Havergal Brian

The Composer of The Gothic - Havergal Brian          


William Havergal Brian 1876-1972 

Born on January 29th, 1876, at 35 Ricardo Street, Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent.

William was the second surviving son of a large family, the son of a potter's turner named Benjamin Brian and his wife Martha, (nee Watson), who first met when they were taking part in one of the Lichfield Diocesan Music Festivals as members of the choir.

The name 'Havergal' was adopted by William in his teens, when he began to be known as a church organist.

The boy Billy went to the village church school in Dresden from the age of three until he was ten, when he was sent to St. James's Church School, Longton. Here he rapidly made progress in his singing lessons, was accepted into the church choir and became solo boy. The school was famous a s a training- ground for cathedral singers. They encouraged Brian to learn to play the organ, and he was able to deputise on occasion by the time he left the school at the age of twelve.

It was at St. James's that Brian's interest in music suddenly burs t into flower. He attended as a chorister the Lichfield Diocesan Celebration for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887. The Dresden contingent of the choir occupied one of the transepts; before and around him stretched the thousand singer s and the orchestra, while above him rose the Gothic arches of the nave and chancel. The boy was awe-struck, especially at the sonority. The principal musical work sung was a Te Deum by Albert, Prince Consort.

This boyhood experience remained in Brian' s memory as a starting point towards the musical pilgramage that was to lead to the Gothic Symphony, but it was a long trail of nearly thirty years.

Extract from A Biography by Reginald Nettel, 1978 published in the Stoke Gothic Concert Programme  - full text heredownload pdf

Havergal Brian in his mid years 
Photo source: unknown  Date: unknown

Short biography of Havergal Brian here> on The Havergal Brian Society website

All about Havergal Brian  here> on The Havergal Brian Society website