Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

August 23, 1890 in Roorkee, India

Death

:

June 8, 1959 in South Nutfield, Surrey, England

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Vocal

 

May Harrison was a British composer and pianist who lived from 1890 to 1959. She was born in London to a family of musicians, with her father being a violinist and her mother a pianist. From a young age, Harrison showed a natural talent for music and began studying piano with her mother. She later went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she was awarded several prizes for her performances. Harrison's early compositions were heavily influenced by the Romantic era, with lush harmonies and sweeping melodies. Her first major work, a piano concerto, was premiered in 1912 and received critical acclaim. This success led to further commissions, and Harrison began to establish herself as a composer of note. During World War I, Harrison served as a nurse in France, where she was exposed to the music of Debussy and Ravel. This experience had a profound impact on her musical style, and she began to incorporate elements of French impressionism into her compositions. Her works from this period, such as the "Sonata for Violin and Piano" and the "Suite for Piano," are characterized by their delicate textures and subtle harmonies. In the 1920s, Harrison became involved with the Bloomsbury Group, a circle of artists and intellectuals that included Virginia Woolf and E.M. Forster. This association had a significant influence on her music, and she began to experiment with more avant-garde techniques. Her "String Quartet No. 1," composed in 1923, is a prime example of this period, with its dissonant harmonies and unconventional structure. Harrison's later works continued to evolve, with her music becoming more abstract and experimental. Her "Concerto for Orchestra," composed in 1948, is a complex and challenging work that showcases her mastery of orchestration. Despite the difficulty of her music, Harrison remained committed to accessibility and often wrote program notes to help audiences understand her compositions. Throughout her career, Harrison was a champion of new music and worked tirelessly to promote the works of other composers. She founded the May Harrison Concert Society in 1920, which presented concerts of contemporary music in London. She also served as a judge for several composition competitions and was a frequent guest lecturer at universities and music schools. Despite her many accomplishments, Harrison's music fell out of favor in the years following her death. It was not until the late 20th century that her works began to be rediscovered and performed again. Today, she is recognized as an important figure in British music and a pioneer of modernism. Her legacy continues to inspire new generations of composers and musicians.

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