(b London, 31 Jan 1906; d there, 12 Feb 1973). English composer. He studied at the GSM while working as a jazz violinist and worked as an orchestrator and film music composer. He produced over 100 outstanding film scores while also writing orchestral and chamber music in an individual style influenced by Shostakovich, Bartók and Sibelius. In the 1950s he began using serialism, notably in his eight symphonies (1958-71).

The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.