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Farewell to Harry
BEN LUNN pays tribute to Accrington-born giant Harrison Birtwhistle – but wonders if working-class kids today have the opportunity to explore music that he did
MATTHEW HAWKINS rakes through un-fancy words and flair-free summaries to find who and what might be flamboyant
PETER MASON is exhilarated by an exciting, well-considered and historically minded tribute to the great Trinidadian instrument
Reducing historical lives to ‘male’ and ‘female’ roles, we lose the nuance of those lives and a clearer understanding of past societies, suggests CLAIRE ISABELLA GILMOUR
CHRIS SEARLE relishes the genius of pianist Alexander Hawkins, his many ensembles, and his new album
ON APRIL 18, the Accrington-born giant and musical hell-raiser Harrison Birtwistle passed away. To say he was one of the largest voices in British music is an understatement.
His music has had a resonance and reach which can only be compared to a few other British composers — namely Henry Purcell, Edward Elgar and Benjamin Britten.
The broad outpouring of sadness at his passing, combined with numerous hilarious anecdotes and stories, shows his connection to the world around him was as large as his music.
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