Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Ireland

Birth

:

1932 in Dublin, Ireland

Death

:

November 9, 2021 in Dublin, Ireland

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Vocal

 

John Kinsella was a renowned classical music composer who was born on October 2, 1932, in Dublin, Ireland. He was the youngest of six children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Kinsella's siblings were also musically inclined, and they often played together as a family. Kinsella began his musical education at the age of six when he started taking piano lessons. He showed great talent and quickly progressed, and by the age of 12, he had already composed his first piece of music. He continued his studies at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where he studied composition with Aloys Fleischmann. In 1952, Kinsella moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music. There, he studied composition with Lennox Berkeley and piano with Harold Craxton. He also attended masterclasses with Benjamin Britten and Aaron Copland. During his time in London, Kinsella became involved in the contemporary music scene and was a member of the New Music Group. Kinsella's early works were influenced by the serialism of Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern. However, he soon developed his own style, which was characterized by a lyrical and expressive quality. His music often featured complex rhythms and harmonies, but it was always accessible to the listener. One of Kinsella's early works was his String Quartet No. 1, which he composed in 1955. The piece was well-received and was performed by the Amadeus Quartet. Kinsella continued to compose chamber music throughout his career, and his works in this genre include several string quartets, a piano trio, and a wind quintet. In 1961, Kinsella was awarded a scholarship to study in Italy, where he spent a year studying with Luigi Dallapiccola. This experience had a significant impact on Kinsella's music, and he began to incorporate elements of Italian music into his compositions. Kinsella's most famous work is his Symphony No. 7, which he composed in 1980. The piece was commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and was premiered in Dublin in 1981. The symphony is a large-scale work that features a wide range of emotions and moods. It is considered to be one of Kinsella's most significant achievements and has been performed by orchestras around the world. Kinsella was also known for his vocal music, and he composed several operas and choral works. His opera The Cuckoo Clock, which he composed in 1976, was based on a play by Sean O'Casey and was premiered at the Wexford Festival. Kinsella's choral works include The Mass of Saint Patrick, which was commissioned by the National Chamber Choir of Ireland. In addition to his work as a composer, Kinsella was also a respected music educator. He taught at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and the Dublin Institute of Technology. He was also a visiting professor at several universities in the United States, including the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Michigan. Kinsella received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 1974, he was awarded the Marten Toonder Prize for his contributions to Dutch music. He was also a member of Aosdána, an Irish association of artists, and was awarded the title of Saoi, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a member of the organization. John Kinsella passed away on November 6, 2020, at the age of 88.

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