Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

November 1, 1934 in Whitland, Dyfed

Death

:

July 29, 1992 in Menai Bridge

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Keyboard

 

William Mathias was a Welsh composer who was born on November 1, 1934, in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, Wales. He was the youngest of three children born to William and Olwen Mathias. His father was a schoolmaster and his mother was a pianist. Mathias showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. He also sang in the local church choir and played the organ. Mathias attended the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he studied music under the guidance of composer and conductor, Arwel Hughes. He later went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he was a pupil of Lennox Berkeley and Harold Truscott. Mathias was awarded a scholarship to study at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, where he studied with Goffredo Petrassi. Mathias began his career as a composer in the 1950s, and his early works were influenced by the music of Bartók, Stravinsky, and Britten. His first major work was the Piano Concerto No. 1, which was premiered in 1954. The concerto was well received and established Mathias as a promising young composer. In 1955, Mathias was appointed as a lecturer in music at the University College of North Wales, Bangor. He remained at the university for the rest of his career, eventually becoming a professor of music. During his time at the university, Mathias was a prolific composer, producing a wide range of works in various genres. One of Mathias's most famous works is his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered in 1964. The symphony is a powerful and dramatic work, with a strong sense of Welsh identity. It is often regarded as one of the finest symphonies to come out of Wales. Mathias was also a prolific composer of choral music, and his works in this genre are among his most popular. One of his most famous choral works is the anthem Let the People Praise Thee, O God, which was written for the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. The anthem has since become a staple of the choral repertoire and is often performed at royal occasions. Mathias was also a composer of chamber music, and his works in this genre are highly regarded. One of his most famous chamber works is the String Quartet No. 2, which was premiered in 1971. The quartet is a complex and challenging work, with a strong sense of musical structure and form. In addition to his work as a composer, Mathias was also a respected conductor and pianist. He conducted many of his own works, as well as those of other composers. He was also a sought-after pianist, and often performed his own piano works in concert. Mathias was a prolific composer throughout his career, and his output includes over 300 works in various genres. His music is characterized by its strong sense of melody, rhythmic vitality, and harmonic complexity. He was a master of orchestration, and his works for orchestra are particularly notable for their rich and colorful textures. Mathias received many honors and awards throughout his career, including a CBE in 1985 and a knighthood in 1992. He was also awarded honorary doctorates from several universities, including the University of Wales and the University of Aberdeen. Mathias died on July 29, 1992, at the age of 57. His death was a great loss to the world of music, but his legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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