Walter Braithwaite (composer)
Encyclopedia
Walter Heurtley Braithwaite (1906–1991) was a composer, pianist and teacher. He was born in Gloucester
on 24 August 1906, the third of five children born to Rev. Herbert Morris Braithwaite (Rector of St. Michael's, Gloucester) and Julia Mary née Young.
He moved to Worcestershire
with his wife Sophy Kathleen Cottrell and became an important member in the founding of both Sunfield School, Clent
, and Elmfield Rudolf Steiner School
, Stourbridge
. Here he composed songs for school plays and festivals, taught music and piano, and accompanied eurythmy
lessons. Works include a Sonata for Violin & Piano; Incidental Music for a production of The Merchant of Venice; Music for the Act of Consecration for Piano or Strings, and many other short pieces and songs, arrangements of carols and folk-songs. He also wrote about music theory, teaching and improvisation.
For much of his life Braithwaite lived with his family at 51 Corser Street, Stourbridge. The house, on the corner of Corser Street and Farlands Road, can be seen on Google Street View. Instruments he owned here included two upright pianos (one of them hand-painted red and blue), a harmonium
, and two square pianos, one of which he converted into a clavichord
. He was an early member of The Christian Community
church in Stourbridge, for which he wrote music and played piano. He died in Clent on 18 August 1991.
In 1970 he published his first Book of Songs, with a foreword written by Yehudi Menuhin
. The second Book of Songs appeared in 1978, and a second edition of the first book came out in 1984 to raise money for the new Christian Community chapel in Baylie Street, Stourbridge. Two of the songs in the first book, 'Ut queant laxis' and 'The Spring by the Wayside (Bare is the Rock)', are still regularly sung at Elmfield School.
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
on 24 August 1906, the third of five children born to Rev. Herbert Morris Braithwaite (Rector of St. Michael's, Gloucester) and Julia Mary née Young.
He moved to Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
with his wife Sophy Kathleen Cottrell and became an important member in the founding of both Sunfield School, Clent
Clent
Clent is a village and civil parish in the Bromsgrove District of Worcestershire, England, southwest of Birmingham and close to the edge of the West Midlands conurbation. At the 2001 census it had a population of 2,600...
, and Elmfield Rudolf Steiner School
Elmfield Rudolf Steiner School
Elmfield Rudolf Steiner School Limited is an independent school situated in Stourbridge, West Midlands, England. It educates around 260 children aged from 3 to 17 who follow the international Steiner Waldorf Education curriculum.-History:...
, Stourbridge
Stourbridge
Stourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston, Wollescote and Wordsley The...
. Here he composed songs for school plays and festivals, taught music and piano, and accompanied eurythmy
Eurythmy
Eurythmy is an expressive movement art originated by Rudolf Steiner in conjunction with Marie von Sivers in the early 20th century. Primarily a performance art, it is also used in education — especially in Waldorf schools - and as a movement therapy....
lessons. Works include a Sonata for Violin & Piano; Incidental Music for a production of The Merchant of Venice; Music for the Act of Consecration for Piano or Strings, and many other short pieces and songs, arrangements of carols and folk-songs. He also wrote about music theory, teaching and improvisation.
For much of his life Braithwaite lived with his family at 51 Corser Street, Stourbridge. The house, on the corner of Corser Street and Farlands Road, can be seen on Google Street View. Instruments he owned here included two upright pianos (one of them hand-painted red and blue), a harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
, and two square pianos, one of which he converted into a clavichord
Clavichord
The clavichord is a European stringed keyboard instrument known from the late Medieval, through the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras. Historically, it was widely used as a practice instrument and as an aid to composition, not being loud enough for larger performances. The clavichord produces...
. He was an early member of The Christian Community
The Christian Community
The Christian Community is a Christian denomination. It was founded in 1922 in Switzerland by a group of mainly Lutheran theologians and ministers led by Friedrich Rittelmeyer, inspired by Rudolf Steiner, the Austrian philosopher and founder of anthroposophy...
church in Stourbridge, for which he wrote music and played piano. He died in Clent on 18 August 1991.
In 1970 he published his first Book of Songs, with a foreword written by Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...
. The second Book of Songs appeared in 1978, and a second edition of the first book came out in 1984 to raise money for the new Christian Community chapel in Baylie Street, Stourbridge. Two of the songs in the first book, 'Ut queant laxis' and 'The Spring by the Wayside (Bare is the Rock)', are still regularly sung at Elmfield School.