Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

November 1, 1877 in Brighton, Sussex, England

Death

:

September 21, 1953 in London, England

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Roger Quilter was a British composer born on November 1, 1877, in Hove, Sussex. He was the second son of Sir William Quilter, a wealthy landowner and art collector, and his wife, Ellen Mallet. Quilter showed an early interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of six. He later studied at Eton College and then at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt, Germany, where he studied composition with Iwan Knorr. Quilter's early compositions were heavily influenced by German Romanticism, particularly the music of Schumann and Brahms. However, he also had a great love for English folk music and incorporated elements of it into his works. His first major success came in 1905 with the publication of his song cycle To Julia, which set poems by Robert Herrick to music. The cycle was well-received and established Quilter as a leading composer of art songs. Throughout his career, Quilter composed primarily for voice and piano, although he also wrote chamber music and orchestral works. His music is characterized by its lyricism, elegance, and sensitivity to text. He was particularly skilled at setting poetry to music, and his songs are known for their beautiful melodies and expressive harmonies. One of Quilter's most famous works is his song cycle Seven Elizabethan Lyrics, which sets poems from the Elizabethan era to music. The cycle was first performed in 1908 and quickly became a favorite of singers and audiences alike. The songs are notable for their use of modal harmonies and their evocation of the English Renaissance. Another of Quilter's most popular works is his song cycle To Julia, which he composed in 1905. The cycle sets poems by Robert Herrick to music and is known for its beautiful melodies and sensitive treatment of the text. The cycle includes such well-known songs as "Cherry Ripe" and "Bid Me to Live." In addition to his song cycles, Quilter also composed a number of individual songs that have become classics of the English art song repertoire. These include "Love's Philosophy," "Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal," and "Weep You No More, Sad Fountains." Quilter's chamber music includes a number of works for string quartet, as well as a piano quintet and a piano trio. His orchestral works include a suite for strings and a tone poem based on the legend of Robin Hood. Quilter's music was widely performed during his lifetime, and he was highly regarded by his contemporaries. He was a member of the Royal Academy of Music and was awarded a knighthood in 1936. However, his music fell out of favor in the years following his death in 1953, and it was not until the 1980s that his works began to be rediscovered and performed again. Today, Quilter is recognized as one of the leading composers of English art songs of the early 20th century. His music is known for its beauty, elegance, and sensitivity to text, and his songs continue to be performed and recorded by singers around the world.

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