Life
1918-1980; b. Falls Road, Belfast; his Presbyterian father was a blind piano tuner and church organist; his Catholic mother was an alcoholic; sent to live in England with fraternal aunt, who taught him to sing; ed. choir school of All Saints, St. Margaret’s Street, London; Clifton College then Royal College of Music under Vaughan Williams, R. O. Morris and H. C. Colles; Doctorate of music, Dublin University 1953; two Carolan Prizes from Radio Éireann, 1952, 1953; Professor of Composition at Royal Irish Academy of Music, 1956; composed orchestral scores for the Cork Ballet in the 1960s; his Sinfonia “De Profundis” was premiered at the Gaiety, 23 March 1969 and reflects his recovery from alcoholism; d. 5 July 1980; an opera, The Wedding, was premiered after his death. [WIKI]
Criticism
Charles Acton, ‘Interview with A. J. Potter’, Éire-Ireland,
5, 2 (Summer 1970), pp.115-39.