David Gow (composer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Godfrey Gow (6 April 1924 – 23 February 1993) was an English composer (of Scottish descent) and teacher.[1]
Gow was born in London. His ancestors included the 18th Century Scottish fiddler Niel Gow and his son Nathaniel (a connection he acknowledged in his Six Diversions on an Ancestral Theme).[2] He studied at the Royal College of Music with Gordon Jacob and Frank Merrick, where he gained his first recognition as a composer, winning the Clements Prize with his Clarinet Quintet (1945). He then took further composition lessons with Alan Bush and an M Mus degree at Durham University. He began regular composition in the 1950s, but later disowned many of his early works.[1]
After a period teaching further education evening classes in London, Gow was appointed music lecturer at Swindon Technical College in 1962. He stayed on there until retirement. He also lectured at Bristol University, and from 1969 was closely involved with music courses for the Open University, and a regular at the University's Summer School music courses at Warwick and Cardiff.[2]
Gow lived with his wife Margaret in Axford, Wiltshire, later moving to Aldbourne. He died in 1993 at the age of 68 after eight years of poor health, through which he continued to compose.[3]
