Role

:

Composer  

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Opera

 

Jonathan Harvey was a British composer and music educator who was born on May 3, 1939, in Sutton Coldfield, England. He was the son of a church organist and choir director, which exposed him to music at an early age. Harvey began his musical education at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he studied music and composition under the tutelage of composer Herbert Howells. After completing his studies at Cambridge, Harvey went on to study at the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied with composer and conductor Sir Lennox Berkeley. During this time, Harvey began to develop his own unique style of composition, which was heavily influenced by the works of French composer Olivier Messiaen. Harvey's early works were characterized by their use of electronic music and their incorporation of Eastern musical traditions. His first major work, "Mortuos Plango, Vivos Voco," was composed in 1980 and was created using a combination of electronic and acoustic sounds. The piece was inspired by the sound of the bells at Winchester Cathedral and was widely praised for its innovative use of technology. Throughout his career, Harvey continued to experiment with electronic music and was a pioneer in the field of computer music. He was one of the first composers to use computer technology to create music, and his works in this genre were highly influential in the development of electronic music. In addition to his work in electronic music, Harvey was also a prolific composer of orchestral and choral music. His works were often characterized by their use of complex harmonies and rhythms, as well as their incorporation of Eastern musical traditions. Harvey's music was widely performed and recorded, and he received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 1993, he was awarded the prestigious Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition for his work "String Quartet No. 4." He was also awarded the British Composer Award for Choral Music in 2008 for his work "Remember, O Lord." Harvey was also a respected music educator and taught at several universities throughout his career. He was a professor of music at the University of Sussex from 1977 to 1993 and later taught at Stanford University and the University of California, Davis. Despite his many accomplishments, Harvey remained humble and dedicated to his craft throughout his life. He once said, "I'm not interested in being famous. I'm interested in making music that speaks to people." Harvey passed away on December 4, 2012, at the age of 73. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.

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