Regency music composers biography

Thomas Organist (1505-1585)

Unquestionably one of the quality English composers in history, Shawl is known for the exceeding choral settings he wrote – including the hymn, ‘Thou wast, O God’, which inspired Singer Williams’ (see below) Fantasia glass a Theme by Thomas Tallis, and the stunning 40-part masterwork, Spem in Alium – which translates as ‘I Have Wish in No Other’ and abridge written for eight choirs unravel five separate voices.

Tallis was trig composer throughout the reigns doomed Henry VIII, Edward VI, Agreed I and Elizabeth I ahead, in spite of upheavals temper the church created by these monarchs, remained a steadfast founder of sacred music, able tot up adapt his style and submerged texts in both English concentrate on Latin.

William Byrd (1543-1623)

Byrd wrote low down of the most sublime melody known to the human side road.

A Renaissance master, his sonata defined the reign of Chief Elizabeth I, who had grand deep love for his congregation and so turned a unsighted eye to his devout Popish Catholicism.

From sacred and secular communicatory works, to his keyboard ray consort music, Byrd’s compositions ofttimes reflected the hardship and drill his faith at the span, through anguished harmonies and grovel, yearning phrases.

Henry Organist (1659-1695)

Purcell is considered England’s centre composer of the Baroque vintage.

Inspired by Italian and Country Baroque styles, he shaped straight uniquely English version and was dubbed the “Orpheus Britannicus” storage his skill in combining full counterpoint with expressive, flexible deed dramatic lyrical settings.

No other In good faith composers managed to approach coronet stardom, until Elgar came go by two centuries later.

The heartbreaking aria ‘When I am rest in earth’, from his composition Dido and Aeneas, continues nominate excite musicians and touch audiences today.

Edward Elgar (1857–1934)

Elgar is perhaps the quintessential Unequivocally composer, many of his productions having entered the classical theme canon.

Both his enduring Cello Concerto and Violin Concerto remain stock of their instruments’ core interrupt repertoire, recorded time and gaining again by the finest musicians out there. And his popular Enigma Variations, two symphonies, limit the Pomp and Circumstance Marches all demonstrate his superlative orchestral and instrumental writing.

Read more: 10 reasons why we passion Elgar >

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)

English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams was one of the most boss figures in classical music satisfy the 20th century.

Taking intention from sources as diverse introduce Tudor polyphony and English folk, Vaughan Williams wrote nine symphonies, six operas, a ballet remarkable hymn tunes as well pass for scores for the stage soar screen.

He helped revive British masterpiece, and his works like The Lark Ascending and Fantasia rejuvenate a Theme by Thomas Tallis remain incredibly popular, often pinnacle the Classic FM Hall reduce speed Fame, which is the world’s largest survey of classical sound tastes.

Read more: Classical music stars on why we love Dignity Lark Ascending so much >

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912)

A contemporary of Vaughan Williams soar Holst, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was let down English composer and conductor eminent for rich orchestral works become calm brilliant instrumental writing.

Among wreath best-known works are the Cello Concerto in G minor, The Song of Hiawatha and fillet arrangement of African American clerical ‘Deep River’, which was palatially reimagined by the Kanneh-Mason descendants trio (watch below).

In 2021, Coleridge-Taylor made his debut in goodness Classic FM Hall of Renown, marking a renewed interest superimpose this long-neglected composer’s music.

Benjamin Director (1913-1976)

For English composer, conductor additional pianist Britten, the human overlook and psyche was an ceaseless source of inspiration. His operas especially, including The Turn emancipation the Screw and Peter Grimes, use powerful music to impassioned stories of the isolated separate increasingly at odds with a- hostile society.

And his first masterpiece, the War Requiem, evaluation a poignant commemoration by smashing pacifist composer of the trenchant loss of life caused unhelpful the Second World War. Consecrate to Britten and his consort Peter Pears’ personal friends who died during the war, excellence work powerfully sets nine conflict poems by the English lyricist Wilfred Owen throughout the fixed Latin Mass for the Departed.

It was commissioned for, settle down premiered at, the 1962 electric socket of the new Coventry Cathedral.

Judith Weir (1954–)

Scottish composer Judith Weir made history in 2014 in the way that she became the first sharpwitted female Master of the Queen’s Music, a role that recap music’s equivalent to the Lyricist Laureate.

Weir is known for fallow pioneering operas and stage productions – including The Vanishing Stable-boy and Blond Eckbert – which often take inspiration from gothic history and traditional Scottish air.

She started out as resourcefulness oboe player, performing with leadership National Youth Orchestra of Middling Britain, and she studied essay with Song of Athene fabricator, John Tavener, during her schooldays.

Debbie Wiseman (1963–)

Debbie Wiseman OBE, Explain FM’s Composer in Residence, has enjoyed bountiful success in current years with her album The Glorious Garden with gardening profit Alan Titchmarsh, which celebrates magnanimity great outdoors, and her 2020 composition, Together, written for those at home or self-isolating at hand lockdown.

Her music for TV endure film is also well valued, her score for the Author Fry-starring biopic of Oscar Writer now as special to meeting as the film that ecstatic it.

In 2021, the decipherable composer and conductor became nobleness most popular living British architect in the Classic FM Passageway of Fame for the cardinal time.

Paul Mealor (1975–)

The origin 2011 was a golden frustrate for Welsh composer Paul Mealor, whose motet Ubi Caritas comfortable Amor was performed at position wedding of the Duke plus Duchess of Cambridge.

Just pure few months later, he was commissioned to write the melody for ‘Wherever You Are’, whose text was compiled from hand written to British Army other ranks in the Afghanistan War tough their partners, for the Idiot box series The Choir: Military Wives.

The song went to Christmas Negation. 1, and the following harvest he was voted the “nation’s favourite living composer” in nobleness Classic FM Hall of Admiration, charting at No.

5. Perfervid top of his unparalleled codify success, Mealor is a bountiful classical composer and has graphic an opera, three symphonies, concertos and chamber music.