Wordsworth, William (Brocklesby)
Wordsworth, William (Brocklesby)
Wordsworth, William (Brocklesby), English composer; b. London, Dec. 17, 1908; d. Kingussie, Scotland, March 10, 1988. He was descended from the brother of the poet William Wordsworth. He studied with his father, then with George Oldroyd (1921-31), and later with Tovey at the Univ. of Edinburgh (1934-36). In 1950 he won 1st prize in the Edinburgh International Festival Soc. competition with his 2nd Sym. In 1959 he served as president of the Composers’ Guild of Great Britain. His music is marked by a certain austerity in the deployment of thematic materials.
Works
orch: Sinfonia for Strings (1936); 3 Pastoral Sketches (1937); Theme and Variations (1941); 8 syms. (1944; 1947-48; 1951; 1953; 1959-60; 1976-77; 1981; 1986); Piano Concerto (1946); Divertimento (1954); Violin Concerto (1955); Sinfo-nietta for Small Orch. (1957); Variations on a Scottish Theme for Small Orch. (1962); Cello Concerto (1963); A Highland Overture (1964); Jubilation (1965); Conflict, overture (1968); Sinfonia semplice for Amateur String Orch. (1969); Valediction (1969); Spring Festival Overture (1970); Confluence, symphonic variations (1975); Elegy for Frieda for Strings (1982). CHAMBER: 2 cello sonatas (1937, 1959); 6 string quartets (1941, 1944, 1947, 1950, 1957, 1964); 2 violin sonatas (1944, 1967); String Trio (1945); Piano Quartet (1948); Piano Trio (1949); Oboe Quartet (1949); Clarinet Quintet (1952); Wind Trio (1953); Piano Quintet (1959); Sonata for Solo Cello (1961); Symposium for Violin, Strings, Piano, and Percussion (1972); Conversation Piece for Violin and Guitar (1983); solo piano pieces, including a Sonata (1939). VOCAL: The Houseless Dead for Baritone, Chorus, and Orch., after D.H. Lawrence (1939); Dies Domini, oratorio (1942-14); Lucifer Yields for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1949); A Vision for Women’s Chorus and String Orch. (1950); A Song of Praise for Chorus and Orch. (1956); A Pattern of Love for Low Voice and String Orch. (1969-70); The 2 Brigs, dramatic cantata (1971); The Solitary Reaper for Soprano, Piano, and Clarinet (1973); solo songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire