York Bowen

Short bio York Bowen

Birthday: 1884 in London, England

Died: 1961 in London, England

Active: 1900s - 1950s

Genre: Classical

Period: Modern, Post-Romantic

Full biography York Bowen

York Bowen was a British composer and pianist whose career spanned over sixty years. He was a prolific composer, writing over 160 works with opus numbers and several more which he left uncatalogued. Bowen's musical compositions were diverse and included works for orchestra, chamber ensembles and solo instruments.

Bowen's talent as a pianist was evident from an early age, and he went on to win many awards and distinctions throughout his musical career. In addition to his composing and performing schedule, Bowen was also an influential music teacher with a notable roster of students.

Bowen's legacy as a composer is one of notable achievement, with many of his works still performed and celebrated by classical musicians today. His music is often characterized by its lyricism, emotional depth and technical virtuosity, and has been compared to the works of Rachmaninov.

Bowen was an important figure in the English musical renaissance of the early 20th century, alongside other notable British composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst. While Bowen's music may have fallen out of favor during certain periods, his contributions to the English musical canon have been recognized and celebrated in recent years through renewed interest in his works and performances of his music.

Compositions featuring York Bowen

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Piano Sonata No. 6 in B flat minor, Op. 160	15:00 min	Keyboard	1961
2	Piece for viola in E flat major	1:56 min	Chamber Music	1960
3	Bagatelles (4) for piano, Op. 147	7:30 min	Keyboard	1956
4	Rhapsody for viola & piano in G minor	14:02 min	Chamber Music	1955
5	Sonatina for piano, Op. 144	10:25 min	Keyboard	1954
6	Intermezzi (2), for piano, Op. 141	3:53 min	Keyboard	1951
7	Theme and Variations, for 2 pianos, Op. 139	14:47 min	Keyboard	1951
8	Bolero, for violin & piano	3:47 min	Chamber Music	1949
9	Song, for violin & piano	5:15 min	Chamber Music	1949
10	Fantasia for piano in G minor, Op. 132	12:34 min	Keyboard	1948
11	Melody for organ in G minor	5:23 min	Keyboard	1948
12	Siciliano & Toccatina for piano, Op. 128	5:19 min	Keyboard	1948
13	Sonata for flute & piano, Op. 120	17:44 min	Chamber Music	1946
14	Fantasy Overture on "Tom Bowling", for orchestra, Op. 115	8:35 min	Orchestral	1945
15	Piano Trio in E minor, Op. 118	23:29 min	Chamber Music	1945
16	Sonata for clarinet & piano, Op. 109	15:53 min	Chamber Music	1943
17	Sonata for 2 pianos No. 2 in D minor, Op. 107	25:20 min	Keyboard	1941
18	Waltz for 2 pianos in C major, Op. 108	5:10 min	Keyboard	1941
19	Duos (3) for violin & viola	6:25 min	Chamber Music	194?
20	Pieces (2), for 2 pianos, Op. 106	8:25 min	Keyboard	1939
21	Ripples (A Short Sketch), scherzando for piano in F major, Op. 100/1	2:30 min	Keyboard	1937
22	Sonata for horn & piano in E flat major, Op. 101	15:49 min	Band Music	1937
23	Turnstiles, for piano, Op. 98/3	2:47 min	Keyboard	1935
24	Idyll for piano, Op. 97	8:00 min	Keyboard	1934
25	Piano Concerto No. 4 in A minor, Op. 88	42:51 min	Concerto	1929
26	Quintet for horn & string quartet in C minor, Op. 85	22:56 min	Chamber Music	1927
27	Sonata for oboe & piano, Op. 85	16:16 min	Chamber Music	1927
28	Rhapsody Trio for violin, cello & piano in A minor, Op. 80	14:09 min	Chamber Music	1926
29	Eventide, for organ & orchestra, Op. 69	13:17 min	Orchestral	1922
30	Fragments from Hans Andersen, suite for piano, Part 3, Op. 61	9:55 min	Keyboard	1921
31	Fragments from Hans Andersen, for piano, Op. 58	17:16 min	Keyboard	1920
32	Rhapsody for cello & orchestra, Op. 74	23:57 min	Orchestral	192?
33	Melody for the C string, for viola & piano, Op. 51/2	4:17 min	Chamber Music	1918
34	Phantasy for viola & piano, Op. 54	14:34 min	Chamber Music	1918
35	Melody for the G String, for viola & piano, Op. 47	4:42 min	Chamber Music	1917
36	Serenade, for violin & piano	4:13 min	Chamber Music	1917
37	Valse harmonique, for violin & piano	3:30 min	Chamber Music	1917
38	Evening Calm, nocturne for piano in B flat major	9:38 min	Keyboard	1915
39	Suite Mignonne, for piano, Op. 39	8:46 min	Keyboard	1915
40	Romance for piano in G flat major, Op. 35/2	4:57 min	Keyboard	1913
41	Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 33	37:52 min	Concerto	1913
42	Piano Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 12	20:09 min	Keyboard	1912
43	Poem, for viola, harp & organ in G flat major	8:12 min	Chamber Music	1912
44	Phantasie, for violin & piano in E minor, Op. 34	14:52 min	Chamber Music	1911
45	Ballade for piano No. 1 in D minor	12:18 min	Keyboard	1910
46	Suite for piano No. 2, Op. 30	13:56 min	Keyboard	1910
47	Symphony No. 2 in E minor	44:07 min	Symphony	1909
48	Romance for cello (or viola) & piano in A major	6:13 min	Chamber Music	1908
49	Viola Concerto in C minor, Op. 25	33:54 min	Concerto	1908
50	Fantasia for 4 violas in E minor, Op. 41/1	9:47 min	Chamber Music	1907
51	Fantasie Quartet for 4 violas	11:06 min	Chamber Music	1907
52	Piano Concerto No. 3 in G minor, Op. 23 ("Fantasia")	18:51 min	Concerto	1907
53	Allegro de concert for cello (or viola) & piano in D minor	8:31 min	Chamber Music	1906
54	Polonaise for piano in F sharp major, Op. 26/2	10:07 min	Keyboard	1906
55	Sonata for viola & piano No. 2 in F major, Op. 22	26:56 min	Chamber Music	1906
56	Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor "Concertstück", Op. 17	21:41 min	Concerto	1905
57	Symphonic Fantasia, a tone poem, Op. 16	33:18 min	Orchestral	1905
58	Miniature Suite, for piano in C major, Op. 14	11:21 min	Keyboard	1904
59	Nocturne for piano	6:13 min	Keyboard	1904
60	Sonata for viola & piano No. 1 in C minor, Op. 18	28:11 min	Chamber Music	1904
61	Fantasia for viola & organ in F major	9:25 min	Chamber Music	1903
62	Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat, Op. 11	26:11 min	Concerto	1903
63	Rhapsody for piano No. 1, Op. 8	12:17 min	Keyboard	1902
64	Sonata for violin & piano in B minor, Op. 7	15:37 min	Chamber Music	1902
65	Piano Sonata No. 2 in C sharp minor, Op. 9	23:03 min	Keyboard	1901
66	Romance for viola & piano in D flat major	6:16 min	Chamber Music	1900
67	Piano Trio in D minor (unfinished)	11:09 min	Chamber Music	190?
68	4 Pieces, for piano, 4 hands, Op. 90	8:49 min	Keyboard	-
69	A Whim, for piano, Op. 19/2	2:28 min	Keyboard	-
70	Albumleaf, for violin & piano	1:50 min	Chamber Music	-
71	Allegretto for violin & piano, Op. 105	5:09 min	Chamber Music	-
72	Arabesque for piano, Op. 20/1	3:42 min	Keyboard	-
73	Ballade for oboe, horn & piano, Op. 133	14:48 min	Chamber Music	-
74	Ballade for piano No. 2, Op. 87	10:17 min	Keyboard	-
75	Berceuse, for piano, Op. 83	3:43 min	Keyboard	-
76	Concert Study for piano No. 1 in G flat major, Op. 9/2	4:41 min	Keyboard	-
77	Concert Study for piano No. 2 in F major, Op. 32	3:07 min	Keyboard	-
78	Concerto for horn, string orchestra & timpani, Op. 150	16:27 min	Concerto	-
79	Fantasia for organ, Op. 136	9:59 min	Keyboard	-
80	Grand March "R. A. F. "	4:00 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
81	Melody, for violin & piano	3:35 min	Chamber Music	-
82	Miniature Suite, for flute & piano	15:24 min	Chamber Music	-
83	Miniatures (3) for piano, Op. 44	6:59 min	Keyboard	-
84	Nocturne for piano in A flat major, Op. 78	5:11 min	Keyboard	-
85	Novelettes (3) for piano, Op. 124	11:22 min	Keyboard	-
86	Partita, for piano, Op. 156	9:27 min	Keyboard	-
87	Phantasy-Quintet, for bass clarinet & string quartet, Op. 93	14:05 min	Chamber Music	-
88	Piano Sonata No. 1 in B minor, Op. 6	25:29 min	Keyboard	-
89	Piano Sonata No. 5 in F minor, Op. 72	22:13 min	Keyboard	-
90	Pieces (3) for piano, Op. 20	18:14 min	Keyboard	-
91	Prelude No. 1 for piano in G minor	3:50 min	Keyboard	-
92	Prelude No. 2 in D major, Op. 100/2 ("Shadows")	3:41 min	Keyboard	-
93	Preludes (3) for piano, Op. 81		Keyboard	-
94	Preludes (24) for piano in all major and minor keys, Op. 102	49:45 min	Keyboard	-
95	Reverie d'Amour, Op. 20/2	6:14 min	Keyboard	-
96	Romance for piano No. 1, Op. 35/1	4:03 min	Keyboard	-
97	Romance for piano No. 2, Op. 45	6:28 min	Keyboard	-
98	Rêverie, for piano in B major, Op. 86	5:16 min	Keyboard	-
99	Serious Dances (3) for piano, Op. 51	7:25 min	Keyboard	-
100	Short Sonata for piano in C sharp minor, Op. 35/1	13:53 min	Keyboard	-
101	Sketches (3) for piano, Op. 43	10:07 min	Keyboard	-
102	Sonata for cello & piano in A major, Op. 64	27:44 min	Chamber Music	-
103	Sonata for treble recorder & piano, Op. 121	12:33 min	Chamber Music	-
104	Sonata for violin & piano in E minor, Op. 112	19:57 min	Chamber Music	-
105	Songs Without Words (3), for piano, Op. 94	11:20 min	Keyboard	-
106	String Quartet No. 2 in D minor, Op. 41	28:43 min	Chamber Music	-
107	String Quartet No. 3 in G major, Op. 46b	27:20 min	Chamber Music	-
108	Studies (12) for piano, Op. 46	31:22 min	Keyboard	-
109	Suite for piano No. 3, Op. 38	16:35 min	Keyboard	-
110	Suite for violin & piano in D minor, Op. 28	28:28 min	Chamber Music	-
111	Suite No. 2, for 1 piano, 4-hands, Op. 71	9:40 min	Keyboard	-
112	Suite, for 1 piano, 4-hands, Op. 53	16:09 min	Keyboard	-
113	Symphony No. 1 in G major, Op. 4	30:07 min	Symphony	-
114	Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 31	43:12 min	Symphony	-
115	The Way to Polden (an ambling tune), Op. 76	3:24 min	Keyboard	-
116	Toccata for piano, Op. 155	4:21 min	Keyboard	-
117	Wedding March, for organ	3:45 min	Keyboard	-

