Quilter, Roger (1877-1953), an English composer, is best remembered for his songs. He set to music many poems by William Shakespeare and other great poets. His settings of Shakespeare’s “Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind” and “O Mistress Mine” and of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal” became especially popular. Quilter’s music is melodious and uncomplicated, and much of it shows his love of folk music. He also composed an opera, ballet scores, chamber music, and orchestral and choral works.
Quilter was born on Nov. 1, 1877, in Brighton (now Brighton and Hove), England, and studied music at Frankfurt am Main, in Germany from about 1897 to 1901. He died on Sept. 21, 1953.
