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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

Composer of the Week - Brand

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: William James Mathias (1934-1992)

Composer of the Week: William Mathias (1934-1992): Episode 5: Planning His Fourth Symphony

Episode 5

Episode 5: Planning His Fourth Symphony

William Mathias (1934-1992)

Planning His Fourth Symphony

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Mathias (1934-1992), Planning His Fourth Symphony

Donald Macleod delves into Mathias's final years and plans for a fourth symphony.

Donald Macleod delves into William Mathias's final years and plans for a fourth symphony.

Donald Macleod delves into Mathias's final years and plans for a fourth symphony

Marking the 25th anniversary since the death of the Welsh composer William James Mathias, his daughter Rhiannon Mathias and friend Geraint Lewis join Donald Macleod to explore the composer's extraordinary life and music. During his career Mathias had his works regularly performed on an international stage. His orchestral score Laudi was at one point the most often performed work by any living British composer. Mathias was frequently inundated with commissions, including one to compose music for the wedding of His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales in 1981. Alongside composing, Mathias was busy teaching new talent at Bangor University, whilst also sitting as a member of the Welsh Arts Council, the British Council, and the Music Advisory Board of the BBC. During his life he was involved in the transition to full professional status of Welsh National Opera, active in the development of the then BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, and oversaw the founding of the National Youth Choir and Youth Brass Band of Wales. He was highly active on the British musical scene, and greatly disciplined to have achieved so much during his lifetime. He died aged 57 in 1992 having composed many works including symphonies and concertos.

William Mathias composed Let the People Praise Thee, O God for the wedding of The Prince of Wales in 1981. It received its premiere during that service, which was broadcast around the world. After this event Mathias was often contacted to compose other wedding anthems for various people, but he was inclined to turn these commissions down so he could focus on what he wanted to write. By the late 1980s Mathias took early retirement from the University of Bangor, and then in 1990 he underwent surgery. He wasn't allowed to compose for a period, but then he completed his Symphony No 3 which, after his recent experiences, has a feeling of pent-up energy. Two years later Mathias died of cancer, but right up to the end he remained positive and was planning his fourth symphony, although in his final months he'd realised it would never come to fruition.

Let the People Praise Thee, O God, Op 87
The Choir of St Paul's Cathedral
Andrew Lucas, organ
John Scott, conductor

Symphony No 3
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Grant Llewellyn, conductor

Laudi, Op 62
New Philharmonia Orchestra
David Atherton, conductor

Producer Luke Whitlock.

Composer of the Week: William Mathias (1934-1992)

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Donald Macleod explores Mathias's student days in Aberystwyth and London

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Episode 5: Planning His Fourth Symphony

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