Alexander Goehr
1932-2024
Alexander Goehr was a leading British composer and teacher. Born in Berlin in 1932, he arrived in England in 1933 with his parents, Walter and Laelia. Walter was a conductor and composer who had been a pupil of Arnold Schoenberg and his mother was a musician and photographer.
Goehr attended the Royal Manchester College of Music where he formed the 'Manchester School’ – a group of young composers and performers including Peter Maxwell Davies, Harrison Birtwistle and John Ogdon. He was introduced to Olivier Messiaen when his father conducted the first British performance of Turangalîla-Symphonie in 1953, and later studied with Messiaen and Yvonne Loriod in Paris.
Goehr composed more than one hundred major works, including operas, orchestral and chamber pieces. He was Professor of Music at Leeds University from 1971 and in 1976 when he took up the position as Professor at Cambridge University. He is regarded as one of Europe's most important music educators. He wrote and lectured extensively and his music has been performed all over the world.
© Estate of Laelia Goehr
© Estate of Laelia Goehr
Contact Sheet
© Estate of Laelia Goehr
The New Music Manchester Group was formed when Alexander Goehr was at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester in 1952-5. The group included his fellow students, Peter Maxwell Davis, Harrison Birtwistle, Elgar Howarth and the pianist, John Ogdon. Its members played a significant role in reshaping the landscape of British music in the later 20th century.
from left to right:
bottom row: Alexander Goehr, Audrey Crawford (formerly Goehr) John Dow
second row: Sir Harrison Birtwistle, John Ogden, Elgar Howarth, Sir Peter Maxwell Davis (1955)
© Estate of Laelia Goehr
© Estate of Laelia Goehr