Was born in 1939 in Sutton Coldfield, England. Studied privately under Erwin Stein and Hans Keller, later at Princeton under Milton Babbitt. From 1980–1993 professor at the University of Sussex. From 1995–2000 professor at the University of Stanford in the United States. Author of the books The Music of Stockhausen (1975), Music and Inspiration and In Quest of Spirit (both 1999). Holds honorary doctorates from the Universities of Southampton and Bristol.