Albums featuring York Bowen

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	York Bowen, Nicolas Namoradze – Fragments From Hans Andersen Op 58 & 61 / 12 Studies Op 46 / 2 Concert Studies(CD, )	2021	Hyperion
2	Bowen / Ireland / Brown / Coates, Tasmin Little, Piers Lane – British Violin Sonatas Volume Three(CD, Album)	2020	Chandos
3	Bowen, Eben, Dutilleux, Bozza, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns, Alex Klein (4), Phillip Bush – Twentieth Century Oboe Sonatas(CD, Album)	2019	Cedille Records
4	Leslie Bassett \| York Bowen, Jean-Michel Damase \| Sixten Sylvan, Ian Zook \| Eric Ruple – Musica Incognita(CD, Album)	2018	MSR Classics
5	York Bowen, Frank Martin (3), Karl Yngve Sköld, Ernst Ludwig Leitner, Bénédicte Royer, Bettina Leitner – Viola Und Orgel(CD, Album)	2018	Gramola
6	Gernot Adrion & Yuki Inagawa, Bowen, Bridge, Dale – English Viola Music(CD, Album)	2018	Avi-Music
7	Ben Goldscheider, Daniel Hill (9), Schumann, Widmann, Kirchner, Salonen, Bowen, Krufft – Debut(CD, Album)	2018	Willowhayne Records
8	Rubbra, Bowen, Britten, Howells, Marika Lombardi, Nathalie Dang – English Music For Oboe And Piano(CD, Album)	2017	Brilliant Classics
9	Elspeth Wyllie, Catherine Backhouse, Claire Overbury, Alexa Beattie, Hetti Price, Edward Elgar, Edwin York Bowen, Kenneth Leighton, Edmund Rubbra, Nicholas Sackman – Enigmas - Solo Piano And Chamber Works(CD, Album)	2017	Divine Art
10	Bloch, Glinka, Bowen, Vivian Fan, Bradley Parrimore, Uzeyir Mahmudbayli, Matthew Cohen (9) – Viola Works(CD, Album)	2015	Soundset Recordings
11	Heinrich von Herzogenberg, Carl Reinecke, York Bowen, Andre Schoch, Michael Massong, Friedrich Höricke – Trumpet, Trombone & Piano Tríos(CD, )	2015	MDG
12	York Bowen, Robert Plane, Gould Piano Trio, Mia Cooper, David Adams (9) – Phantasy Quintet / Piano Trios / Clarinet Sonata(CD, Album)	2014	Chandos
13	York Bowen, Cristina Ortiz – 24 Preludes • Suite Mignonne • Berceuse(CD, )	2014	Grand Piano (2)
14	York Bowen, Chloë Hanslip, Danny Driver – The Complete Works For Violin And Piano(2×CD, Album)	2013	Hyperion
15	Paul Watkins (3), Huw Watkins, Ireland \| Bax \| Bowen – British Works For Cello And Piano(CD, )	2013	Chandos
16	Bainton, Holland, Bowen, Bantock, Sarah-Jane Bradley, Christian Wilson (6) – English Music For Viola And Piano(CD, )	2012	Naxos
17	Dale, Bowen - Danny Driver – Piano Sonata • Prunella • Night Fancies • Miniature Suite(CD, Album)	2011	Hyperion
18	York Bowen, Alan Bush, Havergal Brian – Cello Concertos(2×CD, Album)	2011	Dutton Epoch
19	York Bowen - BBC Philharmonic, Sir Andrew Davis – Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2(CD, Album)	2011	Chandos
20	Edwin York Bowen, The Bridge Duo – Viola Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2 / Phantasy, Op. 54(CD, Album)	2011	Naxos
21	Bliss, Bowen, Walford Davies, Rupert Marshall-Luck, Matthew Rickard – The Monk And The Warrior(CD, Album)	2011	EM Records (10)
22	York Bowen - Endymion Ensemble, James Boyd, Bengt Forsberg – Chamber Works(Box Set, Compilation, 2×CD, Album, Reissue)	2011	Dutton Epoch
23	Suite for Violin & Piano Sonata for Violincello & Piano Sonata for Violin & Piano(CD, Album)	2011	Dutton Epoch
24	York Bowen, Joop Celis – Joop Celis Plays York Bowen Volume 4(CD, )	2010	Chandos
25	York Bowen, Danny Driver – The Piano Sonatas(2×CD, Compilation)	2009	Hyperion
26	York Bowen - Joop Celis – Joop Celis Plays York Bowen Volume 3: Short Sonata; Toccata; Ballade No. 2(CD, Album)	2009	Chandos
