 He was Lecturer in Music in the Department until 1976 and then succeeded Wilfrid Mellers as Professor.His first important commission came in 1966, from the York Festival, for his Chamber Symphony.Subsequent commissions included "Lumina" (soloists, chorus and large orchestra) for the 1970 Leeds Festival; the Violin Concerto for the 1976 BBC Proms; "Toussaint", an opera in three acts for the English National Opera, first produced in 1977 (and revived 1983); "Rise Dove" (solo bass and orchestra) for the BBC; "The Plumber's Gift", an opera in two acts for the English National Opera, first produced in 1989 with libretto by John Birtwhistle; and the Cello Concerto, commissioned by the BBC for the 1993 Cheltenham Festival.