Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

March 6, 1928 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England

Death

:

March 28, 2015

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Ronald Stevenson was a Scottish composer, pianist, and writer who was born on March 6, 1928, in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. He was the son of a Scottish father and an English mother, and his family moved to Scotland when he was still a child. Stevenson showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. He was largely self-taught until the age of 16 when he began studying with composer and pianist William Murdoch. Stevenson went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he won several prizes for his compositions. He also studied with composer and pianist Franz Reizenstein and pianist Solomon. In 1952, he won the Harriet Cohen International Music Award for his Piano Sonata No. 1, which was premiered by Solomon. Stevenson's music is characterized by its complexity, virtuosity, and eclectic style. He was influenced by a wide range of composers, including Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, and Bartok, as well as Scottish folk music and literature. His compositions include works for solo piano, chamber music, orchestral music, choral music, and opera. One of Stevenson's most famous works is his Passacaglia on DSCH, which is based on the musical motif D-S-C-H, which stands for the initials of the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich. The Passacaglia is a massive work that lasts over an hour and is considered one of the most challenging pieces in the piano repertoire. It has been recorded by several pianists, including Marc-André Hamelin, who called it "one of the greatest works of the 20th century." Stevenson was also known for his transcriptions and arrangements of other composers' works. He transcribed several of Bach's works for piano, including the Goldberg Variations and the Art of Fugue. He also arranged Scottish folk songs and wrote variations on themes by other composers, such as Liszt and Ravel. In addition to his musical career, Stevenson was also a writer and a political activist. He wrote several books on music, including a biography of the Scottish composer Erik Chisholm and a study of the music of Shostakovich. He was also a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain and was involved in various political causes throughout his life. Stevenson died on March 28, 2015, at the age of 87. He left behind a legacy of innovative and challenging music that continues to inspire and challenge musicians today. His music is a testament to his lifelong dedication to the art of composition and his belief in the power of music to transcend boundaries and bring people together.

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