Harrison Birtwistle
The Daily Telegraph ranked Sir Harrison Birtwistle 62nd in a 2008 review on the 100 most powerful people in British culture. This makes him rank above names such as Banksy, Michael Attenborough and Ricky Gervais. He was knighted and named ”Sir” in 1988. Furthermore, he got the Order of the Companions of Honour in 2001. This order is given on grounds of distinguished achievements within culture, science, industry, religion and politics.
The composer was born in Accrington in the North of England in 1934. He got his first clarinet at the age of six and started composing at the age of eleven. His musical education is from Royal Manchester College of Music, where he studied clarinet and composition.
Birtwistle shows a keen interest in historical pieces, but he is strongly opposing orthodox performances and traditional use of early instruments. «Only by adding something from the century we live in to the music, we manage to revitalize it,» he comments in a program presentation of his work Bach Measures, with variations over several organ and choir works by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Another Ultima work is The Axe Manual, originally written for the piano player Emanuel Ax. During its 20 minutes, the work manages to unite piano and percussion in a mutual understanding, rather than conflict.