Alan Davis composer

Alan Davis was born in Birmingham in 1945. He studied at the Royal College of Music, Keble College Oxford, and undertook postgraduate research on the music of Hotteterre at Birmingham University.

He trained as a clarinettist, but a growing interest in pre-classical music and historical performance practice led him to concentrate on the recorder as his principal instrument.

He performed as a soloist, as a member of small baroque ensembles, and in partnership with the harpsichordist David Ponsford. He also performed a wide range of contemporary music, and commissioned works from composers including John Casken, Colin Hand, John Joubert, Edwin Roxburgh and Philip Wilby. However, in the 1980s failing sight began to curtail his performing activities, and the major part of his subsequent career was devoted to teaching.