Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

November 22, 1859 in London, England

Death

:

June 23, 1924 in London, England

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Cecil Sharp was a British composer and musicologist who is best known for his work in preserving and promoting traditional English folk music. He was born on November 22, 1859, in London, England, and grew up in a family that valued music and the arts. His father was a solicitor, but also played the piano and sang in a choir, while his mother was a talented amateur musician who played the violin and sang in a local choir. Sharp showed an early interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of seven. He later studied music at the University of Cambridge, where he became interested in the folk music of England and Scotland. After graduating, he worked as a music teacher and composer, but also began collecting and transcribing traditional folk songs. In 1903, Sharp founded the English Folk Dance Society, which aimed to promote traditional English folk music and dance. He traveled throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland, collecting and transcribing folk songs and dances. He also published several books of folk songs, including "English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians," which he collected during a trip to the United States in 1915. Sharp's work in preserving and promoting traditional folk music had a significant impact on the development of English music in the early 20th century. His transcriptions and arrangements of folk songs were widely performed and recorded, and his work helped to inspire a new generation of composers who were interested in incorporating traditional folk music into their compositions. In addition to his work as a folk music collector and promoter, Sharp was also a prolific composer. He wrote several operas, including "The Immortal Hour" and "The Daisies," as well as numerous choral works, songs, and instrumental pieces. His music was influenced by the folk music he collected, as well as by the Romantic composers of the 19th century. One of Sharp's most famous compositions is his setting of the folk song "Blow Away the Morning Dew," which he included in his book "English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians." The song has since become a popular folk song in its own right, and has been recorded by numerous artists. Sharp continued to work as a composer and musicologist throughout his life, and was awarded several honors for his contributions to English music. He died on June 23, 1924, in London, England, at the age of 64. Today, Sharp is remembered as one of the most important figures in the preservation and promotion of traditional English folk music. His work in collecting and transcribing folk songs helped to preserve a rich cultural heritage, and his compositions continue to be performed and enjoyed by musicians and audiences around the world.

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