Brief Biography

Harold Truscott born in Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex on 23 August 1914.

Largely self taught.

Attended the Guildhall School of Music 1934.

1940's became regular reviewer for Hans Keller's and Donald Mitchell's periodical Music Survey.

Briefly studied at the Royal College of Music from 1943 to 1945. Teachers were Herbert Howells (composition), Angus Morrison (piano) and Frank Probin (horn).

1947 - met Havergal Brian through writing to Reginald Nettel.

Taught piano harmony and composition from 1948 to 1954 at Blackheath Conservatoire in South London. Taught at Sandwich Secondary School , Kent in 1954.

1955 Trio in A minor broadcast on the Third Programme (now Radio Three).

Spent a year at Bretton Hall Teachers' Training College, Yorkshire 1956 - 7 to get a teaching certificate.

1969 Piano Sonatas 7 & 10 broadcast in a recital by John Odgen.

Taught at Huddersfield Polytechnic - became Principal Lecturer in 1970.

Retired in 1979.

Discography

Harold Truscott - Suite in G Major , Elegy , Symphony in E Major

National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland conducted by Gary Brain

Marco Polo 8.223674 [CD]

Harold Truscott - Trio in A major; Sonata No 1 in C Major for Clarinet and Piano

Sonata in C Major for Solo Violin; Meditation for Solo Cello;

Sonata in A minor for Cello & Piano

Imre Kovcas, flute, Bela Nagy, violin, Laszlo Barsony, viola;

Istvan Varga, clarinet; Melinda Lugossy, piano;

Violetta Eckhardt, violin

Judith Kiss cello

Judit Kis Domonkos, cello; Melinda Lugossy, piano;

Marco Polo 8.223727 [CD]

Harold Truscott - Piano Sonatas 6 & 17

Peter Jacobs - piano

British Music Society - BMS 410 [MC]

Harold Truscott - Piano Sonatas 5 & 12

Peter Jacobs - piano

ALTARUS AIR 2-9002 [MC]

Harold Truscott - Piano Sonatas 9, 13 & 15

Peter Jacobs - piano

ALTARUS AIR 2-9003 [MC]

Author of the following:

Beethoven's Late String Quartets- Dobson

Schmidt's Orchestral Music - Toccata Press

with Paul Rapoport - Havergal Brian's Gothic Symphony: Two Studies - Havergal Brian Society

Chapter on Beethoven's piano music in the Beethoven Companion (Faber 1971)

Part of Chapter on Four Romantics : Reger, Pfitzner, Schmidt and Korngold in A Companion to the Concerto edited by Robert Layton (Helm 1988)

Erich Wolfgang Korngold's concerto for piano (left-hand) and orchestra in C sharp, op. 17 : an analytical essay with 16 music examples / by Harold Truscott Publisher: Paisley : Wilfion, 1985 Physical Desc.: 14 p : music ; 21 cm ISBN/ISSN: 0905075218

Unfinished works on Schmidt's Chamber Music, the music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Mendelssohn, Schubert and The Piano.

Articles

Articles on Havergal Brian in HB - Aspects of Havergal Brian

Contributed to Tempo, The Listener, Music Review, and Penguin's book The Symphony.

Article on 'Style and orchestral technique' in Edmund Rubbra, composer essays by Lewis Forman Triad Press 1977.