Among his most recognisable works are Monty Python's Life of Brian for film, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Brideshead Revisited for television, the latter two earning Ivor Novello Awards in 1979 and 1981 respectively.

The critical success of his Requiem at the Three Choirs Festival in 1976 sealed his reputation as a composer and led to many commissions from major organisations.

Continuing the tradition established by Benjamin Britten, Burgon's fluent and effortless language was particularly well suited to the voice and he had a long-standing collaboration with counter-tenor James Bowman.

Burgon also had considerable success writing for film and television and twice received both BAFTA and Ivor Novello Awards.

[5] (Perhaps his most noted piece is his Nunc dimittis, which was composed in 1979 for use in the television series, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.)