Clifton Edition is deeply saddened to learn of the death of composer, conductor, pianist and teacher Bryan Kelly at the age of 92.
Born in Oxford in 1934, Bryan studied at the Royal College of Music and later in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. After teaching at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music, he joined the staff of the Royal College of Music in London, where he taught harmony, counterpoint and orchestration for twenty years. His career also took him to the United States, Egypt, Italy and France. Bryan Kelly’s Clifton Edition profile.
Clifton Edition is proud to publish a substantial collection of Bryan’s music, ranging from the much-loved Play the Piano books and A Baker’s Dozen to chamber works including Comédie Française, Ballads and Bagatelles, Dance Preludes, the the three string sonatinas, plus numerous colourful works for wind and brass. Practical, characterful and immensely enjoyable to perform, these compositions reflect Bryan’s instinctive understanding of instruments and his ability to write music that speaks directly to players and listeners.
Bryan Kelly and his long time partner John Newberry, who also died recently, were personal friends and we’ll miss them both enormously. Every visit to see them in Somerset produced a wealth of wonderful stories — always different, and often revealing a wicked sense of humour!
Bryan in later years became increasingly blind, but it didn’t stop him cooking up delicious dishes including seafood pasta and a wonderful curry.
Bryan was fond of our old Newfoundland dog Alfred.
