Alun Hoddinott
Alun Hoddinott CBE ( born August 11, 1929 in Bargoed, Glamorganshire, Wales, † March 12, 2008 in Swansea ) was one of the first Welsh composer, the international recognition learned.
Life and work
He enrolled at the University College, Cardiff and later studied privately with Arthur Benjamin. His first important composition was the Clarinet Concerto, which was premiered by the Hallé Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli during the Cheltenham Festival in 1954 by Gervase de Peyer.
Hoddinott wrote numerous symphonies, sonatas and concertos: His styles changed from a neo-classical clarinet concerto to a form of serial music, which allowed tonal points of a structure. From 1970 onwards, he also composed operas.
Alun Hoddinott was also a talented teacher as professor of music at University College, Cardiff, where he also contributed to the expansion of the Music Institute. Hoddinott taught a number of composers in his time in Cardiff: John Buckley, John Hopkins, Karl Jenkins, Jeffrey Lewis, John Metcalf and Christopher Painter.
Hoddinotts last work, the symphonic poem of Taliesin, was premiered by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for Swansea Festival of Music in October 2009.