Anthony Payne

Anthony Edward Payne, born in 1936 and passing away in 2021, was a distinguished English composer, music critic, and musicologist whose work spans a rich and evolving career. Payne is celebrated for his masterful completion of Edward Elgar's Third Symphony, a piece that has been widely accepted into Elgar's canon. His own compositions, particularly his chamber music, often showcase his deep connection to his wife, soprano Jane Manning, and their ensemble Jane's Minstrels. Initially a champion of modernist music, Payne's later works blend elements of late English romanticism with a modern touch, a style his colleague Susan Bradshaw aptly described as "modernized nostalgia." Payne's music invites listeners to explore a world where tradition and innovation coexist, creating a unique and captivating musical journey.