Composer. He received his musical education at the Royal College of Music where he received a diploma in piano performance and teaching and a master's degree in music. He went on to obtain an honours degree in music from the University of London and study composition under many leading composers, including Tristram Cary, Alexander Goehr, Humphrey Searle and Gordon Jacob. In 1972 he became Director of Music at London's Cockpit Theatre, where he was responsible for a contemporary performance group giving public concerts and also workshops for schools. He remained in this post until 1974 when he became senior lecturer in music at the University of Adelaide, Australia. His own compositions included solo, chamber, choral and orchestral pieces, and he also experimented with electronic music and ballet. He received Australia's prestigious John Bishop Memorial Commission in 1980, for which he produced "In Memoriam", a violin concerto. He was particularly successful in writing opera's for children, the most popular of these works being "Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing". Another notable work was "Pathways of Ancient Dreaming", commissioned by the Stuttgart Arcata Theatre Orchestra in 1989. In addition to his own compositions he was also a leading authority on the operas of Wagner, and founded the first Wagner course at Adelaide University.1996 saw the publication of his book "From Alberich to Wotan-101 Things You Ought to Know About Wagner and the Ring Cycle", and when he died in 1997 he was preparing a series of lectures to be given before the Australian premier of the Ring Cycle.
Composer. He received his musical education at the Royal College of Music where he received a diploma in piano performance and teaching and a master's degree in music. He went on to obtain an honours degree in music from the University of London and study composition under many leading composers, including Tristram Cary, Alexander Goehr, Humphrey Searle and Gordon Jacob. In 1972 he became Director of Music at London's Cockpit Theatre, where he was responsible for a contemporary performance group giving public concerts and also workshops for schools. He remained in this post until 1974 when he became senior lecturer in music at the University of Adelaide, Australia. His own compositions included solo, chamber, choral and orchestral pieces, and he also experimented with electronic music and ballet. He received Australia's prestigious John Bishop Memorial Commission in 1980, for which he produced "In Memoriam", a violin concerto. He was particularly successful in writing opera's for children, the most popular of these works being "Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing". Another notable work was "Pathways of Ancient Dreaming", commissioned by the Stuttgart Arcata Theatre Orchestra in 1989. In addition to his own compositions he was also a leading authority on the operas of Wagner, and founded the first Wagner course at Adelaide University.1996 saw the publication of his book "From Alberich to Wotan-101 Things You Ought to Know About Wagner and the Ring Cycle", and when he died in 1997 he was preparing a series of lectures to be given before the Australian premier of the Ring Cycle.
Bio by: js
Advertisement
