John Laurence Seymour

Full biography John Laurence Seymour

John Laurence Seymour was an American composer and playwright born in Los Angeles in 1893. Seymour is perhaps best known for his operas, which are characterized by their complex orchestral textures. He was one of many relatively unknown composers who were moved to write during the early 20th century's Neo-Romanticism movement in Britain and America. Seymour's works were not widely appreciated during his lifetime, but they are considered to be of significant historical importance today.

Seymour wrote several operas in his lifetime, including "Les Precieuses Ridicules" and "The Sunset Trail," the latter of which was written under the pseudonym George Edwards. Seymour was also an accomplished playwright, and wrote several plays throughout his career.

In addition to his work in music and theater, Seymour served in the U.S. military during World War I. He was a member of the 310th Infantry Regiment of the 155th Brigade in the American Expeditionary Forces and saw action at the Battle of St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

Seymour passed away in 1953, and his works have largely been forgotten in the years since his death. However, recent efforts by musicologists and historians have helped to bring attention back to his music and his contributions to American opera and theater. Today, John Laurence Seymour remains an important figure in the history of American classical music and a notable composer of the early 20th century.