James Clifford Brown

James Clifford Brown (1923–2004) was an English composer, former Senior Lecturer in the Department of Music and Organist at the University of Leeds.

Life James Clifford Brown, usually referred to as James Brown, was born at 49 St. Matthew's Street, Ipswich on 18 August 1923. His father Henry John Brown was an electrical engineer and later professional cellist while his mother Lois was a junior school teacher. James also had a brother named Tom being a chartered engineer and a sister called Dulcie who has been a civil servant, a missionary and a music teacher of cello and classical guitar.

In 1941 he left Northgate School and won a choral studentship to St John's College, Cambridge, but his studies were interrupted by war service. which were a triumphant success. In 1961–1962 he took a year's leave to study with Boris Porena in Rome. The Lark now leaves his wat'ry Nest, for 2-part female voices and piano, 1949 Portsmouth, solo song with piano, 1949 A Nocturne, solo song with piano, 1950 Andante Sospirando, organ, 1951 Sonatina, clarinet and viola, 1952 The Lass for a Sailor, solo song with piano, 1955 Careless Content, solo song with piano, 1957 A Morning Pastoral, three songs for SSA, 1965 Promenade, piano duet, 1974 Silent Spring, solo song with piano, 1976 If ye turn to him, motet for unison boys' voices and organ, 1980 Serenade, clarinet in A and piano, 1950, revised 1985 Prelude and Postlude for Easter, organ, 1987 The Shepherds' Nativity Hymn, for SATB choir and wind orchestra, 1991 From East to West, for SATB choir and keyboard, 1991 Summer Idyll, organ, 2000