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Edward Thorne was a British composer who lived from 1834 to 1916. He was born in the town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, to a family of musicians. His father was a music teacher and his mother was a singer. Thorne showed an early interest in music and began studying the piano and violin at a young age. Thorne's musical education continued at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition with William Sterndale Bennett and piano with Charles Lucas. He also studied with the German composer and pianist Franz Liszt in Weimar, Germany, where he was exposed to the latest trends in European music. Thorne's early compositions were influenced by the Romantic style of his teachers, but he soon developed his own voice as a composer. His works were characterized by their lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and colorful orchestration. He was particularly skilled at writing for the piano, and many of his works feature virtuosic piano parts. Thorne's first major success came in 1861 with the premiere of his Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major. The concerto was well-received by audiences and critics alike, and established Thorne as a rising star in the British music scene. He went on to compose two more piano concertos, as well as numerous solo piano works. In addition to his piano music, Thorne also wrote orchestral works, chamber music, and vocal music. His Symphony No. 1 in C minor, premiered in 1874, was one of his most ambitious works. The symphony was praised for its dramatic power and emotional depth, and cemented Thorne's reputation as a serious composer. Thorne's chamber music includes several works for string quartet, as well as a Piano Trio in A minor. His vocal music includes art songs and choral works, such as the cantata The Death of Minnehaha, based on the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Thorne's music was well-regarded during his lifetime, but fell out of favor in the years following his death. However, in recent years there has been renewed interest in his music, and several of his works have been recorded and performed by contemporary musicians. One of Thorne's most enduring works is his Piano Sonata in F minor, composed in 1878. The sonata is a virtuosic tour-de-force for the piano, with a dramatic opening movement, a lyrical second movement, and a fiery finale. The sonata has been recorded by numerous pianists, including John Ogdon, Stephen Hough, and Marc-André Hamelin. Another notable work by Thorne is his Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, composed in 1884. The concerto is notable for its inventive use of orchestration, with the piano and orchestra often trading off melodic lines. The concerto has been recorded by pianist Piers Lane with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Thorne's music is often compared to that of his contemporaries, such as Edward Elgar and Frederick Delius. Like these composers, Thorne was interested in creating a distinctly British style of classical music, drawing on folk melodies and other elements of British culture. However, Thorne's music also shows the influence of his European training, particularly the Romantic style of Liszt and other German composers. In addition to his work as a composer, Thorne was also a respected music critic and teacher. He wrote for several music journals, including The Musical Times, and was a professor of composition at the Royal Academy of Music. His students included the composer and conductor Gustav Holst.

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