Sudden death of a London composer, 39

Sudden death of a London composer, 39

RIP

norman lebrecht

August 25, 2022

The death of Alastair Putt has been shared on social media by his wife, the American pianist Anyssa Neumann:

Oh my dear friends. Nothing prepares you for this moment. I am heartbroken to share the news that my husband Alastair died on Friday, August 12.

A beloved son, brother, husband, uncle, and friend, he was widely respected for his astonishing musicianship as a composer, singer, and guitarist, and loved by all who knew him for his wit and wordplay, his loyalty and warmth, his provocative opinions and colourful trousers, his enthusiastic cooking and enjoyment of convivial evenings with friends.

As many of you know, he struggled greatly in recent months, and despite our best efforts to help him, he ultimately decided that he could no longer go on. We loved him tremendously—his family, his friends, his wider network of musician colleagues, and me—and he knew how much we did.

This is a 2016 version of his biography:

Alastair Putt was born in London in 1983. He studied at New College, Oxford and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where his principal teachers were Malcolm Singer and Julian Anderson. In 2011, he was accepted on to the London Symphony Orchestra’s Panufnik Composers Scheme, and his subsequent commission for the orchestra, Spiral, was premiered in June 2014 in the Barbican Hall. In 2012, he was a Composition Fellow at Tanglewood Music Center, and returned the following year for the premiere of his commission for brass ensemble, Blaze. In 2013, he was commissioned by the London Contemporary Orchestra through the Britten-Pears Foundation, and named as one of English National Opera’s House Composers. Recent commissions have included works for EXAUDI, the Brinkburn Festival and the Choir of New College, Oxford.

Comments

  • LM says:

    Heartbreaking. Much love to his family

  • Laura B says:

    Alastair was a first class musician and thoroughly decent chap. We will miss you, dear friend. RIP

  • Una says:

    May he now rest in peace. So tragic.

  • Peter San Diego says:

    A dreadful shame. Based on that organ toccata, he was a talented composer. My sympathy to his family and friends.

  • C. says:

    He was a dear friend, and a wonderful musician. We shall miss him enormously. x

  • Dsvid Hill says:

    So sad to hear of his loss. Mt heart goes out to all who loved him.

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