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Edward Cowie was born in Birmingham, England in 1943. Most of his early
life, however, was spent in rural countryside; Suffolk and the Cotswolds in
particular. These early years in quiet natural landscapes were major influences
on a life that has always been deeply affected and influenced by the forces of
Nature. He studied the violin and piano whilst at school and by the age of
thirteen was already composing. Even during his studies for a first degree in
Physics in London, he continued studies in music and in 1964, began serious
studies in composition with Alexander Goehr. He also studied painting at the
Slade in London as an external student.
By the late 1960's, Cowie was working mainly as a composer and some of his
early works were finding their way onto professional platforms such as The
Edinburgh Festival of 1969. In 1971, he was awarded a Chopin Fellowship to
study under Witold Lutoslawski in Poland, and also came under the influence
of Sir Michael Tippet, the latter remaining a close friend and mentor.
Cowie's career as a composer was firmly established with the premiere of his
BBC Prom Commission, Leviathan, which was premiered by the BBCSO in
1975. From then on, his music began to appear in major Festivals all over the
world. His music is published by Chester and Schott London and is recorded on
Hyperion and ASV record-labels. In 1983, Cowie was awarded the first Granada
Composer Fellowship with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. He
remained with the orchestra for three years and worked with them as both
composer and conductor. Since that time, he has worked as a conductor with
several major orchestras and ensembles in Britain and Australia (BBC
Philharmonic; BBC Singers; symphony orchestras of Queensland, Sydney,
Adelaide and Tasmania; The Australia Ensemble; The Seymour Group). He is
listed in all major music references.
His pianistic work is currently entirely within the improvisation group SONIC,
which consists of four internationally renowned musicians on flute, violin, voice
and piano, but he has earlier made several recordings for ABCFM as a soloist
and numerous public recitals throughout the world.
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