Sir Harrison Birtwistle was an English composer of contemporary classical music best known for his operas, often based on mythological subjects.
13 Facts About Harrison Birtwistle
2.
Harrison Birtwistle was born in Accrington, a mill town in Lancashire around 20 miles north of Manchester.
3.
Harrison Birtwistle's parents, Fred and Madge Birtwistle, ran a bakery, and his interest in music was encouraged by his mother.
4.
Harrison Birtwistle bought him a clarinet when he was seven and arranged for him to have lessons with the local bandmaster.
5.
From around this time Harrison Birtwistle first composed, later describing his early pieces as "sub-Vaughan Williams".
6.
Harrison Birtwistle then completed two years of National Service in the Royal Artillery Band, based in Oswestry.
7.
Harrison Birtwistle served as director of music at Cranborne Chase School from 1962 until 1965, before continuing his studies at Princeton University on a Harkness Fellowship, where he completed the opera Punch and Judy to a libretto by Stephen Pruslin.
8.
Harrison Birtwistle received a knighthood and was made a Companion of Honour.
9.
Harrison Birtwistle was the 1987 recipient of the University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition for his epic opera The Mask of Orpheus.
10.
Harrison Birtwistle had a low media profile, but occasionally gave interviews.
11.
Harrison Birtwistle had a stroke in 2021 and died at his home in Mere, Wiltshire, on 18 April 2022, aged 87.
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Harrison Birtwistle's music is not categorised as belonging to any particular school or movement.
13.
Harrison Birtwistle's music is complex, written in a modernistic manner with a clear, distinctive voice, with sounds described as of "sonic brashness".