Composer Of The Week

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Edward Gregson and Alan BushThis week, Donald Macleod is in conversation with British composer, Edward Gregson, who offers a fascinating window into his own story and also the life and work of his mentor, Alan Bush. We’ll see how both composers have made significant contributions to Britain’s musical story, and we explore the events that led to the very different trajectories of their careers.Edward Gregson knew that classical music would be his life after encountering Brahms’s music as a teenager. He studied composition with Alan Bush, and his natural instinct for melody and brilliant orchestral colour have made him a popular choice with audiences and performers across the world. He also prides himself in rising to a challenge, including taking on the leadership of one of Britain’s major musical conservatoires.In the early part of the twentieth century, Alan Bush seemed destined to become of the regular stalwarts of Britain’s music scene, alongside his contemporar