Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

August 4, 1923 in Manchester, England

Death

:

November 20, 2014

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

Arthur Butterworth was a British composer, conductor, and teacher who was born on August 4, 1923, in Manchester, England. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Butterworth began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and French horn. He attended the Royal Manchester College of Music, where he studied composition with Richard Hall and conducting with Sir John Barbirolli. During World War II, Butterworth served in the Royal Air Force as a navigator. After the war, he returned to the Royal Manchester College of Music to complete his studies. He then worked as a music teacher and conductor in various schools and orchestras in England, including the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra, the Halifax Symphony Orchestra, and the Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra. Butterworth's compositions are characterized by their lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and colorful orchestration. He was influenced by the music of composers such as Vaughan Williams, Elgar, and Sibelius, as well as by the landscapes and seascapes of his native England. His works include orchestral music, chamber music, choral music, and music for solo instruments. One of Butterworth's most famous works is his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1955. The symphony is in three movements and is notable for its use of folk melodies and its evocation of the English countryside. The work was premiered by the Halle Orchestra in Manchester and was well-received by audiences and critics alike. Butterworth's other orchestral works include his Symphony No. 2, which he composed in 1962, and his Sinfonia Concertante for violin and orchestra, which he composed in 1976. He also wrote several works for brass band, including his Variations on a Theme of Michael Tippett, which won the National Brass Band Championship in 1961. In addition to his work as a composer, Butterworth was also a respected conductor. He conducted many orchestras in England, including the Halle Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also a teacher of composition and conducting, and his students included the composer Peter Maxwell Davies. Butterworth continued to compose and conduct well into his later years. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2008 for his services to music. He died on November 20, 2014, at the age of 91. In conclusion, Arthur Butterworth was a talented composer, conductor, and teacher who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His works are characterized by their lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and colorful orchestration, and he was particularly influenced by the landscapes and seascapes of his native England. His Symphony No. 1 is one of his most famous works, and he also wrote many other orchestral works, as well as works for brass band, chamber music, choral music, and music for solo instruments. Butterworth's legacy continues to inspire and influence musicians and music lovers around the world.

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