Harrison Birtwistle

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Biography

Born: July 15, 1934; Accrington, England  
Sir Harrison Birtwistle started taking clarinet lessons as a youth and was composing by age 11. In 1952 he won a scholarship to the Royal Manchester College of Music, where he studied with Richard Hall. There he encountered a group of like-minded young musicians -- Peter Maxwell Davies, Alexander Goehr, John Ogdon, and Elgar Howarth -- with whom he formed the New Music Manchester group, which specialized in performances of modern music. Read more Birtwistle continued his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London with clarinetist Reginald Kell, and made his living as a professional clarinetist for a time. His earliest surviving composition, Refrains and Choruses (1957), and other early works like the Monody for Corpus Christi (1959), show a certain debt to the music of Igor Stravinsky, and feature a combination of serialism and Medieval techniques.

From 1962 to 1965 Birtwistle served as Director of Music at the Cranborne Chase School in Dorset. In 1966 he won a Harkness International Scholarship which enabled him to spend two years in the United States, the first of which was spent as a visiting fellow at Princeton University. While there, he wrote his one-act opera Punch and Judy (1966-1967). Back in England in 1967, Birtwistle formed the Pierrot Players with Peter Maxwell Davies. The group specialized in new musical works with a theatrical element, and Birtwistle wrote several works for them, the last of which was Medusa (1969, rev. 1970 and 1978). After Davies took over the Pierrot Players in 1970 and reformed them as the Fires of London, Birtwistle and clarinetist Alan Hacker formed a similar group, Matrix. Through the 1960s Birtwistle became known as one of the leading avant-garde composers in England.

In 1973, Birtwistle served as Cornell Visiting Professor at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Two years later he was appointed musical director of the new National Theatre on the South Bank in London. Compositionally he devoted much of the 1970s and early '80s to his opera The Mask of Orpheus (1974-1977, rev. 1984). It and works like The Triumph of Time (1972) examine one of Birtwistle's favorite themes, the cyclic nature of time and how this idea can be conveyed in music. Three further operas, Gawain (1991, rev. 1994), The Second Mrs. Kong (1993-1994), and The Last Supper (2000), followed.

Birtwistle received his knighthood in 1988. By this time, he was exploring larger sounds and gestures in his music, as in the orchestral work Earth Dances (1985-1986). His music continued to attract attention in the 1990s. On the last night of the 1995 BBC Proms, his work Panic for saxophone, drummer, and orchestra was premiered and broadcast to a worldwide audience of some 100 million people. The festival Secret Theatres: The Harrison Birtwistle Retrospective was held at London's Royal Festival Hall in April and May 1996; the festival was named after his composition Secret Theatre (1984). The latter was written for the London Sinfonietta, for which Birtwistle has written often, starting with Verses for Ensembles (1969) and including the oft-performed Silbury Air (1977).

At the end of 2000 Birtwistle served as Director of Composition at London's Royal College of Music, was the Henry Purcell Professor of Composition at King's College London, and was Composer in Residence with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Read less

Featured Harrison Birtwistle CDs & DVDs:

