York Bowen

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York Bowen (1884-1961), born Edwin Yorke Bowen, was an English classical composer and musician (pianist). Born in Crouch End, London in 1884, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music, later becoming a teacher there.

He wrote in the late Romantic style. He became known as a fine pianist (as well as a decent horn player and violist) and a prolific minor composer of many forms. A contemporary of Arnold Bax, his reputation in English musical society was prominent during his youth prior to the the First World War, however, since then his fame saw a decline as other English composers, who composed in more modern idioms (such as Bax), came into favorable consideration. His comparatively well known Toccata, Op. 155 is a piece for piano that is technically difficult and hard to memorize.