Peter Charles Arthur Wishart (1921-84) studied at Birmingham University (U.K.) for his B.Mus degree and later with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. He first taught at Birmingham University, moving on to Kings College, London and then to the Guildhall School of Music. In 1977 he was appointed Professor of Music at the University of Reading. Wishart composed opera, orchestral and chamber ensembles. According to the British Music Society, Wishart's music is tonal, though with a strong bitonal element which provides pungency and frisson; effective use is made of chords containing a second or seventh; sometimes the chords are widely spaced for sonority, sometimes bunched for energy; subtle use is made of rests or pauses to reinforce line and clear textures.
