Hoddinott, Alun (1929–2008)

Welsh composer. In addition to major works in standard genres (including nine symphonies, several concertos, and ten piano sonatas), Hoddinott composed works in a lighter vein, including carols and Quodlibet on Welsh Nursery Tunes for brass quintet. A champion of the Welsh arts, he was head of the music department at University College of South Wales, Cardiff 1967–87.

He studied at the University College and joined its faculty as a lecturer in 1959, becoming a reader in 1966 and professor in 1967. He was artistic director of the Cardiff Festival of 20th-Century Music 1966–89.

Works Opera The Beach of Falesá (1974), The Magician (1976, first produced as Murder the Magician on television, 1976), The Rajah's Diamond (1979), The Trumpet Major, after Hardy (1981).

Orchestral eight symphonies (1954–92), four sinfoniettas (1968–71), Variants (1966), Night Music for orchestra, two clarinet concertos (1954, 1986), oboe concerto, three piano concertos, organ concerto (1967), Doubles for oboe, harpsichord, and strings (1982), Triple concerto for violin, cello, and piano (1986), Noctis Equi for cello and orchestra (1989).

Other choral music; clarinet quartet, three string quartets (1966, 1984, 1988), string trio; ten piano sonatas.