Lennox Berkeley was born at Boars Hill, Oxford, in 1903.
His grandfather was George Lennox Rawdon, Seventh Earl of Berkeley and Viscount Dursley.
But Lennox's father, Captain Hastings George FitzHardinge Berkeley, was born out of wedlock, and so his son Lennox did not inherit the title and estates.
Berkeley's mother, Aline Carla Harris lived in France where her father was British consul at Nice.
Berkeley was decently educated at the Dragon School, Oxford, Gresham’s School, Holt, St. George’s School, Harpenden and Merton College, Oxford.
During the War he laboured at the BBC in London as an orchestral programme builder.
From 1946 to 1968 he was professor of composition at the RAM, where he exercised an influence on later generations.
His honours have included the CBE (1957), the Cobbett Medal (1962), the Ordre National du Mérit Culturel de Monaco (1967), the Papal Knighthood of St Gregory (1973) and a knighthood (1974). Many universities and other organizations have granted him honorary status too, among which doctor of Oxford University (1970), fellow of Merton College (1974), fellow of the RNCM (1975), professor of Keele University (1976–9), member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters (1980), Member of the GSMD (1980), Member of the Académie Royale, Belgium (1983) and doctor of City University (1984). From 1975 to 1983 he was President of Honour of the PRS and from 1977 to 1983 he was president of the Cheltenham Festival.
All of which seems rather excesive does it not.
He left us four symphonies
Symphony no. 1, opus 16, 1940;
Symphony no. 2, opus 51, 1958;
Symphony no. 3, opus 74, 1969;
Symphony no. 4, opus 94, 1978
Also a cello Concerto, 1939;
a piano Concerto, opus 29, 1947;
Concerto, opus 30, 2 pianos and orchestra 1948;
Flute Concerto, opus 36, 1952;
Concerto, opus 46, for piano and double string orchestra, 1958;
Violin Concerto, opus 59, 1961;
Sinfonia concertante, opus 84, oboe, orchestra, 1973
String Quartet no. 1, opus 6, 1935;
String Quartet no. 2, opus 15, 1941;
String Quartet no. 3, opus 76, 1970;
and much more.
He was knighted in 1974.
His grandfather was George Lennox Rawdon, Seventh Earl of Berkeley and Viscount Dursley.
But Lennox's father, Captain Hastings George FitzHardinge Berkeley, was born out of wedlock, and so his son Lennox did not inherit the title and estates.
Berkeley's mother, Aline Carla Harris lived in France where her father was British consul at Nice.
Berkeley was decently educated at the Dragon School, Oxford, Gresham’s School, Holt, St. George’s School, Harpenden and Merton College, Oxford.
During the War he laboured at the BBC in London as an orchestral programme builder.
From 1946 to 1968 he was professor of composition at the RAM, where he exercised an influence on later generations.
His honours have included the CBE (1957), the Cobbett Medal (1962), the Ordre National du Mérit Culturel de Monaco (1967), the Papal Knighthood of St Gregory (1973) and a knighthood (1974). Many universities and other organizations have granted him honorary status too, among which doctor of Oxford University (1970), fellow of Merton College (1974), fellow of the RNCM (1975), professor of Keele University (1976–9), member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters (1980), Member of the GSMD (1980), Member of the Académie Royale, Belgium (1983) and doctor of City University (1984). From 1975 to 1983 he was President of Honour of the PRS and from 1977 to 1983 he was president of the Cheltenham Festival.
All of which seems rather excesive does it not.
He left us four symphonies
Symphony no. 1, opus 16, 1940;
Symphony no. 2, opus 51, 1958;
Symphony no. 3, opus 74, 1969;
Symphony no. 4, opus 94, 1978
Also a cello Concerto, 1939;
a piano Concerto, opus 29, 1947;
Concerto, opus 30, 2 pianos and orchestra 1948;
Flute Concerto, opus 36, 1952;
Concerto, opus 46, for piano and double string orchestra, 1958;
Violin Concerto, opus 59, 1961;
Sinfonia concertante, opus 84, oboe, orchestra, 1973
String Quartet no. 1, opus 6, 1935;
String Quartet no. 2, opus 15, 1941;
String Quartet no. 3, opus 76, 1970;
and much more.
He was knighted in 1974.
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