Darnton, (Philip) Christian

views updated

Darnton, (Philip) Christian

Darnton, (Philip) Christian , English composer; b. near Leeds, Oct. 30, 1905; d. Hove, April 14, 1981. He began piano lessons at the age of 4 and began composing at 9. After studies with R Corder Sr. at the Brighton School of Music, he went to London for studies with Craxton (piano) at the Matthay School and Dale (composition) at the Royal Academy of Music. He later was a student of Wood (composition) and Rootham (theory) at Caius Coll., Cambridge (1923–26), Jacob at the Royal Coll. of Music, London (1927), and Butting in Berlin (1928–29). He publ. You and Music (Harmondsworth, 1939; 2nd ed., 1946).

Works

Fantasy Fair, opera; 3 syms.; 2 piano concertos;Suite concertante for Violin and Chamber Orch. (1938); 5Orchestral Pieces (Warsaw, April 14, 1939); Jet Pilot, cantata (1950); Concerto for Orchestra (1970–73).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire