Edward Harper (composer)

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]

References

  1. ^ "Edward Harper". The Herald. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Edward Harper: composer". www.thetimes.com. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Symphony". global.oup.com. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Harper Miracles". Gramophone. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Concerto for clarinet and orchestra | Edward Harper". britishmusiccollection.org.uk. British Music Collection. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Edward Harper". www.earsense.org. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  7. ^ Tarr, Roger; Ewers, Tim (14 April 2021). "Letters: Jane Manning obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  8. ^ Harper, Edward (1979). Fanny Robin. OUP. ISBN 978-0193367302.
  9. ^ "Hedda Gabler". global.oup.com. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  10. ^ Anderson, Martin. "Edward Harper: Composer who championed contemporary music in Scotland". The Independent. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2025.


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