Malcolm Williamson

:This article is about the composer. For the cryptographer, see Malcolm J. Williamson.

Williamson's music

Some of Williamson's early works use the twelve tone technique of Arnold Schoenberg, but his greatest influence is often said to be Olivier Messiaen. He discovered Messiaen's music shortly before converting to Roman Catholicism in 1952. He was also influenced by Britten, as well as jazz and popular music (this latter influence may have come in part from him working as a night club pianist in the 1950s).

Related Topics:
Twelve tone technique - Arnold Schoenberg - Olivier Messiaen - Roman Catholicism - Jazz - Popular music - Night club - 1950s

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Williamson wrote seven symphonies, four piano concertos, operas including Our Man in Havana and The Violins of Saint Jacques, the ballet Sun Into Darkness, choral works, chamber music, music for solo piano, music for film and television, and others.

Related Topics:
Symphonies - Concerto - Opera - Ballet - Choral - Chamber music - Film - Television

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Williamson also wrote music for children, including the opera The Happy Prince (based on the story by Oscar Wilde) and cassations, short operas incorporating audience participation. One of these, The Valley and the Hill, written for the silver jubilee of Elizabeth II, was performed by 18,000 children.

Related Topics:
Oscar Wilde - Elizabeth II

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Williamson became much less prolific in later life, although continued to write occasionally, with the orchestral song cycle on texts by Iris Murdoch A Year of Birds premiered at the Proms in 1995.

Related Topics:
Song cycle - Iris Murdoch - Proms

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Despite Williamson's relatively accessible melodic style, his pieces are rarely performed or recorded.

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Williamson was made a CBE in 1976, an Honorary AO in 1987, and was knighted in 1993

Related Topics:
CBE - 1976 - AO - 1987 - Knighted - 1993

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