David Clifford Brown (8 July 1929, in Gravesend – 20 June 2014)Peter Le Huray 1980 was an English

musicologist Musicology (from Greek μουσική ''mousikē'' 'music' and -λογια ''-logia'', 'domain of study') is the scholarly analysis and research-based study of music. Musicology departments traditionally belong to the humanities, although some m ...

, most noteworthy for his major study of

Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky , group=n ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. He wrote some of the most popu ...

’s life and works. Brown attended

Gravesend Grammar School Gravesend Grammar School is a selective grammar school with academy status located in Gravesend, Kent, England. The school accepts boys at age 11 by examination accepting a cohort of the top 15-20% and boys and girls at 16, based on their GCS ...

and then studied English, Latin and music at the

University of Sheffield , mottoeng = To discover the causes of things , established = – University of SheffieldPredecessor institutions: – Sheffield Medical School – Firth College – Sheffield Technical School – University College of Sheffield , type = Pu ...

, graduating in 1951, and took his MusB there (1952). During national service (1952-4) he studied Russian and was commissioned in the Intelligence Corps. He taught in secondary schools before becoming music librarian of the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

, working at Senate House 1959–62. In 1962 he became a lecturer at the

University of Southampton , mottoeng = The Heights Yield to Endeavour , type = Public research university , established = 1862 – Hartley Institution1902 – Hartley University College1913 – Southampton University Coll ...

, becoming senior lecturer in 1970 and reader in 1975; he was awarded a doctorate for his book on

Thomas Weelkes Thomas Weelkes (baptised 25 October 1576 – 30 November 1623) was an English composer and organist. He became organist of Winchester College in 1598, moving to Chichester Cathedral. His works are chiefly vocal, and include madrigals, anth ...

in 1971. His book on Mikhail Glinka (published 1974) was the first major study of the composer in English. This was surpassed by his four volume study of Tchaikovsky (published between 1978 and 1991), both a biography and in-depth analyses of Tchaikovsky’s works. He was also editor of the

New Grove ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language ''Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart'', it is one of the largest reference works on the history and theor ...

''Russian Masters'' series, and served on the editorial committee of

Musica Britannica ''Musica Britannica'' is a trust founded in 1951, as "an authoritative national collection of British music". One of its co-founders, Anthony Lewis, served as the publication's first chief editor for many years. A programme about the project, wit ...

, the national collection of British music.Author biographical note, Brown ''Musorgsky'' He retired as Professor of Musicology in 1989. He died in Romsey, Hampshire aged 84 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Books

*''Thomas Weelkes : a biographical and critical study'' (London: Faber & Faber, 1969) *''Mikhail Glinka: a Biographical and Critical Study'' (London: Oxford University Press, 1974) *''Tchaikovsky: A Biographical and Critical Study'': Vol. 1: “The Early Years (1840–1874)” (London: Gollancz, 1978); Vol. 2: “The Crisis Years (1874–1878)” (London: Gollancz, 1982); Vol. 3: “The Years of Wandering (1878–1885)” (London: Gollancz, 1986); Vol. 4: “The Final Years (1885–1893)” (London: Gollancz, 1991); paperback edition (2 vols) includes minor corrections and updated Work List (London: Gollancz, 1992) *''Musorgsky: His Life and Works'' (London: Oxford University Press, 2002) *''Tchaikovsky: The Man and His Music'' (London: Faber & Faber, 2006)

Bibliography

*Peter Le Huray “David (Clifford) Brown” in ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' (London: Macmillan, 1980) *Peter Le Huray/Rosemary Williamson “David (Clifford) Brown” in ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians: Second Edition'' (London: Macmillan, 2001)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, David English musicologists Alumni of the University of Sheffield Academics of the University of Southampton 1929 births 2014 deaths Music librarians 20th-century British musicologists 20th-century English non-fiction writers 20th-century English male writers 21st-century musicologists 21st-century British non-fiction writers 21st-century English male writers English male non-fiction writers People educated at Gravesend Grammar School Tchaikovsky scholars