Gurney, Ivor

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Gurney, Ivor (b Gloucester, 1890; d Dartford, 1937). Eng. composer, organist, and poet. Ass. org. Gloucester Cath. 1906–11. Joined army 1915, gassed at Passchendaele 1917. Wrote poetry, setting several of his own poems to mus. as well as poetry by Housman, etc. Song-cycles, of touching beauty and promise, incl. Ludlow and Teme, for ten., str. qt., and pf., and The Western Playland for bar., str. qt., and pf. Other songs incl. Desire in Spring, Sleep, In Flanders, and Severn Meadows. Returned to RCM 1919 but declared insane 1922. In last years of his life various friends, incl. Marion Scott, Howells, Finzi, and Ferguson, prepared the best of his work for pub., but over 200 songs remain in MS, also 6 vn. sonatas, 5 str. qts., and A Gloucestershire Rhapsody for orch.

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