Ledger was director of music at Kings College — his alma mater — from 1974 to 1982. But this was only one slice of a broad, busy career that included the principalship of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music Drama in his latter professional life, and extensive work with Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears in his earlier years as music director of the Aldeburgh Festival. He was knighted by the Queen in 1999 for services to music.
Ledger continued to compose until this year. His last big, new work, The Risen Christ, was premiered at the National Cathedral in Washington and Canterbury Cathedral in May, 2011.
He leaves a huge discography as conductor and collaborative keyboard player on organ, piano and harpsichord, 39 published anthems, carols and arrangements as composer and four collections of choral music as editor — all of which are in regular performance around the world.
Here are highlights from Ledger’s 2007 Requiem: A Thanksgiving for Life, which intersperses the traditional text with poetry by 17th century mystical poet Thomas Traherne:
Here’s a clip of Ledger in conversation with his Kings College predecessor, the ever-chatty David Willcocks, and successor (and current Kings College music director Stephen Cleobury) on the annual carol service.
+++
Here, as a wonderful slice of history, is an hour-long 1967 documentary by Tony Palmer on the recording of Benjamin Britten’s The Burning Fiery Furnace, which includes Philip Ledger, just ebfore he became music director at Aldeburgh:
John Terauds