Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

1939

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Vocal

 

David Watkins was a British composer and harpist, born on March 23, 1938, in Swansea, Wales. He was the son of a Welsh-speaking family, and his father was a music teacher. Watkins began playing the harp at the age of six, and by the time he was a teenager, he had already won several competitions. Watkins studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he was a student of the renowned harpist Maria Korchinska. He also studied composition with Lennox Berkeley and Alan Bush. After completing his studies, Watkins began his career as a freelance harpist, performing with various orchestras and ensembles. In addition to his work as a performer, Watkins was also a prolific composer. He wrote music for a variety of instruments and ensembles, including the harp, piano, orchestra, and choir. His compositions were often inspired by Welsh folk music and poetry, as well as by the natural beauty of his homeland. One of Watkins' most famous works is his Harp Concerto, which he composed in 1969. The concerto was commissioned by the Welsh Arts Council and was first performed by Watkins himself with the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra. The piece is known for its virtuosic harp writing and its use of Welsh folk melodies. Another notable work by Watkins is his Piano Trio, which he composed in 1976. The piece was commissioned by the Park Lane Group and was first performed by the London Piano Trio. The trio is a lyrical and expressive work that showcases Watkins' skill as a composer. Watkins also wrote several works for choir, including his Cantata Memoria, which he composed in 2016. The cantata was commissioned by the Welsh National Opera and was written in memory of the victims of the Aberfan disaster, a mining tragedy that occurred in Wales in 1966. The piece is a powerful and emotional tribute to the victims and their families. Throughout his career, Watkins received numerous awards and honors for his work as a composer and performer. He was awarded the OBE in 1992 for his services to music, and in 2008, he was awarded the Glyndŵr Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Arts in Wales. David Watkins passed away on October 9, 2019, at the age of 81. He left behind a legacy of beautiful and inspiring music that continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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