10 favourite British Composers

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

AH yes Richard Barrett is another brilliant Brit I overlooked...........

[Jo498]

As far as I can see not one mention of George Frideric Handel

He is only counted as Anglo-Saxon by the Brits, elsewhere he is only a Saxon.

[Wanderer]

In alphabetical order:

Brian
Britten
Delius
Elgar
Finzi
Foulds
Simpson
Sorabji
Tippett
Vaughan Williams
Walton


More favourites:

Arnold
Bantock
Birtwistle
Bliss
Bridge
Boughton
Dyson
Holst
Parry
Ireland

Honourable mention: Tovey (for his splendid Piano Concerto)

[Wanderer]

He is only counted as Anglo-Saxon by the Brits, elsewhere he is only a Saxon.

+1

Medtner

Aww. Not a Brit, but much too cool and tasteful a selection for me to object.

[amw]

British citizen, spent a large part of his life in Britain, he's a Brit

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

British citizen, spent a large part of his life in Britain, he's a Brit

Rather off topic, but I wish this was a much more common philosophy regarding immigrants to the UK in recent times.......

[some guy]

Yes, me too.

I've been living in Europe for the past four years, here and there, and there are two things that are important to everyone but me, where I was born and when I was born.

Anyway, yes to Gerhard and to Rawsthorne as well, why not?

Natasha Barrett (unless she counts as Norwegian, now)
Diana Salazar
Tim Hodgkinson
Chris Cutler
Jonty Harrison
Keith Rowe
Anna Clyne
Graham Lambkin

[Karl Henning]

If I had a name like Lambkin, I'd find gates to frisk at.

[Christo]

First attempt:

Bate
Berkeley (père)
Bliss
Brian
Gipps
Goossens
Holst
Moeran
Tippett
Vaughan Williams

[springrite]

If I had a name like Lambkin, I'd find gates to frisk at.

You can always use the pen name Nigel Lambkin.

[Karl Henning]

You can always use the pen name Nigel Lambkin.

Thanks, if I should have occasion, I will!

[Andante]

He is only counted as Anglo-Saxon by the Brits, elsewhere he is only a Saxon.

He was naturalised as a brit sorry Brit in 1727 but I can sympathise with you.
No mention of John Kenneth Tavener 1944 – 2013 what on earth is the matter with you lot?

[North Star]

He was naturalised as a brit sorry Brit in 1727 but I can sympathise with you.

Naturalized at the tender young age of 42. Händel was every bit as British as Medtner, or Stravinsky an American.

[Andante]

Naturalized at the tender young age of 42. Händel was every bit as British as Medtner, or Stravinsky an American.

So he is not a Brit What should he have done to become one?
I emigrated to my present Country and eventualy applied for and became became a citizen of my adopted country does that mean I am living a lie?

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Personally I believe Handel is not a Brit, but he certainly was one! As soon as someone is a citizen in a particular country then they are a citizen of that country, right?

[Andante]

Personally I believe Handel is not a Brit, but he certainly was one! As soon as someone is a citizen in a particular country then they are a citizen of that country, right?

Yes! If you are accepted as a citizen of Xland then you are an Xlander.

But still no mention of Tavener 

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Tavener has written a few pieces which I am utterly enthusiastic about; In Alium is probably my favourite work of his. I am still unfamiliar with a lot of his work and there is a great deal of vocal music which isn't usually my cup of tea.

[Andante]

Tavener has written a few pieces which I am utterly enthusiastic about; In Alium is probably my favourite work of his. I am still unfamiliar with a lot of his work and there is a great deal of vocal music which isn't usually my cup of tea.

Well there is the difference between us, my favourite genres in serious music are Chamber and Choral in particular the great English tradition of choral music hence my love of Handel admittedly Taverners music is a bit more modern but I like it.

[Mirror Image]

Personally I believe Handel is not a Brit, but he certainly was one! As soon as someone is a citizen in a particular country then they are a citizen of that country, right?

With this in mind, why is Honegger considered a Swiss composer then? He lived all of his life in France and grew up in their culture, but, yet, he's referred to as a Swiss composer. He was even a member of Les Six!

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

With this in mind, why is Honegger considered a Swiss composer then? He lived all of his life in France and grew up in their culture, but, yet, he's referred to as a Swiss composer. He was even a member of Les Six!

He was a Swiss-born Frenchman.
I have found that it usually makes sense to use the '-born' suffix to describe composers by their nationality of birth. I am an Australian-born but who knows where I will go in the world in a few years' time. Handel in his later years was a German-born Englishman...
One composer I have seen 'claimed' by none less than three countries is Percy Grainger who has been described as Australian, English and American depending on who you're talking to! No confusion surrounding his place of birth though (Australia)..........but in the grand scheme of musical things, he probably should be associated more with British music than the music of any other nation or culture.