Edward Harper (composer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Edward (James) Harper (17 March 1941 – 12 April 2009) was an English composer who worked mostly in Scotland.[1][2] Among his important compositions for orchestra were Bartok Games 1972, Symphony,[3] Symphony No 2 2006,[4] and Concerto for Clarinet 1982.[5] His chamber music includes his two string quartets and his brass quintet.[6] The first of his five operas was Fanny Robin, based on the Thomas Hardy character from Far From the Madding Crowd and written for the soprano Jane Manning.[7][8] His largest opera was Hedda Gabler, commissioned by Scottish Opera in 1985, based on the 1891 play of the same name by Henryk Ibsen.[9]
Harper spent many years as Lecturer and later Reader in music at the Edinburgh University Music Faculty.[10]
