Brian Boydell

Irish composer, conductor, broadcaster, musicologist, music activist, painter and teacher Brian Boydell was born in Howth, County Dublin on 17 March 1917.

Educated at Rugby, Cambridge, Heidelberg, London and in Ireland, Brian Patrick Boydell was a deeply cultured man who became one of Ireland's most distinguished composers. His Violin Concerto (1953, revised 1954 for Jaroslav Vanacek) is one of the twentieth century's most important Irish classical works.

Boydell was an important musicologist, specialising in music performance in eighteenth century Dublin. Publications include A Dublin Musical Calendar 1700-1760 and Rotunda Music in Eighteenth-Century Dublin.

As a conductor he worked with the Dublin Orchestral Players, founded the Dowland Consort and frequently guest-conducted the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra.

He held the Chair of Music at Trinity College Dublin from 1962 until 1982. Honours include a DMus from the National University of Ireland and Commendatore of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

Brian Boydell died at his home in Howth on 8 November 2000, aged eighty-three.