Brian Brockless facts for kids

Brian Brockless (21 January 1926 – 18 December 1995) was an English composer, organist (someone who plays the organ), and conductor (someone who leads an orchestra or choir). For much of his life, he was the Director of Music at the Priory Church of St Bartholomew-the-Great in London. He was very good at training choirs, and his yearly performances of Bach's St John Passion were famous for their beautiful music. He also started a well-known singing group called Pro Cantione Antiqua.

Career

Brockless was born in London. His father played the French horn and sang, so music was a big part of his family. Brian and his sister, Pauline, loved music from a very young age. Pauline later became a wonderful soprano (a high-pitched female singer) and often performed at the Proms, a famous music festival.

Brian Brockless studied how to play the organ and how to write music at the Royal College of Music. His teacher, Herbert Howells, was a huge inspiration to him. You can see Howells' influence in Brockless's piece "An English Elegy," which was dedicated to Howells. Brian also studied conducting in Italy and worked with a famous conductor named Sergiu Celibidache in Europe.

For twenty years, Brockless was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music. He also taught at the University of Surrey, Goldsmith's, and Morley colleges.

He conducted many famous orchestras, including The London Schubert Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He led concerts in many countries like Romania, Sweden, and Denmark. He also conducted for the BBC and other radio orchestras. Brian Brockless even helped bring choral music to TV with an ITV series called "A Date With Music."

Besides being a conductor and composer, Brockless had a lovely counter-tenor voice (a high male singing voice). He often sang with his sister Pauline in concerts and was part of several choirs.

In 1971, Brockless left St Bartholomew's Church because he had too much work. But he returned as Director of Music in 1979 and stayed there for the rest of his life.

When he wasn't busy with music, Brockless enjoyed cricket, studying birds, and reading.

Works

Brian Brockless's musical pieces are published by Novello.

• There is a Garden in Her Face (for four voices without instruments, 1953)
• To Thee, O Lord, Our Hearts We Raise (1953)
• May the Grace of Christ (for four voices, 1955)
• Christ is now Arisen Agayne (for four voices, 1958)
• Now Blessed Be Thou, Christ Jesu (for four voices, 1959)
• Prelude, Toccata and Chaconne (for Organ, 1959)
• An English Elegy (for Strings, 1960)
• Behold Now, Praise the Lord (for Voices & Organ)
• Introduction, Passacaglia and Coda (for Organ, 1967 - written for Westminster Abbey)
• Come, Holy Spirite (1976, revised 1985)
• Toccata for an Occasion (for Organ, 1982 - written for The Peterborough Organ Festival)
• Toccatina (for Organ, 1989)

Other works

• Missa Brevis
• Three Poems of Shelley (for Contralto voice & Piano)
• Toccata upon Tallis's Twelfth Tone (for Organ)
• Intrada
• This Spiritual House
• Fantasia, Adagio and Fugue (for Organ)

Recordings

• Prelude, Toccata and Chaconne - Amphion PHI CD 175
• Songs of Heaven and Earth - Guild Music GMCD 7165]