Taking piano lessons at three years of age and composing by five, William Mathias became one of Britain's leading 20th-century composers. (He was invited to compose the wedding anthem for the marriage of the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer.) This work provides, for the first time in one volume, up-to-date and comprehensive details of the composer's life's work. It includes a biography, a complete list of works and performances, a discography of sound recordings, and an annotated bibliography, along with useful appendixes and an index. This book will be of interest to musicologists, students, and 20th century music buffs alike.
Mathias was a prolific and versatile composer whose works included opera and music for orchestra, chamber groups, solo instruments, organ, brass ensembles, choral, church, and children's groups. His wedding anthem for Prince Charles and Lady Diana was heard by over 750 million people around the world on television—probably the largest audience for any first performance of a new work.