The British music critic Philip Heseltine (1894-1930) used the pseudonym of “Peter Warlock” for all his published efforts as a composer. After a failed career as a student, Heseltine fell into music criticism and became known as a combative critic under his own name. He also gained a reputation as an exhibitionist and student of Celtic culture and occult practices. The name of Peter Warlock came about as a result of the latter.

Most of Warlock’s music is for the human voice, either solo or choral, although his orchestral Capriol Suite is one of his most popular works. Heseltine died as a result of asphyxiation from coal gas, a probable suicide.