Malcolm Williamson, the composer, had a complex personality, described as both adorable and infuriatingly obdurate, which often left a trail of devastation.
Critical Reception
Despite enjoying great success early in his career, Malcolm Williamson's music has almost completely disappeared from concert halls and recording catalogues, partly due to his difficult personality.
Composer Biography
Malcolm Williamson was recommended for the post of Master of the Queen's Music by Benjamin Britten, who was impressed by Williamson's talent upon his arrival in Britain in the early 1950s.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Malcolm Williamson was consistently drawn to Scandinavian poets, particularly Swedish writers, and based several works, including Pieta, on their texts.
Composition History
Many works on this album are appearing on disc for the first time, made possible by the Malcolm Williamson archive becoming available in 2023 after the death of Simon Campion, his publisher.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Malcolm Williamson's music was stylistically unpredictable, ranging from tuneful and popular works like his Cassations (mini-operas) to densely chromatic or serial compositions.
Compositional Technique
The Concerto for Wind Quintet and Two Pianos (Eight Hands) is a dense and technically demanding work, featuring Malcolm Williamson's technical assurance in counterpoint and contrasting aspects of his serial style.
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