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First name: Iain
Last name: Kendell
Dates: 1931-2001
Category: Quartet
Nationality: english
Opus name: Musica per amici (1995)
Publisher: composer
Peculiarities:
Information: IAIN KENDELL - 1931-2001 Iain Kendell died suddenly of a heart attack on 28 February 2001 at his home in Swanage. Born in London in 1931 he retired to Dorset in 1985 after a distinguished career, first as a concert pianist and then in music education and composition. He leaves behind a large body of work, especially for his own instrument, the piano. From the age of ten he studied at the Royal Academy of Music where he won the Hine Gift for Composition. Called up for National Service he worked at B.F.N. Radio Station in Hamburg, coming into contact with many prominent German conductors and musicians. On returning to England he was active in London's musical life giving concerts at the Wigmore and Festival Halls and broadcasts on the B.B.C. In 1957 he began composing and after a concert of his works at Leighton House he was published by J. & W. Chester Ltd. From 1962 he combined composing with an academic career in Music Education - from 1965 within the Universities of London, Reading and Surrey. Gaining a Ph.D (Learning Processes of Young Children in Music) he was given recognition as an educationalist, researcher and composer for children. The main body of his compositions, however, has always been for an adult audience. Since 1985 he worked solely as a composer and pianist, contributing to the musical life of Dorset. The sources of inspiration for his works were often the natural world and landscapes in particular. The scenic beauty of Wales, and later, Italy and Dorset were the basis of the creation of many of his compositions. Poetry was also a creative spur. A fine interpreter as a pianist, especially of Debussy and C.P.E. Bach, he made great use of the sonority of the piano in his own works for that instrument. Sadly, his educational works have all now disappeared from print. They include several large cantatas - Spring Cantata, Song of Summer, The Sea, A Song of Praise, On Such a Night, Hymn to the Sun - many commissioned; as well as the wonderful Junior Music series of graded works, by himself and other composers, to be performed by Primary age children. Each is a term's work culminating in a performance, combining to provide a structured two year music programme. His works are lodged at the British Music Information Centre, The Royal Academy and the University of Reading. It is to be hoped that members of the younger generation of performers, many of whom will have performed his educational compositions while at school, will take up his works, and open up his unique voice to a wider audience. Robert Field