Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

August 14, 1892 in Chingford, England

Death

:

October 15, 1988 in Winfrith Newburgh, Dorset

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji was a British composer, pianist, and music critic of Parsi descent. He was born on August 14, 1892, in Chingford, Essex, England, to a Parsi father and an English mother. Sorabji was a child prodigy who began composing at the age of six and gave his first public performance at the age of eight. He was educated at home by his mother and later attended the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied composition with Charles Villiers Stanford and piano with Tobias Matthay. Sorabji was a prolific composer who wrote music in a wide range of genres, including piano music, chamber music, orchestral music, and vocal music. His music is known for its complexity, virtuosity, and unconventional structures. Sorabji was also a controversial figure in the classical music world due to his outspoken views on music and his reclusive lifestyle. Sorabji's early works were influenced by the Romantic composers of the late 19th century, such as Liszt, Wagner, and Strauss. His first major work, the Opus Clavicembalisticum, was completed in 1930 and is considered one of the longest and most difficult piano works ever written. The piece is over four hours long and requires a high level of technical skill to perform. Sorabji's other major piano works include the Toccata seconda, the Sonata No. 0, and the Sequentia cyclica super Dies irae ex Missa pro defunctis. In addition to his piano music, Sorabji also wrote a number of chamber works, including the Quartet for Strings No. 1 and the Quintet for Piano and Strings. His orchestral works include the Symphony No. 1 and the Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra. Sorabji's vocal music includes settings of texts by Shakespeare, Blake, and other poets. Sorabji was also a prolific writer and music critic. He wrote articles for various music journals, including The New Age and The Musical Times. Sorabji was known for his controversial views on music, which often put him at odds with other composers and critics. He was critical of the modernist movement in music and believed that music should be accessible to a wider audience. Despite his prolific output, Sorabji's music was largely ignored during his lifetime. He was a reclusive figure who rarely gave public performances of his music. Sorabji's music was also difficult to perform, which made it less appealing to performers. However, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Sorabji's music, and his works have been performed and recorded by a number of pianists and ensembles. Sorabji died on October 15, 1988, in Dorset, England, at the age of 96. Despite his controversial views and reclusive lifestyle, Sorabji's music has had a lasting impact on the classical music world. His complex and virtuosic piano works have inspired generations of pianists, and his unconventional approach to composition has challenged traditional notions of form and structure in music. Sorabji's legacy as a composer and critic continues to be felt today, and his music remains a testament to his unique vision and uncompromising artistic integrity.

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