Havergal Brian
William Havergal Brian (29 January 1876 – 28 November 1972) was an English composer, librettist, and church organist.
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.
Similar Artists