Radie Britain

Radie Britain (March 17, 1899 – May 23, 1994) was an American composer, pianist, writer and music educator.

Life

Early life and education Radie Britain was born near Silverton, Texas, the third child of Edgar Charles and Katie (Ford) Britain. Her unusual first name was reportedly her mother's choice, as Britain described in her autobiography, with her mother stating, "I wished to call you Radie. It's a strong name, and you will make it stronger by making a name for yourself."

In 1905, the Britain family moved to a ranch near Clarendon, Texas, to be closer to education opportunities for the children. During this time, she attended her very first orchestral concert, a performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra led by conductor Frederick Stock.

In 1922 she studied with organist Pietro Yon in Dallas, who furthered Britain's desire to travel to Europe to continue her musical education. She made the arrangements, and by 1923 was studying with Marcel Dupré in Paris.

Works Britain incorporated musical idioms from the southwestern United States into her compositions. According to a letter she wrote in 1989, Britain composed 257 works, including 55 pieces for orchestra. Selected orchestral works include: Angel Chimes Brothers of the Clouds with TTBB chorus The Builders with SATB chorus Cactus Rhapsody Chicken in the Rough Chipmunks for woodwinds, harp, percussion Cosmic Mist Symphony, dedicated to her 3rd husband Theodore Morton Cowboy Rhapsody Drouth The Earth Does Not Wish for Beauty with SATB chorus Earth of God (String Orchestra) Les Fameux Douze The Famous Twelve for small orchestra Four Sarabandes for small orchestra Franciscan Sketches San Luis Rey Saint Francis of Assisi Heroic Poem Infant Suite In Living Ecstasy with solo voice Jewels of Lake Tahoe Kambu Lament with solo violin Little per cent Minha Terra Mother: A Melody of Love with narrator Nisan with SATB chorus Withered Flowers, song