Thomas Pitfield, born in Bolton in 1903 and whose life stretched to the very end of the 20^th century – he died in 1999 – is one of those polymaths who embraced numerous different outlets: he was a composer, a poet, an illustrator, a calligrapher, a cabinet maker and a teacher. He is probably better known for the people he knew and taught – including John McCabe, John Ogdon and Ronald Stevenson – than in his own right. This new collection of songs is a good start to get to know a fine musical voice. James Jolly spoke, separately, to James Gilchrist and Nathan Williamson about this appealing composer. 

This Gramophone Podcast is produced in association with Wigmore Hall.

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You can listen to The Songs of Thomas Pitfield in lossless audio on Apple Music