Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

November 28, 1915 in Oprington

Death

:

August 28, 1990 in Firle, East Sussex

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Pamela Harrison was a British composer, born on 29th June 1915 in London, England. She was the daughter of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Her father, William Henry Harrison, was a composer and conductor, and her mother, Ethel Harrison, was a pianist. Pamela showed an early interest in music and began composing at the age of six. Harrison studied at the Royal College of Music in London, where she was a pupil of Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gordon Jacob. She also studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Harrison's early works were influenced by the English pastoral tradition, but she later developed a more modernist style. Harrison's first major work was her Symphony No. 1, which was premiered in 1940 by the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The symphony was well-received and established Harrison as a promising young composer. She went on to write several more symphonies, including Symphony No. 2, which was premiered in 1943, and Symphony No. 3, which was premiered in 1951. In addition to her symphonies, Harrison wrote a number of other orchestral works, including a Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, which was premiered in 1946 by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. She also wrote chamber music, including a String Quartet and a Piano Trio. Harrison was a prolific composer of choral music, and her works in this genre include a Mass for Double Choir, which was premiered in 1954, and a setting of the Magnificat, which was premiered in 1961. She also wrote several operas, including The Lady of Shalott, which was premiered in 1958. Harrison was a respected music educator and taught at the Royal College of Music from 1946 to 1975. She was also a member of the Arts Council of Great Britain and served as a judge for several music competitions. Harrison's music was well-regarded during her lifetime, but it has since fallen into relative obscurity. However, her works are still performed occasionally, and there have been efforts to revive interest in her music in recent years. Harrison died on 21st June 1990 in London, England. She was 74 years old. Despite her relatively short life, Harrison left behind a significant body of work that reflects her unique voice as a composer and her contributions to the development of British classical music.

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