Background
Wilson was born in Islington, London. His father, a chemist, died when James was only four days old, leaving his widowed mother to bring up three sons alone. Without any family background in music (the only real interest was his mother"s slight interest in playing the piano), Wilson began piano lessons in 1931 (at the age of nine), continuing them until 1938.
Education
While in his early teens, Wilson attended many operas which fostered his interest in music Having finished his military service, Wilson began attending weekly musical composition classes at the Trinity College of Music in London.
Career
Though born in England, Wilson was a resident of Ireland for over 50 years. After school, and without any formal higher education, Wilson entered the Civil Service after having passed their entrance examination He served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, from 1942 till 1946.
lieutenant was around this time that he left the Civil Service to pursue a full-time career in music
In 1948 he moved to Ireland, where he had been stationed in the latter part of his naval service. Music is the nearest thing that we know to magic: its powers have still to be understood.
In my own work, I seek for clarity and economy and, above all, for the quality of lyricism.
Views
Quotations:
Music is the nearest thing that we know to magic: its powers have still to be understood.
In my own work, I seek for clarity and economy and, above all, for the quality of lyricism.