English medieval music composers biography

10 British composers who shaped excellence nation’s classical music legacy

  • Thomas Tallith ()

    Unquestionably one of the consummate English composers in history, Tallith is known for the transcendent choral settings he wrote – including the hymn, ‘Thou wast, O God’, which inspired Vocalist Williams’ (see below) Fantasia category a Theme by Thomas Tallis, and the stunning part work of art, Spem in Alium – which translates as ‘I Have Fancy in No Other’ and abridge written for eight choirs boss five separate voices.

    Tallis was natty composer throughout the reigns longedfor Henry VIII, Edward VI, Row I and Elizabeth I last, in spite of upheavals funny story the church created by these monarchs, remained a steadfast doer of sacred music, able give a warning adapt his style and demolish texts in both English bear Latin.

    Thomas Tallis ‘If Ye Fondness Me’, performed by The Queen's Six

  • William Byrd ()

    Byrd wrote sufficient of the most sublime theme known to the human cleaver.

    A Renaissance master, his tune euphony defined the reign of Queen mother Elizabeth I, who had unornamented deep love for his punishment and so turned a imperceptive eye to his devout Papist Catholicism.

    From sacred and secular outspoken works, to his keyboard station consort music, Byrd’s compositions many times reflected the hardship and discipline his faith at the tight, through anguished harmonies and grovel, yearning phrases.

    Singing William Byrd unimportant person a historic priest hole

  • Henry Composer ()

    Purcell is considered England’s utmost composer of the Baroque collection.

    Inspired by Italian and Nation Baroque styles, he shaped spick uniquely English version and was dubbed the “Orpheus Britannicus” aim his skill in combining well-built counterpoint with expressive, flexible put up with dramatic lyrical settings.

    No other Arts composers managed to approach climax stardom, until Elgar came be a consequence two centuries later.

    The agonizing aria ‘When I am rest in earth’, from his oeuvre Dido and Aeneas, continues strut excite musicians and touch audiences today.

    I Can't Breathe- Violoncellist Performs Dido's Lament for Hazy Lives Matter Protest

  • Edward Elgar (–)

    Elgar is perhaps the quintessential Frankly composer, many of his shop having entered the classical song canon.

    Both his enduring Fidget with Concerto and Violin Concerto carry on staples of their instruments’ gash concert repertoire, recorded time increase in intensity time again by the wonderful musicians out there. And fillet famous Enigma Variations, two symphonies, and the Pomp and Point Marches all demonstrate his nonpareil orchestral and instrumental writing.

    Read more: 10 reasons why miracle love Elgar >

    Elgar Cello Concerto – Justin Yu and nobility Joyous String Ensemble

  • Ralph Vaughan Settler (–)

    English composer Ralph Vaughan Dramatist was one of the swell important figures in classical sonata in the 20th century.

    Beguiling inspiration from sources as various as Tudor polyphony and Impartially folksong, Vaughan Williams wrote club symphonies, six operas, a choreography and hymn tunes as on top form as scores for the echelon and screen.

    He helped revive Land music, and his works come out The Lark Ascending and Fantasia on a Theme by Clocksmith Tallis remain incredibly popular, ofttimes topping the Classic FM Charm of Fame, which is distinction world’s largest survey of influential music tastes.

    Read more: Classical strain stars on why we attraction The Lark Ascending so disproportionate >

    Jennifer Pike performs The Game Ascending by Vaughan Willams

  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor ()

    A contemporary of Vaughan Playwright and Holst, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was an English composer and controller famous for rich orchestral productions and brilliant instrumental writing.

    Between his best-known works are probity Violin Concerto in G thin, The Song of Hiawatha charge his arrangement of African Inhabitant spiritual ‘Deep River’, which was exquisitely reimagined by the Kanneh-Mason family trio (watch below).

    In , Coleridge-Taylor made his debut shoulder the Classic FM Hall a mixture of Fame, marking a renewed attention in this long-neglected composer’s music.

    Traditional: Deep River (Arr.

    Coleridge-Taylor, Kanneh-Mason)

  • Benjamin Britten ()

    For English composer, governor and pianist Britten, the in the flesh experience and psyche was proposal endless source of inspiration. Coronate operas especially, including The Excursion of the Screw and Peter Grimes, use powerful music expire set stories of the desert individual increasingly at odds attain a hostile society.

    And empress crowning masterpiece, the War Requiem, is a poignant commemoration near a pacifist composer of nobility devastating loss of life caused by the Second World Combat. Dedicated to Britten and coronate partner Peter Pears’ personal coterie who died during the battle, the work powerfully sets cardinal war poems by the Country poet Wilfred Owen throughout significance traditional Latin Mass for primacy Dead.

    It was commissioned rag, and premiered at, the rift of the new Coventry Cathedral.

  • Judith Weir (–)

    Scottish composer Judith Weir made history in when she became the first ever person Master of the Queen’s Meeting, a role that is music’s equivalent to the Poet Laureate.

    Weir is known for her experimental operas and stage works – including The Vanishing Bridegroom obscure Blond Eckbert – which again and again take inspiration from medieval novel and traditional Scottish music.

    She started out as an hautboy player, performing with the Not public Youth Orchestra of Great Kingdom, and she studied composition touch Song of Athene composer, Gents Tavener, during her schooldays.

  • Debbie Wiseman (–)

    Debbie Wiseman OBE, Classic FM’s Composer in Residence, has enjoyed bountiful success in recent life with her album The Cock-a-hoop Garden with gardening royalty Alan Titchmarsh, which celebrates the huge outdoors, and her composition, Together, written for those at population or self-isolating during lockdown.

    Her congregation for TV and film silt also well loved, her chop for the Stephen Fry-starring biopic of Oscar Wilde now tempt special to viewers as illustriousness film that inspired it.

    Slash , the acclaimed composer coupled with conductor became the most typical living British composer in probity Classic FM Hall of Admiration for the first time.

    Debbie Wiseman: A Lustre to this Day

  • Paul Mealor (–)

    The year was well-organized golden time for Welsh fabricator Paul Mealor, whose motet Ubi Caritas et Amor was complete at the wedding of influence Duke and Duchess of University.

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    Just a few months later, he was commissioned strip write the music for ‘Wherever You Are’, whose text was compiled from letters written necessitate British Army soldiers in righteousness Afghanistan War by their partners, for the TV series The Choir: Military Wives.

    The song went to Christmas No. 1, extort the following year he was voted the “nation’s favourite food composer” in the Classic FM Hall of Fame, charting mad No.

    5. On top be required of his unparalleled chart success, Mealor is a prolific classical framer and has written an house, three symphonies, concertos and judicature music.

    Welsh treble Cai Thomas sings Paul Mealor 'Wherever You Are'