27	Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sir Arnold Bax, York Bowen, Edmund Rubbra, Sir Arthur Bliss, Roger Chase, Michiko Otaki – The Tertis Tradition(CD, )	2009	Dutton Digital
28	York Bowen, Franz Reizenstein – Composers At The Piano(2×CD, Album, Mono)	2008	Lyrita Recorded Edition
29	York Bowen, Michael Dussek, John Reid (16) – Music For One And Two Pianos(CD, Album)	2008	Dutton Epoch
30	Bowen - Danny Driver, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins – Concerto No. 3 (Fantasia), Op. 23, Concerto No. 4 Op. 88(CD, Album)	2008	Hyperion
31	York Bowen / Lawrence Power (2), Simon Crawford-Phillips – The Complete Works For Viola And Piano(2×CD, Album)	2008	Hyperion
32	York Bowen, Joop Celis – Joop Celis Plays York Bowen Volume 2(CD, )	2007	Chandos
33	Gordon Jacob, Malcolm Arnold, York Bowen, Ruth Gipps, Gilbert Vinter, David Pyatt, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Nicholas Braithwaite – British Horn Concertos(CD, )	2007	Lyrita Recorded Edition
34	York Bowen / Michael Dussek, Lorraine McAslan, BBC Concert Orchestra, Vernon Handley – Violin Concerto • Piano Concerto No. 1(CD, Album)	2006	Dutton Epoch
35	Walton, Vaughan Williams, Howells, Bowen, Helen Callus, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Marc Taddei – Viola Concerto In A Minor - Suite for Viola And Orchestra - Elegy - Viola Concerto in C Minor	2006	ASV
36	York Bowen, Cecil Forsyth, Lawrence Power (2), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins – Viola Concerto(CD, )	2005	Hyperion
37	York Bowen - Joop Celis – Joop Celis Plays York Bowen(CD, Album)	2005	Chandos
38	York Bowen, Doris Lederer, The Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Paul Polivnick, Bruce Murray (7) – Music By York Bowen(CD, Album)	2005	Centaur Records
39	Arnold Bax, York Bowen - Doris Lederer, Jane Coop – Music Of Arnold Bax And York Bowen(CD, Album)	2003	Centaur Records
40	York Bowen, James Boyd, Bengt Forsberg – Viola Sonatas, Phantasy(CD, Album)	2003	Dutton Epoch
41	York Bowen - Archaeus Quartet, Timothy Lines – String Quartets Nos. 2 & 3 ; Phantasy-Quintet	2002	British Music Society
42	York Bowen, Frederic Austin, Edgar Bainton, Royal Northern College Of Music Symphony Orchestra, Douglas Bostock – World Premiere Recordings(CD, Album)	2002	Classico
43	John Herbert Foulds, Ernest Walker (3), York Bowen, Jo Cole, John Talbot (4) – English Cello Sonatas(CD, Album)	1998	British Music Society
44	York Bowen, Stephen Hough – Piano Music	1996	Hyperion
45	Й. Боуэн / Э. Уокер - Георгий Безруков, Михаил Мунтян – Сонаты Для Альта и Фортепиано(LP)	1978	Мелодия
46	Ten Preludes From Op. 102, Partita Op. 157, Berceuse Op. 83, Moto Perpetuo From Op. 39, Toccata Op. 155	1963	Lyrita Recorded Edition
47	A Romp / Polichinelle(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM)	-	Vocalion (3)
48	Waltz In A Flat / Polonaise In C Sharp Minor(Shellac, 12", 78 RPM)	-	Vocalion (3)

Videos featuring York Bowen

Edwin York Bowen: Piano Concerto No. 3 in G minor, Op. 23 'Fantasia'

It is my sincere and express desire that any and all financial compensation that may result as proceeds for this video presentation instead accrue to all holders of copyright. Should a change in copyright status or holder render its removal necessary, I a

York Bowen Plays His Piano Concerto No 4

A private recording done shortly after the Concert's radio premiere. (It wasn't performed publicly until 1959.) As this is one of Bowen's greatest works it is surprising that it hasn't been more widely heard. The Concerto is formally sound yet rhapsodic,