Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

1907

Death

:

1969

Genre

:

Choral

 

Thomas Matthews was a renowned classical music composer who was born on May 12, 1950, in London, England. He was the youngest of three children born to a family of musicians. His father was a pianist, and his mother was a violinist. From a young age, Matthews was exposed to music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Matthews attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition under the tutelage of Sir Harrison Birtwistle. He also studied with Peter Maxwell Davies and Alexander Goehr. Matthews was a gifted student and won several awards during his time at the academy. After completing his studies, Matthews began his career as a composer. His early works were heavily influenced by the avant-garde movement, and he was known for his use of unconventional techniques and structures. His music was often complex and challenging, but it was also highly regarded by critics and fellow composers. One of Matthews' early works was his String Quartet No. 1, which was composed in 1976. The piece was well-received and helped establish Matthews as a rising star in the classical music world. He went on to compose several other chamber works, including a second string quartet and a piano trio. In the 1980s, Matthews began to explore more traditional forms of classical music, such as the symphony and the concerto. He composed his first symphony in 1984, which was premiered by the London Symphony Orchestra. The piece was a critical success and helped cement Matthews' reputation as a composer of note. Matthews continued to compose symphonies throughout his career, and his works were performed by some of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic. His Symphony No. 5, which was composed in 1997, was particularly well-received and won several awards. In addition to his symphonies, Matthews also composed several concertos, including works for piano, violin, and cello. His Piano Concerto, which was composed in 1991, was premiered by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and was later recorded by the pianist Joanna MacGregor. Matthews was also known for his choral music, and he composed several works for choir and orchestra. His Requiem, which was composed in 2009, was particularly notable and was performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Throughout his career, Matthews was recognized for his contributions to classical music. He was awarded the Ivor Novello Award for Classical Music in 1999 and was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2010. He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 2012. Matthews continued to compose music until his death on November 11, 2016, at the age of 66. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and recorded by musicians around the world.

More....