Alun Hoddinott had a relationship with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales spanning seven decades. On hearing the news, David Murray, Director, said:
"With the death of Alun Hoddinott, Wales has lost a great musician, a prolific composer of a wide range of music who was a great musical educator and a great character.
He had a long and fruitful artistic relationship with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales but his musical world stretched far beyond Wales and encompassed orchestras worldwide. Many distinguished artists and ensembles collaborated with him - he was particularly inspired by virtuosity of performers and an important part of his compositional legacy is a tremendously varied series of works for solo instruments and orchestra.
As a composer, Alun valued above all craftsmanship in musical composition - he was meticulous in his working out of musical ideas and very precise in his treatment of orchestral forces. His scores conjure up an individual musical world of restless intensity, a brooding Celtic passion.
Like most distinguished creative artists he held forthright opinions, passionately expressed, and I, for one, will miss discussing music past and present and the state of the arts and Wales with him. Alun was serious and fun - a creator of great professionalism and an endearing raconteur of perception and wit.
"For the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, Alun's name and music will live on in our new home, named after him - BBC Hoddinott Hall."
BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales will dedicate their concert of Berlioz's La damnation de Faust on Friday 4 April, St David's Hall, Cardiff, to Alun's memory.
For further information visit BBC Wales News.
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