Benjamin Burrows

He was the son of Benjamin Harper Burrows (1864–1915), a scholar and teacher of some repute, who played violin, viola and later cello, and was closely involved with the Leicester Orchestral Union from 1884 until his death.

[3] He was born at 12 College Street, Leicester and attended Alderman Newton's Boys School.

[2] By 1914 he had set up as a music teacher[2] and was giving organ recitals in De Montfort Hall, Leicester.

[2] He had many students from all parts of the world as shown by a crop of flags pinned to a map on his studio wall.

In teaching composition it seems Burrows had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the subject and had developed an almost computer like system for keeping all aspects of his craft at his fingertips.

Ben's reputation as a major figure on the British music scene was recognised by Leicester City Council who honoured his life and work with a Blue Plaque outside his old studio at 2 University Road.

Under the influence and friendship of Jane Vowles, a soprano to whom he taught theory, he composed 93 songs in 21 months.

They include settings of poetry by A. E. Housman, Rossetti, Herrick, de la Mare, Robert Frost, and Emily Dickinson, several of which have been recorded.