Sorabji, Kaikhosru Shapurji (1892–1988)

English Parsee pianist and composer. His piano works are in a complex, late Romantic style and test the endurance of performers and audiences: Opus clavicembalistium lasts for almost three hours and concludes with a passacaglia (Spanish dance form) of 81 variations.

He lived in England all his life. Except for the piano, he was mainly self-taught, but was fortunate in being able to give all his time to musical studies. He performed his own piano works in London, Paris, and Vienna, and also wrote criticism, including a book, Around Music. Sorabji premiered the Opus clavicembalistium at Glasgow in 1930 but forbade further performances of all his music 1936–76. The pianist Yonty Solomon premiered the 3rd Sonata, and Opus was performed at Chicago in 1983.

Works Orchestral and chamber two symphonies for orchestra, piano, organ, and chorus (1922, 1951); Chaleur and Opusculum for orchestra; eight piano concertos (1915–22), symphonic variations for piano and orchestra; two symphonies for organ; two piano quintets (1920, 1953); five sonatas, Opus clavicembalisticum, Fantasia Hispanica, three toccatas, symphony, variations on Dies irae for piano; Trois Poèmes (Verlaine and Baudelaire), Fêtes galantes (Verlaine) for voice and piano.