Composer, born in Manchester, Greater Manchester, NW England, UK. He studied at Manchester, Rome, and Princeton, and was composer-in-residence at the University of Adelaide in 1966. He founded and co-directed the Pierrot Players (1967--70) and was founder/artistic director of The Fires of London (1971--87). A prolific composer, his works include Taverner (1972) and three other operas, Eight Songs for a Mad King (1969), symphonies, concertos, works for individual instruments and instrumental ensembles, songs, and a considerable amount of chamber music (for which he received the Cobbett Medal in 1989). Since 1970 he has worked mainly in Orkney, frequently using Orcadian or Scottish subject matter for music. He was knighted in 1987.