Rawsthorne, Alan

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Rawsthorne, Alan (b Haslingden, 1905; d Cambridge, 1971). Eng. composer and pianist. Taught at Dartington Hall 1932–4, settled in London 1935, concentrating on comp. His mus., overshadowed by that of his contemporary fellow Lancastrian Walton, has style, structural strength, and impeccable craftsmanship. CBE 1961. Prin. works:BALLET: Madame Chrysanthème (1955).ORCH.: syms.: No.1 (1950), No.2 (Pastoral) (1959), No.3 (1964); Symphonic Studies (1939); Street Corner Overture (1944); Cortèges, fantasy ov. (1945); Concerto for Strings (1949); Concertante Pastorale (1951); Hallé, ov. (1958); Improvisations on a Theme of Constant Lambert (1961); Concerto for 10 Instruments (1961); Divertimento (1962); Elegiac Rhapsody, str. (1963); Theme, Variations, and Finale (1967); Triptych (1969).CONCERTOS: pf.: No.1, orig. version (1939) with str. and perc., rev. with full orch. (1942), No.2 (1951); 2 pf. (1968); vn.: No.1 (1948), No.2 (1956); vc. (1966); cl., str. (1936); ob., str. (1947).VOICE(S) & INSTR(S).: A Canticle of Man, bar., ch., fl., str. (1952); Practical Cats, spkr, orch. (1954); Medieval Diptych, bar., orch. (1962); Carmen Vitale, sop., ch., orch. (1963); Tankas of the 4 Seasons, ten., chamber ens. (1965); The God in the Cave, ch., orch. (1967).CHORAL: Canzonet, sop., unacc. ch. (part of A Garland for the Queen, 1953); 4 Seasonal Songs, unacc. ch. (1956); A Rose for Lidiče, sop., unacc. ch. (1956); Lament for a Sparrow, ch., hp. or pf. (1962).CHAMBER MUSIC: str. qts.: No.1 (Theme and Variations) (1939), No.2 (1954), No.3 (1965); Concertante, vn., pf. (1934, rev. 1968); va. sonata (1935, rev. 1954); Theme and variations, 2 vn. (1938); Suite, rec., pf. (1939); cl. qt. (1948); vc. sonata (1949); vn. sonata (1959); Concerto, 10 instrs. (1961); pf. trio (1962); quintet (pf., ob., cl., hn., bn.) (1963); pf. quintet (1968); ob. qt. (1970); quintet (pf., cl., hn., vn., vc.) (1970); Elegy (guitar) (1971).PIANO: 4 Bagatelles (1938); Suite, The Creel, pf. duet (1940); Sonatina (1949); 4 Romantic Pieces (1953); Ballade (1967); Theme and 4 Studies (1971).Also scores for 22 films.