Harrison Birtwistle

Sir Harrison Paul Birtwistle CH (born July 15, 1934) is generally considered to be one of Britain's most significant contemporary composers.

Birtwistle was born in Accrington in Lancashire and in 1952 entered the Roy

Sir Harrison Paul Birtwistle CH (born July 15, 1934) is generally considered to be one of Britain's most significant contemporary composers.

Birtwistle was born in Accrington in Lancashire and in 1952 entered the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester on a clarinet scholarship. While there he met fellow composers Peter Maxwell Davies and Alexander Goehr, who together with pianist John Ogdon and conductor Elgar Howarth formed the New Music Manchester group, dedicated to the performances of serial and other modern works.