Phyllis Tate

Phyllis Tate (6 April 1911 – 29 May 1987) was an English composer known for forming unusual instrumental combinations in her output. She is mainly remembered for her works for solo and chamber ensembles, rather than larger scale forms.

Biography

Early life and education Phyllis Margaret Duncan Tate was born at Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire, the daughter of an architect, Duncan Tate. She was excluded from primary school by her headmistress at the age of 10 for singing a lewd song her father taught her at the end of the year. While at the academy, she studied composition, timpani, and conducting.

Tate married a music editor, Alan Clifford Frank, in 1935. They reportedly initially bonded over a mutual dislike of Ludwig van Beethoven's music. During her school years, she also composed a symphony and several smaller pieces, although none from this era survive. A Secular Requiem: The Phoenix and the Turtle (1970) for mixed voices, organ, and orchestra, setting Shakespeare's poem as the text for a funeral. All The World’s A Stage (1977) for chorus and orchestra. Saint Martha and the Dragon (1978), for narrator, solo soprano, solo tenor, choir, chamber orchestra & tape. A setting of the poem by Charles Causley.

The Lodger In 1960, her alma mater, the Royal Academy of Music, mounted the premiere production of The Lodger, which her obituary described as, "a rare example of a successful musical thriller which, like all good thrillers, was grounded upon psychological understanding and an authentic social atmosphere". Lewis Foreman describes the opera as dramatically effective, "with its fog-and-gaslight atmosphere, and a divided set showing two rooms simultaneously. All this is lightened by a series of jolly choruses and the idiosyncratic use of polkas and waltzes. It remains the composer's most considerable operatic achievement."

Discography Dreams Melting. James Geer (tenor), Ronald Woodley (piano). SOMM CD 0630 (2021) Grimethorpe. Various performers. Chandos B000000A7V (1997). In Praise of Women. Anthony Rolfe Johnson, tenor; Graham Johnson, piano. Hyperion B00026W65Y (2004). Lee Carrol Levine… Plus!. Roy Christensen, Virginia Christensen, Rebecca Culnan, Lee Carroll Levine, Craig Nies, Christian Teal. Gasparo Records B0001DMUW2 (2004). London Landmarks. Royal Ballet Sinfonia. White Line B000067UM9 (2002). Saxophone Concerto. On Lost Saxophone Concertos, Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo, Naxos 8.579038 (2018) Sonata for Clarinet and Cello. Gervase De Payer and William Pleeth. Argo ZRG 5475 (1966) Songs My Father Taught Me. Sir Thomas Allen, baritone; Malcolm Martineau, piano. Hyperion B00005Y0N9 (2002). String Quartet in F major. English String Quartet. Tremula Records TREM102-2 (1993). Triptych. Clare Howick, Sophia Rahman, Naxos 8.572291 (2010)