Ferneyhough, Brian John Peter (1943– )

English composer. His uncompromising, detailed compositions include Carceri d'invenzione (1981–86), a cycle of seven works inspired by the engravings of Piranesi, Time and Motion Studies (1974–77), and string quartets.

He studied in Birmingham and with Lennox Berkeley at the Royal Academy of Music in London 1966–67, and undertook further study in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Germany. He has taught at the Freiburg Musikhochschule and at Darmstadt, Germany. His music is of the advanced avant garde, and includes electronic devices.

Works Orchestral Firecycle Beta for orchestra with five conductors (1971), La Terre est un homme for orchestra (1978).

Chamber Prometheus for wind sextet (1967), Sonatas for string quartet (1967), Epicycle for 20 strings (1969), third and fourth string quartets (1987, 1990).

Vocal Missa Brevis for 12 voices (1971), Transit for six voices and chamber orchestra (1975), Etudes Transcendantals for voices and ensemble (1984).

Other instrumental Sieben Sterne for organ (1969–70); Intermedio alla Ciaccona for violin (1980); Mnemosyne for bass flute and tape (1986); Kurze Schatten for guitar (1983–89); Trittico per G S for double bass (1989).