William Reed (composer)
Encyclopedia
William Leonard Reed (16 October 1910 – 15 April 2002) was an English classical composer and pianist.
and Jesus College, Oxford
, obtaining a degree in Literae Humaniores
in 1933 and a diploma in education in 1934. Whilst still at Oxford, he won a composition prize for a sonata for violin and piano, and Sir Hugh Allen
(Professor of Music at Oxford) recommended that he should study at the Royal College of Music
. Reed studied composition with Herbert Howells
and conducting with Constant Lambert
. He travelled to Scandinavia on a scholarship in 1936, meeting the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius
, and lectured in Scandinavia on behalf of the British Council
in 1936 and 1937. In 1939, he obtained a D Mus
degree from the University of Oxford
.
From his time at Oxford onwards, he was a member of the Oxford Group
(which later became Moral Re-Armament
), an international moral and spiritual movement. He wrote reviews for the group during the Second World War, and travelled and composed extensively for them between 1940 and 1960. He became Director of Music at Westminster Theatre Arts Centre in 1966, the group's London venue, and ran a series of successful concerts there. He was a lecturer for the Workers' Educational Association
from 1973 to 1997. He died on 15 April 2002.
mixed with "spiky dissonance". His pieces include the following:
Reed also published collections of vocal music, such as The Golden Book of Carols (1948), The Treasury of Vocal Music (1969), and editions of National Anthems of the World (1978 to 2002) with Michael Jamieson Bristow.
Life
Reed was educated at Dulwich CollegeDulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
and Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
, obtaining a degree in Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
in 1933 and a diploma in education in 1934. Whilst still at Oxford, he won a composition prize for a sonata for violin and piano, and Sir Hugh Allen
Hugh Allen (conductor)
Sir Hugh Percy Allen was an English musician, academic and administrator. He was a leading influence on British musical life in the first half of the 20th century.-Early years:...
(Professor of Music at Oxford) recommended that he should study at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
. Reed studied composition with Herbert Howells
Herbert Howells
Herbert Norman Howells CH was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music.-Life:...
and conducting with Constant Lambert
Constant Lambert
Leonard Constant Lambert was a British composer and conductor.-Early life:Lambert, the son of Russian-born Australian painter George Lambert, was educated at Christ's Hospital and the Royal College of Music...
. He travelled to Scandinavia on a scholarship in 1936, meeting the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the later Romantic period whose music played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity. His mastery of the orchestra has been described as "prodigious."...
, and lectured in Scandinavia on behalf of the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
in 1936 and 1937. In 1939, he obtained a D Mus
Doctor of Music
The Doctor of Music degree , like other doctorates, is an academic degree of the highest level. The D.Mus. is intended for musicians and composers who wish to combine the highest attainments in their area of specialization with doctoral-level academic study in music...
degree from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
From his time at Oxford onwards, he was a member of the Oxford Group
Oxford Group
The Oxford Group was a Christian movement that had a following in Europe, China, Africa, Australia, Scandinavia and America in the 1920s and 30s. It was initiated by an American Lutheran pastor, Frank Buchman, who was of Swiss descent...
(which later became Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament was an international Christian moral and spiritual movement that, in 1938, developed from the American minister Frank Buchman's Oxford Group. Buchman, a Lutheran, headed MRA for 23 years, from 1938 until his death in 1961...
), an international moral and spiritual movement. He wrote reviews for the group during the Second World War, and travelled and composed extensively for them between 1940 and 1960. He became Director of Music at Westminster Theatre Arts Centre in 1966, the group's London venue, and ran a series of successful concerts there. He was a lecturer for the Workers' Educational Association
Workers' Educational Association
The Workers’ Educational Association seeks to provide access to education and lifelong learning for adults from all backgrounds, and in particular those who have previously missed out on education. The International Federation of Workers Education Associations has consultative status to UNESCO...
from 1973 to 1997. He died on 15 April 2002.
Works
Reed's compositional style was described as "quintessentially English", with inspiration from Howells and John IrelandJohn Ireland (composer)
John Nicholson Ireland was an English composer.- Life :John Ireland was born in Bowdon, near Altrincham, Manchester, into a family of Scottish descent and some cultural distinction. His father, Alexander Ireland, a publisher and newspaper proprietor, was aged 70 at John's birth...
mixed with "spiky dissonance". His pieces include the following:
- Homage to Delius, for string sextet (1934) – Reed was passionate about the music of Frederick DeliusFrederick DeliusFrederick Theodore Albert Delius, CH was an English composer. Born in the north of England to a prosperous mercantile family of German extraction, he resisted attempts to recruit him to commerce...
- Recitative and Dance Op.1 for orchestra (1934) - performed with Sir Malcolm SargentMalcolm SargentSir Harold Malcolm Watts Sargent was an English conductor, organist and composer widely regarded as Britain's leading conductor of choral works...
conducting - Fantasy for flute, viola and harp (1934)
- Scherzo Op.16 for orchestra (1937)
- Three Surrey Impressions Op.10 for two pianos (1935) – Reed was an accomplished pianist himself
- Piano Trio Op.27 (1941–1943) - broadcast by the BBC to mark his 90th birthday
- Doctor Johnson's Suite Op.29 for string quartet (1944)
- Concert Suite Op.39 for piano (1946–1947)
- Suite "The Top Flat" for viola and piano, Op.41 (1947)
- The Good Road (1947) - music for a Moral Re-Armament theatre production
- Suite No.3 (Mountain House) Op.43a for orchestra (1949) - performed by the Suisse Romande Orchestra - originally written for violin and piano (1949)
- Concert Overture Op.44 for orchestra (1943–1950)
- Carol for East and West (1952) - written for Moral Re-Armament
- The Vanishing Island (1955) - music for a Moral Re-Armament theatre production
- The Crowning Experience (1957) - music for a Moral Re-Armament theatre production
- Concert Waltz Op.49 for piano (1977)
- Festive March Op.34a for orchestra (1978) - originally written for piano (1945)
Reed also published collections of vocal music, such as The Golden Book of Carols (1948), The Treasury of Vocal Music (1969), and editions of National Anthems of the World (1978 to 2002) with Michael Jamieson Bristow.