Granville Bantock

Full biography Granville Bantock

Granville Bantock (1868-1946) was a British composer known for his large-scale choral and orchestral works. He was born in London, England, and started his musical career as an organist and choirmaster. He later became involved in conducting and composing, and his music is known for its rich orchestration and Celtic influences.

Bantock's works include operas, ballets, symphonies, and choral music. Some of his most famous compositions include the orchestral work “Pagan Symphony”, the choral and orchestral works “The Song of Songs” and “Dante and Beatrice”, and the Hebridean Symphony.

Bantock was also known for his interest in Celtic music and culture. He incorporated elements of Scottish and Welsh folk music into his music, and even wrote a book on the subject entitled “Celtic Music”.

Despite his success as a composer, Bantock's music was not always well-received during his lifetime. Some critics saw his work as overly sentimental and lacking in substance. However, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in his music, and several recordings of his works have been released.

In addition to his music, Bantock was also an accomplished writer. He wrote several books and articles on musical subjects, as well as a two-volume autobiography entitled “Music in My Time”.

Overall, Granville Bantock was a highly influential composer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for his lush orchestration and incorporation of Celtic themes into his music. His work has been rediscovered in recent years, and he is now recognized as an important figure in British music history.