Composer · Post-War · 1934
Harrison Birtwistle
English composer (1934–2022).
Biography
Sir Harrison Birtwistle (15 July 1934 – 18 April 2022) was an English composer of contemporary classical music best known for his operas, often based on mythological subjects. Among his many compositions, his better known works include The Triumph of Time (1972) and the operas The Mask of Orpheus (1986), Gawain (1991), and The Minotaur (2008). The last of these was ranked by music critics at The Guardian in 2019 as the third-best piece of the 21st century. Even his compositions that were not written for the stage often showed a theatrical approach. A performance of his saxophone concerto Panic during the BBC's Last Night of the Proms caused "national notoriety". He received many international awards and honorary degrees.
Text adapted from the Wikipedia article “Harrison Birtwistle”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Works with clarinet
- Linoi, for clarinet and piano
- Melancolia 1, for clarinet, harp, 2 string orchestras
Works with flute
- Duets for Storab, for 2 flutes
- Hoquetus Petrus, for 2 flutes and piccolo trumpet
Works with oboe
- An Interrupted Endless Melody, for oboe and piano, "To the Memory of Janet Craxton"
Works with saxophone
- Panic, for saxophone, drum kit, and orchestra