Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

February 25, 1917 in Manchester, England

Death

:

November 25, 1993 in London, England

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Anthony Burgess was a British composer, novelist, and critic who was born on February 25, 1917, in Manchester, England. He was the son of a piano player and a dancer, and his parents encouraged him to pursue music from a young age. Burgess began playing the piano at the age of five and later learned to play the clarinet and saxophone. Burgess attended Xaverian College in Manchester and later studied at the University of Manchester, where he earned a degree in English literature. During his time at university, Burgess became interested in modernist literature and music, and he began composing his own music. In 1940, Burgess joined the British Army and served in World War II. He was stationed in Gibraltar and later in Malta, where he worked as a music teacher and played in the army band. During his time in Malta, Burgess composed his first symphony, which was later performed by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. After the war, Burgess worked as a schoolteacher and a freelance writer. He continued to compose music and wrote several operas, including "The Blooms of Dublin" and "A Clockwork Orange." Burgess also wrote several books on music, including "This Man and Music" and "The New York Times Guide to Twentieth-Century Music." Burgess's most famous work is his novel "A Clockwork Orange," which was published in 1962. The book tells the story of a young man named Alex who is a violent criminal and is subjected to a form of aversion therapy that makes him unable to commit acts of violence. The book was controversial because of its graphic violence and sexual content, but it was also praised for its innovative use of language and its exploration of free will and morality. In 1971, "A Clockwork Orange" was adapted into a film by director Stanley Kubrick. The film was also controversial and was banned in several countries because of its violence. Burgess was critical of the film, which he felt did not accurately capture the themes of his book. Throughout his career, Burgess continued to compose music and write about music. He wrote several books on the subject, including "The Noise of Time" and "On Mozart." Burgess's music was influenced by modernist composers such as Stravinsky and Schoenberg, and he often incorporated elements of jazz and popular music into his compositions. Burgess's music is characterized by its complexity and its use of unconventional harmonies and rhythms. His compositions include several symphonies, operas, and chamber works. Some of his most notable works include "Symphony No. 3," "The Bad-Tempered Electronic Keyboard," and "The Blooms of Dublin." Burgess was also a prolific writer of fiction and non-fiction. He wrote over 30 novels, including "Earthly Powers" and "The End of the World News," as well as several collections of short stories and essays. Burgess's writing is known for its wit, humor, and linguistic playfulness. Burgess died on November 22, 1993, in London, England. He was 76 years old. Despite his prolific output as a composer and writer, Burgess is perhaps best known for his novel "A Clockwork Orange," which continues to be widely read and studied today.

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