Havergal Brian, the composer, was dismissed from his job at Musical Opinion due to the outbreak of World War II, ending his longest period of full-time employment.
Composition History
Two of the Four Miniatures for piano (tracks 18-21) originated as accompaniments for Brian's songs "The land of dreams" and "The birds" (tracks 4 & 5).
Composition History
The poet Temple Keeble, whose words Brian set to music, was a pseudonym used by Wilhelmina Airston, Brian's mistress at the time.
Composer Biography
Incredibly, Havergal Brian's composing accelerated in his eighties; he composed twenty symphonies in ten years after moving to Shoreham-by-Sea.
Notable Performances
The first performance of Havergal Brian's The Gothic Symphony in 1961, planned by Robert Simpson (a BBC producer and champion of Brian's symphonies), was a huge success, earning Brian a standing ovation.
Composer Biography
Havergal Brian was awarded a Civil List Pension and retired from the Civil Service at age 72 in 1948, allowing him to dedicate all his time to music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Havergal Brian sought to compose in a defiantly individual style, regardless of its impact on performance or publication, yet always aimed for an impressive and memorable effect.
