Iain Ellis Hamilton (6 June 1922 – 21 July 2000) was a Scottish composer.

Hamilton was born in Glasgow, but was educated in London, where he became an apprentice engineer. He remained in that profession for the next seven years. He undertook the study of music in his spare time. After winning a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music, which he entered in 1947, he decided to devote himself to a musical career. 

He earned the Bachelor of Music degree from the University of London and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music from the University of Glasgow. Hamilton moved to the United States in 1962, but died in London, aged 78.

Works

Chamber and solo instrument

Choral

Orchestral

Organ
A Vision of Canopus for Organ Solo (1975)
Aubade for Organ Solo (1965)
Fanfares and Variants for Organ Solo
Le Tombeau de Bach Eight Reflections on Six Chorales for Organ Solo (1986)
Paraphrase Based on the music for organs in "Epitaph for This World and Time" (1970)
Roman Music for Organ Solo
Threnos: In Time of War for Organ Solo (1966)

Piano
A Book Of Watercolours for Piano Solo (1993)
A Field of Butterflies for Piano Solo (1990)
Denislav's Diary: Scenes from Childhood for Piano Solo (1995)
Le Jardin de Monet Nine Movements for Piano Solo (1986)
Months and Metamorphoses Volume 1: January, February, March, April
Months and Metamorphoses Volume 2: May, June, July August
Months and Metamorphoses Volume 3: September, October, November, December
Nocturnes with Cadenzas for Piano
Palinodes for Piano Solo (1972)
Sonata No. 1 for Piano Solo (1951, rev. 1971)
Sonata No. 2 for Piano Solo (1973)
Sonata No. 3 for Piano Solo (1978)
Three Piano Pieces, Op. 30

Stage and opera
Agamemnon (1987)
Anna Karenina (1978)
Lancelot (1982–1983)
London's Fair (1992)
On the Eve (1980–1996)
Pharsalia (Dramatic Commentary) (1968)
Raleigh's Dream  (1983)
Tamberlaine (lyric drama for radio) (1976)
The Catiline Conspiracy (1973)
The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1968)
The Tragedy of Macbeth (1994)

Vocal
A Testament of War for Baritone and Orchestra
Cantata No. 1 for Tenor and Piano (1957)
Dialogues for Soprano and Five Instruments
Five Love Songs for High Voice and Orchestra, Op. 36
Five Lyrics of Torquato Tasso for Baritone and Piano (1973)
Love is Life's Spring Setting of a poem by John Clare for Soprano and Piano
Paris de Crépuscule à l'aube Six settings of Baudelaire for Voice and Orchestra
Ricordanza for High Voice and Orchestra (1981)
Songs of Summer for High Voice and Piano (1954)
The Spirit of Delight Songs of Life, Love and Death (1978)

References 

 Iain Hamilton web-page at Theodore Presser Company
 Iain Hamilton web-page at MusicWeb International
  Catalog of papers, including worklist, list of sketched works, letters, etc.

Bibliography

External links
Iain Hamilton interview, 26 July 1991
Iain Hamilton's page at Theodore Presser Company

1922 births
2000 deaths
20th-century classical composers
20th-century British composers
20th-century British male musicians
20th-century Scottish musicians
British male classical composers
Scottish classical composers
Scottish opera composers
Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music
Alumni of the University of London
Male opera composers
Musicians from Glasgow
British expatriates in the United States