Born in Accrington, England in 1934, according to the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians he is 'the most forceful and uncompromisingly original British composer of his generation.' Mr. Birtwistle was knighted in 1988; he received the Siemens Prize in 1995. Recordings of his music (by Pierre Boulez, Oliver Knussen, Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim, and others) are available on the Collins Classics, Decca, Philips, Deutsche Grammophon, Etcetera, NMC and CPO labels.