Warlock, Peter (1894–1930)

English composer. His style was influenced by the music of the Elizabethan age and by that of Delius. His works include the orchestral suite Capriol (1926) based on 16th-century dances, and the song cycle The Curlew (1920–22). His works of musical theory and criticism were published under his real name.

Warlock was educated at Eton, and was later influenced by Delius and van Dieren. He founded the Sackbut, a combative music paper, wrote numerous articles, edited early English music, especially of the lutenist school, and published books on the English ayre, Delius, and (with Cecil Gray) Gesualdo. His music reflects the extreme mood swings of his personality; he died by suicide.

Works Orchestral Capriol suite for full or string orchestra on dances from Arbeau's Orchésographie (1926); An Old Song (1917) and Serenade for string orchestra.

Choral Three Dirges by Webster (1925) and other choral works.

Vocal The Curlew for tenor, flute, English horn, and string quartet (1921), Corpus Christi and Sorrow's Lullaby (1927).

Other over 100 songs, many on Elizabethan and Jacobean poems.