Birtwistle: Pulse Shadows / Mcfadden, De Leeuw, Arditti, Etc
Birtwistle: Pulse Shadows / Mcfadden, De Leeuw, Arditti, Etc
Release Date: 11/13/2001   Label: Teldec  
Catalog: 26867   Number of Discs: 1
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Birtwistle: Antiphonies & Harrison’s Clocks; Wood, Harrison: Piano Concertos / MacGregor
Birtwistle: Antiphonies & Harrison’s Clocks; Wood, Harrison: Piano Concertos / MacGregor
Release Date: 09/27/2011   Label: Warner Classics  
Catalog: 671990   Number of Discs: 1
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Browse 1-25 of 44 Available Recordings
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  • 1.
    Harrison Birtwistle: Orpheus Elegies
    Harrison Birtwistle: Orpheus Elegies
    Label: Oboe Classics   Catalog: 2020 Release Date: 10/09/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Harrison Birtwistle,  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Helen Tunstall,  Melinda Maxwell,  Claire Seaton,  Ben Fulbrook  ... 
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  • 2.
    Birtwistle: The Triumph Of Time / Boulez, Davis, Bbc Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Modern Orchestra
    Birtwistle: The Triumph Of Time / Boulez, Davis, Bbc Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Modern Orchestra
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001708902 Release Date: 07/31/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Harrison Birtwistle
    Performer:  John Harle
    Conductor:  Pierre Boulez,  Sir Andrew Davis
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  BBC Symphony Orchestra,  Ensemble Modern Orchestra
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  • 3.
    Birtwistle: Complete String Quartets / Arditti Quartet
    Birtwistle: Complete String Quartets / Arditti Quartet
    Label: Aeon   Catalog: 1217 Release Date: 05/08/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Harrison Birtwistle
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Arditti String Quartet
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  • 4.
    Birtwistle: Antiphonies & Harrison’s Clocks; Wood, Harrison: Piano Concertos / MacGregor
    Birtwistle: Antiphonies & Harrison’s Clocks; Wood, Harrison: Piano Concertos / MacGregor
    Label: Warner Classics   Catalog: 671990 Release Date: 09/27/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Harrison Birtwistle,  Hugh Wood,  Lou Harrison
    Performer:  Joanna MacGregor
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  • 5.
    Birtwistle: Night's Black Bird; The Shadow Of Night; The Cry Of Anubis / Wigglesworth, Halle Orchestra
    Birtwistle: Night's Black Bird; The Shadow Of Night; The Cry Of Anubis / Wigglesworth, Halle Orchestra
    Label: Nmc   Catalog: 156 Release Date: 09/27/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Harrison Birtwistle
    Performer:  Owen Slade
    Conductor:  Ryan Wigglesworth
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Hallé Choir and Orchestra
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  • 6.
    Icon - Melos Ensemble
    Icon - Melos Ensemble
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 18414 Release Date: 03/22/2011   Number of Discs: 11
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Franz Schubert,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Felix Mendelssohn  ... 
    Performer:  Gervase de Peyer,  Lamar Crowson,  Cecil Aronowitz,  Manoug Parikian  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Melos Ensemble London Members,  Melos Ensemble London
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  • 7.
    Hodie Gloriosa
    Hodie Gloriosa
    Label: Brass Classics   Catalog: 3007 Release Date: 08/03/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Edward Chance,  Cecilia McDowall,  Ludwig van Beethoven  ... 
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  • 8.
    A Portrait Of Alan Hacker
    A Portrait Of Alan Hacker
    Label: Clarinet Classics   Catalog: 0052 Release Date: 05/04/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Harrison Birtwistle,  Peter Maxwell Davies,  Carl Maria von Weber,  Bernhard Henrik Crusell  ... 
    Performer:  Jan Pas,  Axel Breuch,  Roland Heuer,  Alan Hacker  ... 
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  • 9.
    Birtwistle: The Minotaur / Tomlinson, Reuter, Pappano [Blu-ray]
    Birtwistle: The Minotaur / Tomlinson, Reuter, Pappano [Blu-ray]
    Label: Opus Arte   Catalog: 7052 Release Date: 02/23/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Harrison Birtwistle
    Performer:  Amanda Echalaz,  Christine Rice,  Andrew Watts,  John Tomlinson  ... 
    Conductor:  Antonio Pappano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra
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  • 10.
    Earle Brown Contemporary Sound Series, Vol. 2
    Earle Brown Contemporary Sound Series, Vol. 2
    Label: Wergo   Catalog: 6931 Release Date: 12/08/2009   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Luigi Nono,  Luciano Berio,  Peter Maxwell Davies,  Harrison Birtwistle  ... 
    Performer:  Jacques Castagner,  Francis Pierre,  Walter Lewis,  Walter Trampler  ... 
    Conductor:  Bruno Maderna,  Luciano Berio,  Peter Maxwell Davies
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Pierrot Players
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  • 11.
    Trumpet Renaissance - Birtwistle, Jost, Roger, Artunian / Schartz
    Trumpet Renaissance - Birtwistle, Jost, Roger, Artunian / Schartz
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10562 Release Date: 11/17/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Kurt Roger,  Christian Jost,  Harrison Birtwistle,  Alexander Arutiunian
    Performer:  Philippe Schartz
    Conductor:  Jac Van Steen
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  BBC National Orchestra of Wales
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  • 12.
    A/Rythmia
    A/Rythmia
    Label: Nonesuch   Catalog: 467708 Release Date: 09/15/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Benedict Mason,  Michael Gordon,  György Ligeti,  David Wong  ... 
    Performer:  Alan Pierson,  Payton MacDonald
    Conductor:  Alan Pierson
