Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Death

:

ca. 1734

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Concerto

 

Robert Woodcock was a British composer who lived from 1923 to 1999. He was born in London and grew up in a musical family. His father was a professional violinist, and his mother was a pianist. From a young age, Woodcock showed a talent for music, and he began studying the piano and violin at the age of six. Woodcock's musical education continued at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition with William Alwyn and conducting with Sir Adrian Boult. He also studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Nadia Boulanger, who was known for her teaching of many famous composers, including Aaron Copland and Philip Glass. Woodcock's early compositions were influenced by the neoclassical style of Stravinsky and the French composers of the early 20th century. His first major work was a ballet called "The Tempest," which was premiered by the Sadler's Wells Ballet in 1949. The ballet was well-received, and it helped establish Woodcock as a promising young composer. In the 1950s, Woodcock began to experiment with serialism, a compositional technique that uses a series of pitches to create a musical structure. His use of serialism can be heard in works such as his String Quartet No. 1 and his Piano Sonata No. 1. However, Woodcock did not fully embrace serialism, and he continued to incorporate tonal elements into his music. One of Woodcock's most famous works is his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1957. The symphony is a large-scale work that showcases Woodcock's skill as an orchestrator. It is a tonal work that incorporates elements of serialism, and it has been described as "a powerful and dramatic statement." Woodcock's music was often inspired by literature and poetry. He wrote several works based on the plays of Shakespeare, including his opera "Macbeth," which was premiered by the English National Opera in 1972. He also wrote a cantata based on the poetry of William Blake, called "The Tyger." In addition to his work as a composer, Woodcock was also a conductor. He was the conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from 1960 to 1968, and he also conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. Woodcock's later works were more tonal and accessible than his earlier works. He wrote several works for children, including a ballet called "The Snow Queen" and a suite for orchestra called "The Magic Garden." He also wrote a number of works for brass band, including his "Concerto for Brass Band" and his "Symphony for Brass Band." Woodcock's music has been performed by many of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Berlin Philharmonic. He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1983 for his services to music. Robert Woodcock was a composer who was known for his skill as an orchestrator and his ability to incorporate tonal and serial elements into his music. His works were often inspired by literature and poetry, and he wrote several works for children and for brass band. His music continues to be performed and recorded today, and he is remembered as one of the leading British composers of the 20th century.

More....