Edmund Rubbra; One of Britain’s Most Prolific Composers

LONDON — English composer Edmund Rubbra, who studied under Gustav Holst and wrote works ranging from symphonies to chamber music, died Thursday at age 84, two weeks after suffering a stroke.

Rubbra, one of Britain’s most prolific composers, began work at 14 as a rail clerk but won a music scholarship to Reading University, where he studied with Holst for a year.

He wrote 10 symphonies; two overtures; concertos for piano, violin and viola; chamber music, and many choral compositions, including religious works. He was a devout Roman Catholic.

Rubbra, a former professor of composition at the Guildhall School of Music in London and senior lecturer in music at Oxford University, also gave concerts as a pianist.