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Alarm Will Sound
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  • 13.
    Nmc Songbook
    Label: Nmc   Catalog: NMCD150 Release Date: 04/07/2009   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  David Sawyer,  Luke Bedford,  Anthony Powers,  Gary Carpenter  ... 
    Performer:  Susan Bickley,  Owen Gunnell,  Claire Booth,  Benjamin Hulett  ... 
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  • 14.
    The NMC Songbook
    The NMC Songbook
    Label: Nmc   Catalog: 150 Release Date: 03/31/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Roderick Williams,  Rupert Bawden,  Bayan Northcott,  Emily Howard  ... 
    Performer:  Iain Burnside,  Roderick Williams,  Huw Watkins,  Jean Rigby  ... 
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  • 15.
    20th-century Masterpieces - 100 Years Of Classical Music
    20th-century Masterpieces - 100 Years Of Classical Music
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 17500 Release Date: 11/24/2008   Number of Discs: 16
    Composer:  Sergei Rachmaninov,  Claude Debussy,  Frederick Delius,  Gustav Mahler  ... 
    Performer:  Leif Ove Andsnes,  Christa Ludwig,  Martha Argerich,  Sarah Chang  ... 
    Conductor:  Antonio Pappano,  Carlo Maria Giulini,  Sir Thomas Beecham,  Otto Klemperer  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Melos Ensemble London
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    On sale! $109.98
    CD: $91.49
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  • 16.
    Birtwistle: The Minotaur / Tomlinson, Reuter, Pappano
    Birtwistle: The Minotaur / Tomlinson, Reuter, Pappano
    Label: Opus Arte   Catalog: 1000 Release Date: 11/18/2008   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Harrison Birtwistle
    Performer:  John Tomlinson,  Christine Rice,  Johan Reuter,  Amanda Echalaz  ... 
    Conductor:  Antonio Pappano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra
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  • 17.
    Ancora - Birtwistle: Carmen Arcadiae, Secret Theatre, Silbury Air
    Ancora - Birtwistle: Carmen Arcadiae, Secret Theatre, Silbury Air
    Label: Nmc   Catalog: 148 Release Date: 10/28/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Harrison Birtwistle
    Conductor:  Elgar Howarth
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Sinfonietta
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  • 18.
    Birtwistle: Nenia, Fields Of Sorrow / Atherton, Manning, Hacker
    Birtwistle: Nenia, Fields Of Sorrow / Atherton, Manning, Hacker
    Label: Lyrita   Catalog: 306 Release Date: 09/09/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Harrison Birtwistle
    Performer:  Jane Manning
    Conductor:  Alan Hacker,  David Atherton
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Matrix Ensemble,  London Sinfonietta,  London Sinfonietta Chorus
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  • 19.
    Hodie Gloriosa - Mozart, Chance, Etc / Archibald, London Mozart Players Brass Ensemble
    Hodie Gloriosa - Mozart, Chance, Etc / Archibald, London Mozart Players Brass Ensemble
    Label: Brass Classics   Catalog: 3007 Release Date: 04/29/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Richard Harvey,  Cecilia McDowall,  Harrison Birtwistle,  Michael Berkeley  ... 
    Conductor:  Paul Archibald
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Mozart Players Brass Ensemble
    On sale! $23.98
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  • 20.
    Edition Klavier-festival Ruhr - Mozart, Variationen & Neue Klaviermusik
    Edition Klavier-festival Ruhr - Mozart, Variationen & Neue Klaviermusik
    Label: Cavi Music   Catalog: 8553067 Release Date: 04/08/2008   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Krzysztof Meyer,  John Harbison,  John Dowland  ... 
    Performer:  Various,  Peter Serkin,  Lars Vogt,  Robert Levin  ... 
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  • 21.
    Trumpet Concertos - Hĺkan Hardenberger / Howarth, Bbc Phil
    Trumpet Concertos - Hĺkan Hardenberger / Howarth, Bbc Phil
    Label: Philips   Catalog: 432075 Release Date: 09/11/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Harrison Birtwistle,  Peter Maxwell Davies,  Michael Blake Watkins
    Performer:  Hĺkan Hardenberger
    Conductor:  Elgar Howarth
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 22.
    Melinda Maxewell Vol 2 - In Manchester
    Melinda Maxewell Vol 2 - In Manchester
    Label: Dutton Laboratories/Vocalion   Catalog: 7180 Release Date: 07/10/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Melinda Maxwell,  Adam Gorb,  Peter Maxwell Davies,  Anthony Gilbert  ... 
    Performer:  Anna Barton,  Melinda Maxwell,  Alexia Pelling,  Hugh Webb  ... 
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  • 23.
    Birtwistle: Punch And Judy / Atherton, Langridge, Tomlinson
    Birtwistle: Punch And Judy / Atherton, Langridge, Tomlinson
    Label: Nmc   Catalog: 138 Release Date: 06/26/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Harrison Birtwistle
    Performer:  John Tomlinson,  Stephen Roberts,  Jan DeGaetani,  Philip Langridge  ... 
    Conductor:  David Atherton
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Sinfonietta
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  • 24.
    Avantgarde Favourites Of The 20th Century
    Avantgarde Favourites Of The 20th Century
    Label: Membran / Scandinavian Classics   Catalog: 220571 Release Date: 04/26/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  György Ligeti,  Anton Webern,  Edgard Varčse,  Witold Lutoslawski  ... 
    CD: $12.99
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  • 25.
    A Portrait Of Alan Hacker - Davies, Birtwistle, Etc
    A Portrait Of Alan Hacker - Davies, Birtwistle, Etc
    Label: Clarinet Classics   Catalog: 52 Release Date: 10/31/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Carl Maria von Weber,  Bernhard Henrik Crusell,  Harrison Birtwistle,  Peter Maxwell Davies
    Performer:  Richard Burnett,  Alan Hacker,  Duncan Bruce,  Simon Rowland-Jones  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  The Music Party
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