HAVERGAL BRIAN

Havergal Brian [born William Brian] (1876-1972) was born in Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. He taught himself the rudiments of music and became organist of Odd Rode Church in Cheshire. He was good friends with composer Granville Bantock. He was a prolific composer with thirty two symphonies, writing into his nineties. He adopted the name “Havergal” from a local family of hymn-writers.

All are mixed chorus; some contain divisi.