Williamson, Malcolm 1931 - 2003
Author: Australian Music Centre
Last updated：January 1, 2010
Author: Australian Music Centre
Malcolm Williamson (1931-2003)
Born in Sydney in 1931. At the age of 11, he entered the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he studied piano and French horn, and composition under Eugene Goossens. He graduated in 1944 with a Bachelor of Music degree. In 1950, he moved to London, where he encountered serial music by composers such as the Second Viennese School, Messiaen, and Boulez. From 1953, he pursued further compositional studies, learning under Elisabeth Lutyens and Erwin Stein.
During this period, Williamson supported his artistic endeavors by engaging in various occupations, including proofreading for a publisher, serving as a church organist and choirmaster, and working as a nightclub pianist. His exposure to diverse musical styles during this time, along with influences from Stravinsky, Messiaen, and late 19th-century German and Italian composers, was reflected in his compositional style. He also converted to Catholicism during this period, which significantly influenced his music.
From the early 1960s onwards, Williamson was able to devote himself solely to composition. In a catalog of his works published by his publisher to celebrate his 50th birthday, he was described as "the most commissioned composer of his generation." In 1975, he became the 19th Master of the Queen's Music, the first non-Briton to hold this position. His works include:
- Symphonies
- Stage works
- Chamber music
- Choral pieces
- Sacred music
- Film scores
He also showed a strong interest in composing music for children, writing several children's operas, including one based on Oscar Wilde's "The Happy Prince." He also composed "Cassation," a small-scale opera designed for audience participation, which originally stemmed from his desire to teach his own children how opera works. He also showed interest in music for young people and for individuals with mental and physical disabilities.
Although he lived in England from the 1950s (having been requested by the Queen to reside there), Williamson still considered his music to be fundamentally Australian. On one occasion, he stated: "Most of my music is Australian, but not in the sense of being like the bush (Translator's note: a natural woodland area specific to Australia) or the desert, but rather the over-confident vitality of Australian cities. It's the vitality that shapes how Australians live, pushing doors marked 'pull'."
- In 1976, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
- In 1982, the University of Melbourne awarded him an honorary Doctor of Music degree.
- In 1987, he received the Order of Australia (AO) for his services to music and his contributions to people with intellectual disabilities.
He passed away in March 2003 at the age of 71.
Works(15)
Piano Solo (6)
sonata (4)
pieces (5)
suite (2)
Various works (2)