Peter Warlock (b. 1894–d. 1930). 

English composer Peter Warlock was born Philip Heseltine. At a young age, he became obsessed with the music of composer Frederick Delius, who became Warlock’s mentor and lifelong correspondent.

In 1917, to avoid military conscription, Warlock fled to Dublin. He stayed only a year, but it was one of the most artistically productive years of his life. In one 10-day period he wrote 10 songs, some of which are among his finest compositions. He later moved to Wales, where he wrote a large number of songs—including his acknowledged masterpiece, the song cycle “The Curlew.”

In addition to composing, Warlock transcribed a large amount of early music (570 published items), made a number of arrangements of Delius’s work, and wrote 9 books and 73 articles, including books on Delius and Gesualdo. He composed some highly regarded songs, including his most famous work, “The Capriol Suite.” He was essentially a miniaturist, writing mostly solo songs with piano accompaniment. He wrote a few choral works, an even smaller number of works for orchestra or piano, and a ballet.

Warlock is credited with contributing greatly to the rediscovery of early English music. This acquaintance with the Elizabethans influenced some of his later compositions, as did elements of folk music.