Baines William, *26 March 1899 Horbury (Yorkshire), †6 November 1922 York, English composer. He was essentially self-taught; he inherited his love of music from his father and, like him, played as a pianist in a cinema. He mainly wrote piano music. He came to attention with his works Paradise Gardens and 7 Preludes. During his short life, he composed around 200 pieces; his premature death was contributed to by several weeks of military service (1918). In 1960, the composer’s mother bequeathed her son’s entire estate to the British Museum in London. Baines’ compositions show the influence of Chopin, Debussy, Scriabin and Ravel. In his Symphony, the first orchestral work to achieve significant success, the original instrumentation and the lively yet subtle character of the music are particularly noteworthy.
Literature: R. Carpenter Baines and Britten. Some Affinities, “The Musical Times” XCVII, 1956; P.J. Pirie William Baines, “Music and Musicians” XXI, 1972; R. Carpenter Goodnight to Flamboro. The Life and Music of William Baines, Rickmansworth 1977.
orchestral:
Symphony in C minor 1917
The Island of the Fay 1919
Prelude to a Doll’s Ballet for string orchestra, 1921
Aubade for string quartet, 1917
Sonata in G major for violin and piano, 1917
Marionettes 1919
Romance for cello and piano, 1919
piano:
3 Slumber Songs 1917
Impression from Cherry Ripe 1917
4 Miniature Tone Pictures 1917
3 Impressions 1917
4 Sketches 1918
Paradise Gardens 1919
7 preludes 1919
Dead Heart Flower 1919
O Cuckoo 1919
Sonata in F-sharp minor 1919
Value of Memories 1919
Coloured Leaves 1921
Silverpoints 1921
Idyll 1921
Pictures of Light 1921
A Last Sheaf 1921
8 preludes 1921
songs:
2 Songs 1918
Nights of Music 1919
5 Songs 1919
