Beryl Price

Beryl Price (born 7 March 1912)[1] was a British composer who created original works in many genres and arranged folk tunes as teaching pieces for young music students.[2] Several of her original compositions were for historic instruments such as clavichord, virginal and viol.[3]

Price was born in London. She attended the Royal Academy of Music, and studied with Harry Farjeon, Ernest Read, and Charles Reddic.[3]

Little is known about Price’s life. In 1949, she composed the music for two films by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents entitled Human Factor and Trouble in Toytown.[4] In 1959, her String Trio won the W. W. Cobbett Memorial Prize[3] adjudicated by Gordon Jacob, Norman Peterkin, and Ivor Walsworth.[5] In 2003, her song “I Love to Tell the Story” was recorded commercially on CWMNI Recordio Talent TAL 012CD.[6]

Price’s works were published by Curwen Press,[7] Oxford University Press, and Stainer & Bell.[3] Her compositions include:

Chamber

  • Airs from Seven Lands (flute and piano)[3]
  • Catriona’s Scottish Airs (clarinet and piano)[8]
  • Emerald Isle (cello)[3]
  • Five Bagatelles (woodwind quartet)[3]
  • Moreton Bagatelles (treble and bass viols, harpsichord)[3]
  • Moto Perpetuo (violin)[3]
  • Sonata (viola and piano)[3]

Keyboard

  • Five Pieces (clavichord)[3]
  • Music for Virginals[3]
  • On the Go (piano)[3]
  • Sonata (piano)[3]
  • Variations on the Literary Dustman: 11 Etudes (piano)[3]

Incidental Music

  • Human Factor[4]
  • The Sea, Music for Mime (two pianos)[3]
  • Trouble in Toy Town[4]

Orchestra

  • Concerto for Cello and Orchestra[3]

Vocal

  • Ass’s Tale Christmas Cantata (women’s chorus and piano)[3]
  • “Come, You Makers of Music”[3]
  • “Duke of Wellington”[10]
  • “First Came the Primrose”[3]
  • Four Things Exceeding Wise (women’s a capella chorus)[3]
  • Hear Joel (mixed chorus and organ)[3]
  • “I Love to Tell the Story”[6]
  • “Lubber Breeze”[3]
  • On Song’s Eternity (chorus and virginals)[3]
  • “Piper’s Carol”[3]
  • Puer Natus Est (mixed chorus and organ)[3]
  • Shepherds and Angels Christmas Suite (women’s chorus and piano)[3]
  • “Shepherd on a Hill”[3]
  • Sigh No More, Ladies (women’s a capella chorus)[3]
  • Songs of Heroes[3]
  • “Sweet Afton”[3]
  • Two Songs of the Nativity (chorus and piano)[3]
  • “We Saw Him Sleeping”[3]
  • Wise Men’s Riddles (a capella double chorus)[3]

References

  1. ^ Heinrich, Adel (1991). Organ and harpsichord music by women composers: an annotated catalog. Music reference collection. New York: Greenwood Press. p. 313. ISBN 978-0-313-26802-1.
  2. ^ "A 232nd GARLAND OF BRITISH LIGHT MUSIC COMPOSERS". www.musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. Books & Music USA. p. 561. ISBN 978-0-9617485-1-7.
  4. ^ a b c The British Film Yearbook. British Yearbooks, Limited. 1949.
  5. ^ "W. W. Cobbett Memorial Prize 1959". March 1959. Retrieved 28 Mar 2026.
  6. ^ a b Various - Cewri Canu Emyn Dros 60 Oed Cyfrol 2, 2003, retrieved 2026-03-28
  7. ^ Stewart-Green, Miriam (1980). Women composers: A checklist of works for the solo voice. A reference publication in women's studies. Boston, Mass: Hall. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-8161-8498-9.
  8. ^ The School Musician. F. L. McAllister. 1964.
  9. ^ "Beryl Price Song Texts". LiederNet. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  10. ^ Music in Education. Macmillan Journals Limited. 1978.
  11. ^ "Beryl Price | British Music Collection". britishmusiccollection.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  12. ^ Britain Today. 1945. p. 36.
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