The Scottish composer, Alan Richardson was born in Edinburgh in 1904. He gained some pianistic experience with the BBC in Edinburgh before moving to London in 1929 to study at the Royal Academy of Music with Harold Craxton. He toured Australia and New Zealand in 1931 and was Carl Flesch’s accompanist from 1936 to 1939. He was appointed a Professor of Piano at the Royal Academy, a post he held until his death.

Alan Richardson wrote a great deal of piano music, including a Sonatina performed at the Edinburgh Festival in 1949. Many of his works were given pictorial titles, although these were usually added as afterthoughts. His marriage to the oboist Janet Craxton also inspired him to write a number of important works for that instrument. His style was concise, melodious and polished.

He died in 1978.

[Bopgraphy from the Bach Cantatas]