Dieren, Bernard van (1887-1936)

Dutch-born British composer. A scientist by training, he had little musical experience, apart from violin playing, before the age of 20, when he began to compose. In 1909 he settled in London as correspondent to foreign newspapers, after making serious music studies, which he continued in Germany in 1912, when his real creative career began. He wrote a book on the sculptor Jacob Epstein and a volume of musical essays, Down among the Dead Men (1935).

Works Opera The Tailor (R Nichols, 1917).

Orchestral Beatrice Cenci, orchestral epilogue to Shelley's drama (1909), overture Anjou; serenade for small orchestra, overture for chamber orchestra.

Vocal symphony on Chinese poems for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra; Les Propous des beuveurs (Rabelais) for chorus and orchestra; Diafonia for 17 instruments and baritone (Shakespeare sonnets, 1916), Fayre eies (Spenser) for baritone and chamber orchestra; three unaccompanied choruses.

Chamber six string quartets (1912-28); sonata and three studies for unaccompanied violin, and other pieces.