Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

1956 in Manchester, England

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

David C. Heath was a British composer and musician who was born on August 16, 1935, in London, England. He was the son of a professional musician and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist, and they both encouraged their son to pursue a career in music. Heath began his musical education at an early age, studying the piano and the violin. He later switched to the clarinet, which became his primary instrument. He attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition with Lennox Berkeley and clarinet with Frederick Thurston. After completing his studies, Heath began his career as a freelance musician, playing with various orchestras and ensembles. He also began composing music, and his early works were influenced by the serialism and atonality of the mid-20th century. In the 1960s, Heath began to develop his own style, which combined elements of jazz, folk music, and classical music. He became known for his use of improvisation and his incorporation of non-Western musical traditions into his compositions. One of Heath's most famous works is his Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra, which he composed in 1972. The piece is known for its virtuosic clarinet solos and its use of jazz and folk music elements. It has been performed by many of the world's leading clarinetists and has become a staple of the clarinet repertoire. Heath also composed a number of other works for clarinet, including his Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, which was premiered in 1965. The piece is notable for its use of extended techniques, such as multiphonics and flutter-tonguing, and its incorporation of jazz and folk music elements. In addition to his works for clarinet, Heath composed a variety of other pieces, including orchestral works, chamber music, and vocal music. One of his most famous orchestral works is his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered in 1980. The piece is known for its use of folk music elements and its incorporation of non-Western musical traditions. Heath also composed a number of works for chamber ensembles, including his Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet, which was premiered in 1976. The piece is known for its use of improvisation and its incorporation of jazz and folk music elements. Heath's vocal music includes a number of choral works, such as his Missa Brevis, which was premiered in 1974. The piece is known for its use of modal harmonies and its incorporation of folk music elements. Throughout his career, Heath was recognized for his contributions to music. He was awarded the Ivor Novello Award for Best Film Theme in 1971 for his score for the film "The Go-Between." He was also awarded the Queen's Medal for Music in 2014 in recognition of his lifetime of achievement in music. Heath continued to compose and perform music until his death on October 16, 2012, at the age of 77. His legacy lives on through his compositions, which continue to be performed and recorded by musicians around the world.

More....