Patrick Gowers

English composer Patrick Gowers was born in Islington, North London, on 5 May 1936 and taught composition at Cambridge whilst completing his doctorate. Early in his career he was assistant conductor of Bill Russo's London Jazz Orchestra and music director of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Marat/Sade productions in London and New York. He also directed the electronic music studio at Dartington and played keyboards for the New Swingle Singers.

Gowers is best known for his film scores, including The Virgin and the Gypsy (1970), Stevie (1978) and The Hound of the Baskervilles (1988). Later came music for television, including Smiley's People and the Granada Sherlock Holmes series. He also wrote choral music, including the Ascensiontide anthem Viri Galilaei, commissioned for the 1987 ordination of Richard Harries as Bishop of Oxford, organ music and a guitar concerto.

Patrick Gowers died on 30 December 2014, aged seventy eight.

A selection of articles about Patrick Gowers

CD Spotlight. Immensely Responsive - The Choir of Merton College, Oxford, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... beautifully moulded lines ...'