James Butt F.I.A.L. (1929-2003)

Professionally employed from the age of sixteen, the reputation of James Butt as a composer is established internationally. His oeuvre comprises 276 completed works, ranging from avant garde to more popular musical artistry, unfolding a clearly defined individual style.

An important principle in his composition has always been to try to create music which is beautiful, giving listeners and performers a pleasurable experience.

Born at Northwood, Middlesex, in 1929 James Butt was educated at Kidstones School, in Yorkshire, before studying composition, from 1944 onwards, with Dr. Erwin Stein, Benjamin Britten, (doing large quantities of copying in exchange for composition lessons,) and Matyas Seiber, as well as pianoforte with Franz Osborne. Between 1947-1948 he served with the R.A.F. as an RIO. before going to the Dartington School of Music, where he completed his studies under the supervision of Imogen Holst. (The Dartington Music School has since become a department of Exeter University.) While still a student he was awarded the Dartington Open Scholarship for 1950, which made possible a brief period of study in Berlin, where he met many leading European musicians of that time.

On leaving Dartington Hall in 1952 James Butt toured England with the Continental Ballet Company, playing as first pianist, before becoming deputy headmaster of Cary Park School, Torquay, in 1954. In 1963 James Butt founded the company of Sphemusations, which has since grown rapidly.

As a pianist James Butt has taken part in many recitals, broadcasts, and recordings, both as soloist and accompanist, playing in duet with Franz Osborne, Dr. Imogen Holst, C.R.E. Niven Miller, Pamela Hind O'Malley, Joseph Segal, (who later became founder-leader of the Northern Sinfonia,) Neil van Allen, and Noelle Barker, C.RE.; an early success being the first recording Little Boy Dances suites 1,2,3, and 4, made with Grahame Sudbury, M.A. Before his retirement due to ill health in 1995 he was pianist to the English Pianoforte Trio, and accompanist to Gillian Benjamin, the excellent young violoncellist.

As conductor of the Woodbridge orchestra he increased the scope of their repertoire, and number of concerts, giving first performances of new and original works.

Among works which have been performed are four operas entitled Noah, The Laughter of the Gods, Fox's Folly and The Snow Queen; orchestral works have been played by most orchestras of international repute.

The first music by James Butt to be published was a part-song entitled Orpheus copyrighted in 1952 by Novello and company. Since that time 75 works have been published altogether, selling 157,000 copies between them. Works have been broadcast regularly in BBC. programmes, and many also transmitted in American, European, Indian, Australian, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Israeli and Greek programmes.

Music performed to large audiences includes Robert Burns' Address to a Haggis, (Robert Burns,) sung by Niven Miller at the Scottish New Year celebrations, Festival Hall, in 1958:' Little Boy Dances suites 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and 8, at the Albert Hall in 1960, Ring Out Wild Bells, at the United Reformed Church, Stowmarket, 1977, and sacred solos which have been recorded, broadcast, and beamed by satellite to European broadcasting networks. His sacred solo, The King of Love was recorded by WORD INCORPORATED of WACO, Texas, several years ago, with sales of 30,000 copies.

Commissioned works include the song cycle A Summer's Day for Niven Miller; (performed at Edinburgh in 1953.) The two Winsome's Folly suites, and Suite for Horn, for Winsome Bartlett, at Dartington. The cantata Bless the Lord O My Soul, for the Very Rev. Canon Walter Hussey, at St. Matthews Church, Northampton. As I Was Young, for Sir Peter Pears; Eleven Folk Tune Arrangements, for small orchestra; (for the BBC.) A Dramatic Sinfonietta, for the Phoenix Quintet; A Rainbow Plantation, for Margaret Lindsay soprano and Brian Davis, harpist; Ring Out Wild Bells for the Suffolk Education Authority; Jubilee Dance Variations, for clarinet and pianoforte, for Jack Brymer; and Sonata for Flute and Guitar for the Duo Cantare; (Michael Axtell and Andrew Planton), and Concerto for Four Brass Bands. for Derek Cable and the Stowmarket Schools Concert Band.

Following a disabling stroke in 1995, James Butt continued to write music until his death in March 2003.