Constant Lambert [1905–1951]

Constant Lambert was born in London in 1905, the son of an Australian painter. Educated at Christ’s Hospital, he then went on to study music at the RCM with Ralph Vaughan Williams, R. O. Morris, George Dyson and Malcolm Sargent (conducting). His career took off in a big way quite early on when Sergei Diaghilev commissioned him to compose music for the Ballets Russes in 1926. This was Romeo and Juliet, and further ballet scores were penned by Lambert throughout his life, the last being Tiresias, completed shortly before his death. His compositions often showed the influence of jazz, most notably in his most well-known work, The Rio Grande, from 1927.

In 1931 Lambert became conductor of the Vic-Wells Ballet (later to become the Royal Ballet), and his work here significantly impacted on his compositional output. Indeed, conducting rather took its place as being the central focus of his career from then on. His major work from the 1930s (and some consider it his masterpiece) is Summer’s Last Will and Testament for baritone solo, chorus and orchestra, and regrettably this never gained a foothold in the mainstream repertoire, which resulted in feelings of failure being experienced by Lambert. Dependence on alcohol became an increasing problem, and probably with overwork a contributory factor, he died at the early age of 45 of undiagnosed diabetes in August 1951.

Outside of music, Constant Lambert was very knowledgeable in the fields of painting, sculpture and literature. He had a lively writing style, which can be seen in his 1934 book Music Ho!, subtitled ‘A Study of Music in Decline’, and where his opinionated and often witty views caused something of a stir at the time. Lambert was certainly a bit of a character; so much so that it is believed that his friend Anthony Powell based ‘Hugh Moreland’ on him in his novel Casanova’s Chinese Restaurant (the fifth volume in the A Dance to the Music of Time sequence).

Thanks to John Mitchell for writing this biography.

  ComposerWorkGradeDurationPublishedPrice
FM242Constant Lambert
arr. John Mitchell		Aubade HéroïqueSound
for piano		6 to 77 mins28th February 2022£8.95
Forces: Piano