Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

July 12, 1885 in London, England

Death

:

August 5, 1916 in Pozières, France

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

George Butterworth was a British composer who lived from 1885 to 1916. He was born in London to a wealthy family, and showed an early interest in music. He began studying the piano at a young age, and later took up the violin and viola. He attended Eton College, where he was a member of the school's orchestra and choir. After leaving Eton, Butterworth went on to study at Trinity College, Oxford. While at Oxford, he became interested in folk music, and began collecting and transcribing traditional songs. He also became involved in the Oxford University Musical Club, where he met other young composers and musicians. In 1908, Butterworth moved to London to pursue a career in music. He began studying composition with Ralph Vaughan Williams, who was a major influence on his work. Butterworth also became involved in the English Folk Dance Society, and began writing music for folk dances. Butterworth's most famous work is his orchestral rhapsody, "A Shropshire Lad," which was inspired by the poems of A.E. Housman. The piece was first performed in 1913, and was an immediate success. It has since become one of the most popular works in the English orchestral repertoire. Butterworth's other works include several songs, chamber music pieces, and a few orchestral works. His music is characterized by its simplicity and directness, and its use of folk melodies and rhythms. He was also known for his skillful orchestration and his ability to evoke a sense of place and atmosphere in his music. In addition to his work as a composer, Butterworth was also a talented folk dancer and Morris dancer. He was a member of the Morris Ring, and was known for his energetic and enthusiastic performances. Butterworth's promising career was cut short by the outbreak of World War I. He enlisted in the army in 1914, and was sent to France in 1915. He was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme in August 1916, at the age of 31. Despite his short career, Butterworth's music has had a lasting impact on the English classical music tradition. His work has been performed and recorded by many of the leading orchestras and musicians in the country, and his influence can be heard in the work of many later composers.

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