Few composers have been able to express themselves musically as skilfully as Matyas Seiber: he was the world's first professor of jazz, later becoming active and influential in the International Society for Contemporary Music and a regular presence at major festivals. In his adopted home of England, he turned his hand to a song that can confidently be described as a schmaltzy ballad, subsequently receiving the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for his work. Seiber was also creatively diverse in terms of genres: pieces for an a cappella choir stand alongside chamber and solo pieces, songs, radio and film music, and orchestral works with and without solo instruments.