebastian (2018). "QuickXsort: A Fast Sorting Scheme in Theory and Practice". arXiv:1811.01259.
  7. Pentecost, David (June 1963). "Surmounting the Peaks in data processing demands". Data and Control. Vol. 1 no. 6. London: Business Publications Ltd. pp. 28–30.
  8. "Unit trust dealings processed on H316". Computer Weekly. London. 2 July 1970.
  9. Bennett, Arthur; Schoeters, Ted, eds. (1 July 1970). "Low-cost contract system". Financial Times. London.
  10. "Computer Conservation Society". Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  11. Dean, John (2012). Australia’s WREDAC – It Was Rocket Science. Berlin: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-33899-1_1. ISBN 978-3-642-33898-4.
  12. Lavington, Simon H (January 2011). Jones, Cliff B.; Lloyd, John L. (eds.). Swords and Ploughshares: Connections between Computer Projects for War and Peace, 1945 – 55. Dependable and Historic Computing - Essays Dedicated to Brian Randell on the Occasion of His 75th Birthday. Berlin: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. pp. 313–322. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-24541-1. ISBN 978-3-642-24540-4.
  13. Lavington, Simon (2011). Moving Targets. Springer. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-84882-932-9.
  14. Lavington, Simon (2006). "Our Computer Heritage Working Party". Journal of the Computer Conservation Society. No. 38. London: Computer Conservation Society. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  15. "News Round-up". Journal of the Computer Conservation Society. No. 91. London: Computer Conservation Society. 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  16. "Newsletter of the Chopin Society" (Autumn 2001 ed.). The Chopin Society UK. 2001. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  17. Constantinou, Saskia (29 April 2007). "Pianos, pianists and performances". Cyprus Sunday Mail. Nicosia. p. 51.
  18. "Концерты Татьяны Ступак". Retrieved 16 January 2021. V Prezidentskom dvortse v Nikosii 12 iyunya sostoyalsya kontsert «Gorod pod zvezdami»<>Tat'yana otkryla kontsert tremya sol'nymi proizvedeniyami: «Merkutsio» S. S. Prokof'yeva, «Noktyurnom, or. 18» limasol'skogo kompozitora Devida Pentekosta i «Balladoy № 1» F. Shopena. В Президентском дворце в Никосии 12 июня состоялся концерт «Город под звездами»<>Татьяна открыла концерт тремя сольными произведениями: «Меркуцио» С. С. Прокофьева, «Ноктюрном, ор. 18» лимасольского композитора Дэвида Пентекоста и «Балладой № 1» Ф. Шопена. [On June 12, at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, a concert "The City under the Stars" took place <> Tatiana opened the concert with three solo pieces: "Mercutio" by S. Prokofiev, "Nocturne, Op.18 "by the Limassol composer David Pentecost and "Ballade No.1" by F.Chopin.]
  19. "Something new for the piano". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  20. "Tatiana Stupak. Contemporary pianist you should be listening to". Afisha Cyprus. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  21. "Frederic Lamond". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  22. Pentecost, David (4 July 2016). Frederic Lamond's life & time with Franz Liszt (2nd ed.). Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  23. "Two Classical Pianists - One Composer". Cyprus Events. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  24. "David J. Pentecost Sheet Music". Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  25. Pentecost, David (1 Jan 1991). The History of the Pentecost Family of Borehamwood. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0951871904.

Notes
  1. The British Computer Society certificate given to David Pentecost is reproduced in Pentecost’s autobiography: Pentecost, David (2020). MY WORKING LIFE The story of a 20th century computer programmer, page 18. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-951-87193-5
  2. The Computer Conservation Society’s letter of authorisation is reproduced in Pentecost’s autobiography: Pentecost, David (2020). MY WORKING LIFE The story of a 20th century computer programmer, page 87. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-951-87193-5
  3. The Elliott Brothers offer to David Pentecost is reproduced in Pentecost’s autobiography: Pentecost, David (2020). MY WORKING LIFE The story of a 20th century computer programmer, page 8. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-951-87193-5
  4. Download the PDF file: the relevant section on comparative timings is the second paragraph on page 13.
  5. The Mills Associates offer to David Pentecost is reproduced in Pentecost’s autobiography: Pentecost, David (2020). MY WORKING LIFE The story of a 20th century computer programmer, page 29. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-951-87193-5
  6. The article is reproduced in Pentecost’s autobiography: Pentecost, David (2020). MY WORKING LIFE The story of a 20th century computer programmer, pages 33-35. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-951-87193-5
  7. The Unit Trust Services Ltd appointment to David Pentecost is reproduced in Pentecost’s autobiography: Pentecost, David (2020). MY WORKING LIFE The story of a 20th century computer programmer, page 47. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-951-87193-5
  8. The article is reproduced in Pentecost’s autobiography: Pentecost, David (2020). MY WORKING LIFE The story of a 20th century computer programmer, page 46. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-951-87193-5
  9. The article is reproduced in Pentecost’s autobiography: Pentecost, David (2020). MY WORKING LIFE The story of a 20th century computer programmer, page 45. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-951-87193-5
  10. The Office Automation System brochure, produced by Burroughs Corporation, is reproduced in Pentecost’s autobiography: Pentecost, David (2020). MY WORKING LIFE The story of a 20th century computer programmer, pages 61-65. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-951-87193-5
  11. A photocopy of the list of new members is reproduced in Pentecost’s autobiography: Pentecost, David (2020). My Life In Music, page 32. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-9518719-4-2
  12. Pentecost’s music programmes are reproduced in his autobiography: Pentecost, David (2020). My Life In Music, pages 34-35. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-9518719-4-2
  13. The newspaper article about Pentecost’s Pianists’ Circles is reproduced in his autobiography: Pentecost, David (2020). My Life In Music, page 58. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-9518719-4-2
  14. The diploma is reproduced in Pentecost’s autobiography: Pentecost, David (2020). My Life In Music, page 55. United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-9518719-4-2

Further reading
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.