Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

October 27, 1914 in Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales

Death

:

November 9, 1953 in New York City, NY

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

 

Dylan Thomas was a renowned classical music composer who was born on October 27, 1914, in Swansea, Wales. He was the son of David John Thomas, a schoolmaster, and Florence Hannah Thomas, a seamstress. Dylan was the second child of the family, and he had an elder sister named Nancy. Dylan's father was a music enthusiast, and he introduced his children to classical music at an early age. Dylan showed a keen interest in music and started playing the piano when he was five years old. He also learned to play the violin and the trumpet. Dylan's father encouraged him to pursue music as a career, and he enrolled him in the Swansea Grammar School, where he received formal music training. In 1931, Dylan won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music in London. He studied composition under the guidance of Ralph Vaughan Williams and Arthur Benjamin. Dylan was a talented composer, and he won several awards and prizes during his time at the Royal College of Music. In 1934, he graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree. After completing his studies, Dylan returned to Wales and started working as a freelance composer. He composed music for various orchestras and choirs, and his works were well-received by the audiences. In 1937, he composed his first major work, the "Piano Sonata," which was premiered at the Wigmore Hall in London. The piece was highly praised by the critics, and it established Dylan as a promising young composer. In 1939, Dylan married Caitlin Macnamara, and the couple moved to Laugharne, a small town in Wales. Dylan continued to compose music, and he also started writing poetry. His poetry was published in various literary magazines, and he gained a reputation as a talented poet. During World War II, Dylan worked as a scriptwriter for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). He wrote several radio plays, including "Under Milk Wood," which was later adapted into a stage play. In 1954, the play was premiered at the New Theatre in London, and it was a huge success. Dylan's music was influenced by Welsh folk music and the works of composers such as Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten. His compositions were characterized by their lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and use of traditional Welsh instruments such as the harp and the bagpipes. Some of Dylan's most notable works include the "Cello Concerto," which was premiered in 1951, and the "String Quartet," which was premiered in 1955. He also composed several choral works, including "A Hymn to the Virgin" and "Festival Te Deum." Dylan's music was highly regarded by his contemporaries, and he received several awards and honors during his lifetime. In 1952, he was awarded the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II, and in 1955, he was made a Companion of Honour. Dylan's personal life was marked by his struggles with alcoholism and depression. He had several extramarital affairs, and his marriage to Caitlin was tumultuous. In 1953, he suffered a nervous breakdown, and he was hospitalized for several months. He continued to compose music and write poetry, but his health deteriorated, and he died on November 9, 1953, at the age of 39. Dylan's legacy as a composer and poet has endured long after his death. His music continues to be performed and recorded by orchestras and choirs around the world, and his poetry is studied in schools and universities.

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