Nicholas Maw (1935-2009) was one of the most popular and successful British composers of his generation. Maw was trained in twelve-tone technique, but even in his earliest works, such as Scenes and Arias, there was an underlying lyricism in his musical language. His later music was more overtly lyrical, melodic, expressive, and neo-Romantic. His Odyssey for Orchestra is considered the longest piece of continuous symphonic music ever written, lasting over an hour and a half. Maw is best known for his Violin Concerto, written for Joshua Bell, and his opera Sophie's Choice, based on the novel by William Styron.