Composer of The Gothic - Havergal Brian - a brief biography
William Havergal Brian, 1876-1972
Born on January 29th, 1876, at 35 Ricardo Street, Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent.
150th Birthday in 2026
William was the second surviving son of a large family, the son of a potter's turner named Benjamin Brian and his wife Martha, (nee Watson). They first met when they were taking part in one of the Lichfield Diocesan Music Festivals as members of the choir.
William adopted name Havergal in his teens, when he started being well known as a church organist.
William (Billy) went to the village church school in Dresden from the age of three until he was ten, when he was sent to St. James's Church School, Longton.
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| St James Church, Uttoxeter Road, Longton Photo: source unknown Date: c1900 |
Here he rapidly made progress in his singing lessons, was accepted into the church choir and became solo boy. The school was famous as a training ground for cathedral singers. It encouraged Brian to learn to play the organ, and he was able to deputise by the time he left the school at the age of twelve.
It was at St. James's that Brian's interest in music began to blossom. He attended as a chorister the Lichfield Diocesan Celebration for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887. The Dresden contingent of the choir occupied one of the transepts; before and around him stretched the thousand singers and the orchestra, while above him rose the Gothic arches of the nave and chancel. The boy was awe-struck, especially at the sonority. The principal musical work sung was a Te Deum by Albert, Prince Consort.
This experience remained in Brian' s memory as a starting point towards the musical pilgrimage that was to lead him to The Gothic Symphony, but it was a long journey of nearly thirty years.
Edited extract from A Biography by Reginald Nettel, 1978 published in the Stoke Gothic Concert Programme - full text here> download pdf
Short biography of Havergal Brian here> on The Havergal Brian Society website
All about Havergal Brian here> on The Havergal Brian Society website
It was at St. James's that Brian's interest in music began to blossom. He attended as a chorister the Lichfield Diocesan Celebration for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887. The Dresden contingent of the choir occupied one of the transepts; before and around him stretched the thousand singers and the orchestra, while above him rose the Gothic arches of the nave and chancel. The boy was awe-struck, especially at the sonority. The principal musical work sung was a Te Deum by Albert, Prince Consort.
This experience remained in Brian' s memory as a starting point towards the musical pilgrimage that was to lead him to The Gothic Symphony, but it was a long journey of nearly thirty years.
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| Havergal Brian in his mid years Photo source: unknown Date: unknown |
Short biography of Havergal Brian here> on The Havergal Brian Society website
All about Havergal Brian here> on The Havergal Brian Society website