British Composer
Following taken from wikipedia:
Alan Rawsthorne was born in Haslingden, Lancashire. After attempting careers in dentistry and architecture, he decided instead to study music in Manchester and Berlin. His breakthrough came with the Theme and Variations for two violins (1938) and Symphonic Studies for orchestra (1938). Other acclaimed works by Rawsthorne include a viola sonata (1937), two piano concertos (1939, 1951), an oboe concerto (1947), two violin concertos (1948, 1956), a concerto for string orchestra (1949), and the Elegy for guitar (1971), a piece written for and completed by Julian Bream after the composer's death. Other works include a cello concerto, three acknowledged string quartets among other chamber works, and three symphonies.
Rawsthorne was married to Isabel Rawsthorne (née Isabel Nichols), an artist, model and muse well-known in the Paris and Soho art scenes. Her contemporaries included Andre Derain, Alberto Giacometti, Pablo Picasso and Francis Bacon. Isabel Rawsthorne was the widow of composer Constant Lambert and step-mother to Kit Lambert, manager of the rock group The Who, who died in 1981. Isabel died in 1992. Alan Rawsthorne was her third husband; Sefton Delmer (the journalist and member of the Special Operations Executive during the Second World War) was her first husband. Isabel was Alan Rawsthorne's second wife, his first wife being Jessie Hinchliffe, a violinist in the Philharmonia Orchestra. Jessie did not re-marry.
Alan Rawsthorne died in 1971 and is buried in Thaxted churchyard in Essex. He was a great-grandson of Dr. Jonathan Bayley, the renowned educationalist, Latin scholar and Swedenborgian minister who is remembered for his philanthropic work in Accrington, Lancashire and in London.
Works
Orchestral
Symphonies
Symphony No. 1 (1950)
Symphony No. 2 A Pastoral Symphony (1959)
Symphony No. 3 (1964)
Symphonic Studies (1938)
Concerto for String Orchestra (1949)
Improvisations on a Theme by Constant Lambert
Concertante
Piano
Piano Concerto No. 1 (1939)
Piano Concerto No. 2 (1951)
Violin
Violin Concerto No. 1 (1948)
Violin Concerto No. 2 (1956)
Cello Concerto (1965)
Oboe Concerto (1947)
Clarinet Concerto (1936-7)
Chamber/Instrumental
String Quartets
String Quartet No. 1
String Quartet No. 2
String Quartet No. 3
Theme and Variations, for two violins
Viola Sonata
Elegy, for guitar (1971)
Four Bagatelles (1938)
Four Romantic Pieces (1953)
Sonatina (1949)
Ballade (1967)
External links
The Friends of Alan Rawsthorne
Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra Norman Del Mar, Norma Fisher and the composer following a performance of the 2nd Piano Concerto at the Fairfield Hall, Croydon in 1967
In 1939 he was living at 41 Downleaze, Bristol with Jessie Raswthorne (Hinchcliffe) born 29 May 1905 - professional violinist, with the Knapman family.
Between 1949 and 1953, he lived at 66, Ormonde Terrace, Primrose Hill, London NW8
https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/abbe8130-c320-4a8b-849b-3662032ccf50 Barbara Rawsthorne (1901-1999), sister of musician Alan Rawsthorne: memoirs c1900-1999 (Music Deposit 2015/33) , British Library, Music Collections <
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon/searches/locresult_details.asp?LR=2027> 'Why I compose', Lecture for Communist party, 1hr 50min.
British Library
http://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?tabs=moreTab&ct=display&fn=search&doc=BLLSA6686732&indx=15&recIds=BLLSA6686732&recIdxs=4&elementId=4&renderMode=poppedOut&displayMode=full&frbrVersion=2&dscnt=0&scp.scps=scope%3A%28BLCONTENT%29&frbg=&tab=local_tab&dstmp=1493667240360&srt=rank&mode=Basic&vl(488279563UI0)=any&dum=true&tb=t&vl(freeText0)=alan%20rawsthorne&vid=BLVU1 Related Links: C11/X65 ; 1CDR0004798 ; 1CDR0004799 ; 2CDR0004798 ; 2CDR0004799 ;
Bristol bombing:
1939, 41 Downleaze, Bristol
Autograph letter signed from Jessie Rawsthorne to Barbara Rawsthorne [1939] 41 Downleaze, Bristol 9. A newsy letter about the move to Bristol early in the war [the B.B.C. Symphony Orchestra was evacuated to Bristol], billets, possible B.B.C. work for Alan, their dog Jill, their flat in London for which Jessie asks Bubbley for the month's rent.
21 Dec 1939, 17A Charlotte Street, Bristol
https://archives.bristol.gov.uk/records/41969/1/33 Autograph letter signed from Alan Rawsthorne to Hubert and Barbara Rawsthorne Dated Thursday [28 November 1940] c/o Julian Herbage Esq., Orchard Cottage, Chew Magna, Somerset. Bombed out during Bristol blitz. Lost everything except Jessie's violin. Taken to the haven of friends' country cottage. Now shopping for necessaries in Bristol. Pencilled note of thanks for telegram on back of envelope.
Autograph letter signed from Jessie Rawsthorne to Barbara Rawsthorne Dated 1 December 1940. c/o Julian Herbage, Orchard Cottage, Chew Magna, N. Somerset. Description of life after the bomb: "everything has gone: the place is burned to a cinder...all Alan's manuscripts, even his new overcoat." Fiddle saved. B.B.C. lent 20 pounds, spent in 2 days. Amused at buying tooth brushes, pyjamas etc.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/night-satan-hit-bristol-during-5568461 In 1940, at the time of the first blitz early on a Sunday evening,
From November 24, 1940 to April 11, 1941 Bristol endured 548 air raid alerts, 77 air raids and 1,299 fatalities.
The first bombing saw 148 bombers leave Germany heading for Bristol.
A total of 12,000 incendiary bombs and 160 tons of high explosives were dropped and within an hour had caused 70 fires.
Park Street and the Bristol Museum were extensively damaged, 207 people killed, and thousands of houses were destroyed or damaged.
