Williamson, Malcolm (1931-2003), was an internationally known Australian composer, pianist, and organist. His compositions combine jazz and popular music with the styles of the modern composers Benjamin Britten of the United Kingdom and Olivier Messiaen of France. Williamson won fame in the 1960’s with his ballet music for The Display (1964) and his operas Our Man in Havana (1963) and The Happy Prince (1965). He wrote the opera Julius Caesar Jones (1966) for performance by children. His other works include The Stone Wall (1971), a cantata for children and orchestra; and A Pilgrim Liturgy (1984) for chorus and orchestra. His orchestral works often feature the piano, such as his four piano concertos.
Williamson converted to Roman Catholicism in 1952. His conversion had a strong influence on the religious organ music he composed, beginning in the mid-1950’s with Fons amoris (1955-1956). He also composed masses and works with Jewish liturgical themes, such as Next Year in Jerusalem (1985) for chorus and orchestra.
Malcolm Benjamin Graham Christopher Williamson was born on Nov. 21, 1931, in Sydney, Australia. He went to London in 1953 to continue his music studies and settled there. He supported himself for a time as a pianist in a nightclub. In 1975, Williamson was appointed master of the queen’s music, an honorary post given to a distinguished musician, usually a composer. Williamson died in Cambridge, England, on Mar. 2, 2003.
See also Master of the king’s music.
