The composer, Walter Koerler Beckett, who died April 3rd, was born in Dublin in October 1914, son of James Walter Backett, a Cumann na nGael TD from 1926 to 1932. He was a member of the remarkable Beckett family, including Edward the flautist and John the early music expert and founder (with the late Michael Morrow) of Musica Riservata. His father was the first cousin of Samuel Beckett's father.
After Portora Royal School he went to TCD. He studied piano with Lily Huban and organ with George Hewson, took his IRAM in 1934, his B.Mus and ARCO in 1936. Dr Hewson was suffering from a long illness then, so Walter was his deputy as organist in TCD and in St Patrick's Cathedral and as lecturer in Trinity. He took his doctorate in 1947.
In the early 1950s, he was for several years the music critic of this paper, and its first to have a byline. As "B" he earned great respect from readers and professional musicians, being both knowledgeable (indeed erudite) and kindly without pandering to low standards.
He received a scholarship to study conducting in Rome. At the same time Fachtna O hAnnrachain, that very enlighted director of music of Radio Eireann, gave him a standing commission to supply the station with orchestral arrangements of Irish material and with original compositions. From Rome he went to Venice, teaching English as a foreign language in the Sailors' College there.
In 1956 his biography of Liszt appeared in Dent's important Master Musicians series and remained the standard text for years. In 1958 he collaborated with Humphrey Searle in Ballet Music. In 1975 his First Harmony Course was published, and in 1979 he made important contributions to Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.
in 1960 he married Hylda Madden, the singer, a pupil of Maestra Viani, and they had one daughter, Elizabeth the geologist. For many years he was Professor of Harmony and Composition at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and in 1990 received the rare honour of being elected a Fellow of the RIAM. His more important compositions came in his later life, including a symphony, a string quartet and other chamber music works.
Far from being avant garde, his works belong in style to the mid century, but are not only beautifully composed but distinguished and always a real pleasure to listen to. He was a gentle man, a real musician, a valued teacher, a scholar and a composer who will be appreciated much more in the future than at present.