(William George)
(b Beaufort, Victoria, May 4, 1942; d Norwich, May 30, 1975). Australian composer. After training as a teacher, he studied at the Melbourne University Conservatorium (1963–7), where he went on to hold a teaching position (1968–73). The following year he moved to England, where he taught at the University of East Anglia (1974–5). As curator of the Grainger Museum in Melbourne he was responsible for the reconstruction of aleatory works by Grainger, most notably Random Round, and with Keith Humble established one of the first electronic music studios at an Australian university. He is remembered for his innovative teaching style and for his introduction of avant-garde music to Australian audiences through the ISCM and the Melbourne Autumn Festival of Organ and Harpsichord. His compositions concentrate on chance elements within specific acoustic environments. After his accidental death, interest in his music was sustained through a series of commemorative recordings....