The British composer Peter Warlock, whose real name was Philip Arnold Heseltine, was born in London in 1894. As a pupil at Eton College, which he hated with a passion, he met the British composer Frederick Delius, who exerted his first formative influences on the young Heseltine. After leaving school, he soon gave up his attempts to study in Oxford and London and initially tried his hand as a music journalist and composer. His wealthy background allowed him to lead a dandyish life in keeping with his inclinations. His character could probably best be described as erratic, passionate and unsteady, with which he eventually achieved dubious fame. His friendship with D.H. Lawrence, the author of the scandalous novel "Lady Chatterley", influenced and probably encouraged him in a lifestyle that was considered highly scandalous by the extremely prudish British society. Reports of drunken excesses and lavish orgies occasionally called the police.
Nevertheless, Peter Warlock made a great contribution to British music, both as a researcher, biographer and composer. Throughout his life, he was unable to commit himself to one field of activity, so that Frederick Delius, who recognised his great talent, advised him to choose either the profession of music critic or composer. Driven by inner restlessness, he often changed his place of residence, sought inspiring influences and gradually created his compositional work. In the process, he repeatedly experienced depressive phases triggered by diminishing creativity. In December 1930, Heseltine, alias Peter Warlock, died in his London flat of suspected suicide as a result of gas poisoning.
