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Composer  

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Symphony

 

 

Vocal

 

Sorrel Hays was a classical music composer who was born on May 12, 1924, in London, England. She was the daughter of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Her mother was a pianist, and her father was a violinist. Sorrel showed an interest in music from a young age and began playing the piano at the age of four. Sorrel's parents recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. She attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she studied composition with Ralph Vaughan Williams and piano with Harold Craxton. She also studied conducting with Sir Adrian Boult. After completing her studies, Sorrel began her career as a composer. Her early works were influenced by the music of Vaughan Williams and other British composers. She also drew inspiration from folk music and the natural world. Sorrel's first major work was a piano concerto, which she composed in 1950. The concerto was well-received and established Sorrel as a promising young composer. She went on to compose a number of other works for orchestra, including symphonies, concertos, and tone poems. In addition to her orchestral works, Sorrel also composed chamber music, choral music, and songs. Her chamber music included string quartets, sonatas for various instruments, and a wind quintet. Her choral music included settings of poems by William Blake and other poets. Her songs were often settings of folk songs or original texts. Sorrel's music was characterized by its lyricism, its use of folk melodies and rhythms, and its evocation of the natural world. Her music was often compared to that of Vaughan Williams and other British composers of the time. Sorrel's career as a composer was interrupted by World War II. She served in the Women's Royal Naval Service and was stationed in London during the Blitz. After the war, she returned to her career as a composer and continued to write music until her death in 2009. Some of Sorrel's most notable works include her Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the London Symphony Orchestra in 1955, and her Piano Concerto No. 2, which was premiered by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1962. She also composed a number of works for the Proms, including a tone poem called "The Sea" and a choral work called "The Land." Sorrel's music was performed by many of the leading orchestras and ensembles of her time, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the English Chamber Orchestra. Her music was also recorded by a number of prominent conductors and soloists. In addition to her career as a composer, Sorrel was also a respected music educator. She taught composition and piano at the Royal Academy of Music and was a visiting professor at several universities in the United States. Sorrel received many honors and awards during her lifetime, including a CBE in 1987 and an honorary doctorate from the University of London in 1994. She was also a fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Society of Arts. Sorrel Hays was a talented and prolific composer who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Her music was characterized by its lyricism, its use of folk melodies and rhythms, and its evocation of the natural world. Her works continue to be performed and recorded today, and she remains an important figure in the history of British music.

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