Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji

Self-taught composer, critic and pianist Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji was born in Chingford, England of a Parsi father and (so it has been said) a Spanish-Sicilian mother on 14 August 1892. He was a close friend and confidant of the English composer Philip Heseltine (Peter Warlock).

Preferring silence to bad performances, Sorabji took the unusual step of prohibiting unauthorised public performances of his works, which include symphonies, organ symphonies, piano concertos, and much other piano music including the monumental Opus Clavicembalisticum (1929-30) [listen], a work which takes nearly five hours to perform.

Before Sorabji's death on 15 October 1988, aged 96, his music began to receive performances from Yonty Solomon, John Ogdon and other top-rank musicians. The Sorabji Archive (curator Alistair Hinton) has encouraged new editions from performers and scholars, and a series of CD recordings has been made.

VISIT THE SORABJI ARCHIVE WEBSITE

A selection of M&V articles about Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji

Bizarre Perception - Alistair Hinton discusses a recent article on English music by David Hamilton

The Composer's Conundrum? - Alistair Hinton comments on Gordon Rumson's recent article

Record Box. A Theoretician's Knowledge - Andrew Violette's Sonata for unaccompanied violin, reviewed by Howard Smith

CD Spotlight. A Thrilling Experience - Kevin Bowyer plays Alkan, reviewed by Alistair Hinton. '... flawless technique and missionary commitment ...'

Interval Talk - Alistair Hinton comments on Patric Standford's recent 'Provocative Thoughts'

Appropriate Temperament - Gordon Rumson replies to Patric Standford's article on keys and the decline of tonality

Class actions? - Alistair Hinton replies to Patric Standford's latest on 'Class acts'

CD Spotlight. Radiant, supernatural beauty - In a special multimedia presentation, Gordon Rumson talks about Alistair Hinton's String Quintet

Transcending virtuosity - Alistair Hinton comments on points made in Gordon Rumson's recent Chopin review

The specious origins of originality - Alistair Hinton comments on Patric Standford's recent 'Provocative Thoughts'