Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

1927

Death

:

August 22, 2007

Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Symphony

 

Graham Whettam was a British composer who was born on September 23, 1927, in London. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Whettam began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the cello. He attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition with Alan Bush and conducting with Sir Adrian Boult. Whettam's early compositions were influenced by the music of Arnold Schoenberg and Alban Berg, and he was particularly interested in the twelve-tone technique. However, he later moved away from this style and began to incorporate more tonal elements into his music. One of Whettam's early successes was his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered in 1952 by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Sir Adrian Boult. The symphony was well-received and helped establish Whettam as a promising young composer. In the 1950s and 1960s, Whettam composed a number of works for orchestra, including several symphonies, concertos, and tone poems. His Symphony No. 2, which was premiered in 1956, was dedicated to the memory of Alban Berg and features a prominent role for the solo cello. His Symphony No. 3, which was premiered in 1960, was inspired by the poetry of William Blake and features a large orchestra and chorus. Whettam also composed a number of works for chamber ensembles, including string quartets, piano trios, and wind quintets. His String Quartet No. 1, which was premiered in 1953, was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Prize for chamber music. In addition to his work as a composer, Whettam was also a respected conductor. He served as the conductor of the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra from 1968 to 1979 and also conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Whettam's later works were characterized by a more tonal and accessible style. His Symphony No. 4, which was premiered in 1980, features a prominent role for the saxophone and is dedicated to the memory of his father. His Symphony No. 5, which was premiered in 1985, is a tribute to the city of London and features a large orchestra and chorus. Whettam continued to compose and conduct until his death on June 12, 2007, at the age of 79. His legacy as a composer and conductor continues to be celebrated by musicians and music lovers around the world.

More....