Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

June 27, 1932 in Wigan, Lancashire, England

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Hugh Wood was a British composer born on April 27, 1932, in Parbold, Lancashire. He was the son of a Methodist minister and grew up in a musical family. His mother was a pianist, and his father played the organ. Wood began playing the piano at a young age and showed an early interest in music. Wood attended the Royal Manchester College of Music, where he studied composition with Richard Hall. He later studied with Lennox Berkeley at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Wood's early works were influenced by the music of Benjamin Britten, but he later developed his own style. Wood's first major work was his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1957. The symphony was well-received and helped establish Wood as a promising young composer. He went on to compose a number of other orchestral works, including his Symphony No. 2, which was premiered by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1969. In addition to his orchestral works, Wood also composed a number of chamber music pieces. One of his most famous chamber works is his String Quartet No. 2, which was premiered by the Arditti Quartet in 1981. The quartet is known for its complex rhythms and intricate harmonies. Wood was also a prolific composer of vocal music. He composed a number of choral works, including his St. Mark Passion, which was premiered by the BBC Singers in 1976. The work is a setting of the Passion story according to the Gospel of St. Mark and is known for its dramatic intensity. Wood's music is characterized by its complexity and sophistication. He was known for his use of intricate rhythms and harmonies, as well as his ability to create powerful emotional effects through his music. His works often explore themes of love, loss, and mortality. In addition to his work as a composer, Wood was also a respected music educator. He taught at the Royal Academy of Music and the University of Cambridge, where he was a fellow of Churchill College. He was also a visiting professor at a number of universities in the United States. Wood was the recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout his career. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1995 and was awarded the Queen's Medal for Music in 2007. He was also a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Society of Arts. Wood continued to compose music well into his later years. His final work, his Symphony No. 6, was premiered by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 2012. The symphony is a powerful meditation on mortality and the passage of time. Hugh Wood passed away on July 14, 2021, at the age of 89. He was remembered as one of the most important British composers of the 20th century, and his music continues to be performed and admired by musicians and audiences around the world.

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