Elizabeth Poston was an English composer, writer and pianist, who edited and collected folksongs * Studied at Royal Academy of Music in London and took private keyboard tuition from Harold Samuel * She made her name as composer at age of 20 with seven songs, including highly popular Sweet Suffolk Owl * Vocal music of 1920s combined influence of her friend Peter Warlock with developing neo-classical style * In 1930s left composition to pursue overseas exploration, archeology and folksong collecting " During war, worked in London for BBC, becoming Director of Music for European Service Broadcasting, and active as pianist, including National Gallery Concerts * In 1940s close acquaintance with Vaughan Williams led her back to folksong and composing * Wrote music for new medium of radio play, collaborating with Dylan Thomas and C.S. Lewis * In later years composed choral music and published Penguin Book of American Folksong, Cambridge Hymnal and Faber Book of French Folksongs * Lived for 73 years at Rooks Nest House, the subject of E.M. Forster's Howards End, and wrote score for film adaptation in 1970
