Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1935

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Gerald Hendrie was a classical music composer born on May 12, 1937, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a pianist and his mother was a singer, and they both encouraged their children to pursue music. Hendrie began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. He attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, where he studied composition with Thomas Wilson and piano with Ronald Stevenson. After graduating, he continued his studies in London with Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears. Hendrie's early works were influenced by the Scottish folk music he grew up with, as well as the music of Britten and other contemporary composers. His first major composition was a piano concerto, which he wrote in 1961. The piece was well-received and helped establish Hendrie as a promising young composer. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Hendrie continued to compose music in a variety of genres, including orchestral works, chamber music, and vocal music. He was particularly interested in setting poetry to music, and many of his works feature texts by Scottish poets such as Robert Burns and Hugh MacDiarmid. One of Hendrie's most famous works is his opera, "The Silver Darlings," which premiered in 1972. The opera is based on the novel of the same name by Neil M. Gunn and tells the story of a group of Scottish fishermen in the early 20th century. The opera was a critical and commercial success and helped establish Hendrie as one of Scotland's leading composers. In addition to his work as a composer, Hendrie was also a respected music educator. He taught at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama for many years and was known for his dedication to his students. Many of his former students have gone on to successful careers in music. Hendrie continued to compose music throughout his life, even after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the 1990s. He adapted his composing process to accommodate his illness, using a computer to write and edit his music. Despite his health challenges, he remained active in the music community and continued to attend concerts and performances. Hendrie passed away on December 31, 2016, at the age of 79. He left behind a legacy of beautiful and innovative music, as well as a generation of students who were inspired by his passion for music and dedication to teaching.

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