Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

September 9, 1947 in Arbroath, Scotland

Death

:

April 27, 2010 in Balchrick, Scotland

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

Morris Pert was a Scottish composer and percussionist who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. He was born on September 9, 1947, in Falkirk, Scotland. Pert was raised in a musical family, and his father was a professional musician who played the trumpet. As a child, Pert showed a keen interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. He later learned to play the drums and percussion instruments. Pert attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, where he studied percussion and composition. He graduated with a degree in music in 1969. After completing his studies, Pert began his career as a freelance percussionist, playing with various orchestras and ensembles in Scotland and England. In 1972, Pert joined the Scottish National Orchestra as a percussionist. He remained with the orchestra for six years, during which time he also began composing his own music. Pert's compositions were heavily influenced by his background in percussion, and he often incorporated unusual instruments and rhythms into his works. In 1978, Pert left the Scottish National Orchestra to pursue a career as a freelance composer and performer. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented composer, and his works were performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world. In 1980, Pert was commissioned by the BBC to compose a piece for the Last Night of the Proms, one of the most prestigious classical music events in the world. The resulting work, "The Mountebank's Dance," was a huge success and cemented Pert's reputation as a composer of note. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Pert continued to compose and perform, collaborating with a wide range of musicians and ensembles. He also worked as a session musician, playing on albums by artists such as Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, and Mike Oldfield. In 1992, Pert was awarded the prestigious Creative Scotland Award in recognition of his contributions to Scottish music. One of Pert's most significant works was his 1994 composition "The Glasgow Mac," which was commissioned by the Glasgow City Council to celebrate the city's status as the European City of Culture. The piece was performed by a 200-piece orchestra and choir, and featured a wide range of percussion instruments, including steel drums, marimbas, and African drums. The performance was a huge success and was broadcast on television and radio around the world. Pert's other notable works include "The Music of Stars," a piece for percussion and orchestra that was inspired by the sounds of the cosmos, and "The Palace of Light," a multimedia work that combined music, dance, and visual art. He also composed several film scores, including the soundtrack for the 1990 film "The Krays." In addition to his work as a composer, Pert was also a respected educator. He taught composition and percussion at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and was a visiting professor at several universities in the United States. Sadly, Morris Pert passed away on April 27, 2010, at the age of 62. However, his legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and celebrated by musicians and audiences around the world. Pert's contributions to the world of classical music have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the Creative Scotland Award, the Scottish Arts Council Award, and the Ivor Novello Award for Best Original Film Score.

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