Enduring legacies. (Music).(tributes to Ted Perry of Hyperion Records and composer Malcolm Williamson)(Obituary)

We have in recent weeks lost two memorably larger-than-life characters whose contribution to the richness of our musical culture was quite outstanding.

One--Ted Perry, founder and presiding inspiration of Hyperion Records--elicits a tale of early struggle, lucky break, success, consolidation, triumph. The other Malcolm Williamson, Master of the Queen's Music--would seem to be the other way about: early promise, rapid recognition of conspicuous brilliance, turning wrong, debouching downhill all the way, to end in what looks ostensibly like failure.

Ted Perry's trajectory has become the stuff of legend; the printer's prentice from Derby, passionate about classical music and excellence in its performance and presentation, learning the trade from the bottom up, eventually to get the bit between his teeth …