David Brown is an English musicologist, most noteworthy for his major study of Tchaikovsky

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...

’s life and works.

Brown studied English, Latin and music at the University of Sheffield

University of Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...

, graduating in 1951, and took his MusB there (1952). During national service (1952-4) he studied Russian and was commissioned in the Intelligence Corps. He taught in secondary schools before becoming music librarian of the University of London

University of London

-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...

, working at Senate House

Senate House (University of London)

Senate House is the administrative centre of the University of London, situated in the heart of Bloomsbury, London between the School of Oriental and African Studies to the north, with the British Museum to the south...

 1959-62. In 1962 he became a lecturer at the University of Southampton

University of Southampton

The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...

, becoming senior lecturer in 1970 and reader in 1975; he was awarded a doctorate for his book on Weelkes in 1971. His book on Mikhail Glinka

Mikhail Glinka

Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka , was the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition within his own country, and is often regarded as the father of Russian classical music...

 was the first major study of the composer in English. This was surpassed by his four volume study of Tchaikovsky (published between 1978 to 1991), both a biography and in-depth analyses of Tchaikovsky’s works. He was also editor of the New Grove Russian Masters series. He retired as Professor of Musicology in 1989.

Books

• Mikhail Glinka: a Biographical and Critical Study (London: Oxford University Press, 1974)
• Tchaikovsky: A Biographical and Critical Study: Vol. 1: “The Early Years (1840-1874)” (London: Gollancz, 1978); Vol. 2: “The Crisis Years (1874-1878)” (London: Gollancz, 1982); Vol. 3: “The Years of Wandering (1878-1885)” (London: Gollancz, 1986); Vol. 4: “The Final Years (1885-1893)” (London: Gollancz, 1991); paperback edition (2 vols) includes minor corrections and updated Work List (London: Gollancz, 1992)
• Musorgsky: His Life and Works (London: Oxford University Press, 2002)
• Tchaikovsky: The Man and His Music (London: Faber & Faber, 2006)