Joyce Howard Barrell
English composer
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Joyce Howard Barrell (née Gedye; 26 November 1917 – 6 December 1989) was an English composer. She studied with Benjamin Burrows and Harold Craxton for piano and Grace Burrows for violin, and then worked as composer, as a guitar teacher and as a piano accompanist. She married composer Bernard Clements Barrell in 1945. She composed about ninety works, specialising in works for children and chamber music.
Joyce Howard Barrell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Joyce Howard Gedye 26 November 1917 |
| Died | 6 December 1989 (aged 72) |
| Education | University of Leicester |
| Occupations | Composer, teacher, accompanist |
| Years active | 1939–1985 |
| Notable work | Children's music, chamber music |
| Spouse | Bernard Barrell |
Life
Barrell was born Joyce Howard Gedye, on Bouverie Avenue in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England in 1917.[1] Her father was a bank manager for Lloyds Bank, and the family moved around to Bridgwater, Somerset in 1920, then Exeter in 1926 and lastly settled in Leicester.[1] Barrell was educated at Leicester University, studying with Benjamin Burrows and Harold Craxton for piano and Grace Burrows for violin.[2] After completing her studies, Barrell worked as composer and as a guitar teacher and piano accompanist until 1985. She married composer Bernard Clements Barrell in 1945, and they lived in Suffolk.[2] From 1939 until her death she composed about ninety works.[3][4] Barrell also worked to promote music, singing and music teaching throughout East Anglia with her husband.[2][1] The couple were friends with Imogen Holst, Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears.[1]
Barrell died in Ipswich, England on 6 December 1989.[5][6] Her music was published by Anglian, MSM, Occumuse, and Schauer and May, among others. Her archives are held at Britten Pears Arts Archive.[7]
Selected works
Barrell composed mainly chamber music and music for children, but also include works for string quartet, and for soprano, clarinet and piano.[2] Selected works include:
- Dialogues for flute and viola da gamba
- Three Fours for viola and piano, Op.45 (1986)
- The Hacheston Quintet for 2 violins, viola, cello and piano, Op.67a (1988)
- What am I?, 6 Songs for children's chorus and piano, Op.68
- Serenade for saxophones, Op.92
- Nightmare for soprano, clarinet and piano, Op.93; words by Stephen Coates