Kaikhosru Sorabji

Kaikhosru Sorabji, born Leon Dudley in Essex, England, was a prolific and enigmatic English composer whose work spans an impressive seventy years. Known for his complex and technically demanding compositions, Sorabji's music ranges from delicate miniatures to monumental works that can last several hours. His piano pieces, such as the nocturnes "Gulistān" and "Villa Tasca," and large-scale compositions like his seven symphonies for solo piano and the epic "Opus Clavicembalisticum," showcase his unique blend of free rhythms and Asiatic melodic elements. Sorabji's personal life was marked by a sense of alienation due to his homosexuality and mixed ancestry, leading to a lifelong tendency towards seclusion. His musical legacy is one of formidable complexity and dazzling difficulty, making him a standout figure in 20th-century composition.