Reginald Smith Brindle

The British composer, painter, teacher and writer Reginald Smith Brindle died on 9 September 2003 in Caterham, Surrey, UK, aged 86.

Born at Bamber Bridge in Lancashire on 5 January 1917, Smith Brindle's parents were both amateur musicians who discouraged him from making music his career, but he was drawn to the inevitable, and became one of Britain's most radical modernist composers. World War II both interrupted and changed his career - whilst in the army he bought a guitar from an Italian prisoner of war and wrote many solo guitar works. He met and married an Italian girl, and subsequently studied in Italy, befriending Dallapiccola, Bartolozzi and Donatoni.

Back in Britain, Smith Brindle lectured at Bangor (University College of North Wales) and later at Guildford (University of Surrey) where he established the Tonmeister course. He retired from teaching in 1981 but continued to compose, including Veni Creator, his Second Symphony, completed in 1989, although musical fashion had moved on and as a composer, he was latterly rather neglected.

Information: www.classicalmusicdaily.com/articles/b/r/reginald-smith-brindle.htm

Posted: 25 September 2003

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