Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

June, 1922 in Bromley, Kent, England

Death

:

2006

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Concerto

 

John Veale was a British composer who was born on September 9, 1922, in Watford, Hertfordshire, England. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father, William Veale, was a violinist and conductor, and his mother, Edith Veale, was a pianist. John Veale showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Veale attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition with William Alwyn and conducting with Sir Adrian Boult. He also studied privately with Benjamin Britten, who became a close friend and mentor. Veale's early works were influenced by Britten's style, but he soon developed his own unique voice. Veale's first major success came in 1949 with his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Sir Adrian Boult. The symphony was well-received and established Veale as a promising young composer. He went on to write several more symphonies, including Symphony No. 2 (1953), Symphony No. 3 (1957), and Symphony No. 4 (1963). In addition to his symphonies, Veale wrote a number of other orchestral works, including concertos for piano, violin, and cello, as well as several tone poems and overtures. He also wrote chamber music, choral works, and music for film and television. One of Veale's most famous works is his Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, which was premiered in 1952 by the violinist Yehudi Menuhin and the London Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Sir Malcolm Sargent. The concerto is a virtuosic showcase for the solo violin, with a lyrical and expressive slow movement and a lively and rhythmic finale. Veale's music is characterized by its melodic and harmonic richness, its rhythmic vitality, and its emotional depth. He was a master of orchestration, and his works are notable for their colorful and imaginative use of the orchestra. Veale was also a respected conductor and served as the music director of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra from 1961 to 1966. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to bring out the best in his musicians. Veale's career was cut short by his untimely death in 2006 at the age of 83. However, his music continues to be performed and recorded, and he is remembered as one of the most important British composers of the 20th century.

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