Havergal Brian
William Havergal Brian (29 January 1876 – 28 November 1972) was a prominent 20th-century English composer, librettist, and church organist.
Havergal Brian | |
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Havergal Brian, c. 1900 | |
| Born | William Havergal Brian 29 January 1876 |
| Died | 28 November 1972 (aged 96) Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England |
| Years active | 1917 – 1968 |
| Notable work | Symphony No. 1, The Gothic The Tigers |
He is best known for having composed 32 symphonies, an unusually high number amongst his contemporaries, 25 of them after the age of 70. His best-known work is his Symphony No. 1, The Gothic, which calls for some of the largest orchestral forces demanded by a conventionally structured concert work.
He also composed five operas and a number of other orchestral works, as well as songs, choral music and a small amount of chamber music. Brian enjoyed a period of popularity earlier in his career and rediscovery in the 1950s, but public performances of his music have remained rare and he has been described as a cult composer. He continued to be extremely productive late into his career, composing large works even into his nineties, most of which remained unperformed during his lifetime.