Peter Warlock (magician)

Peter Warlock (1894-1930), born Philip Arnold Heseltine, was a British composer, music critic, and occultist. While primarily known for his musical output, particularly his art songs and orchestral suites, Warlock also cultivated an interest in magic and the occult, adopting the pseudonym "Peter Warlock" for those pursuits and, eventually, for a significant portion of his compositional work.

Heseltine's interest in the occult was fostered by his association with figures like Aleister Crowley and D.H. Lawrence. While he never fully committed to Crowley's Thelema, he was influenced by occult ideas and incorporated esoteric symbolism into some of his musical scores. The Peter Warlock persona allowed Heseltine to explore these darker, more unconventional aspects of his personality and creative expression, distinct from the more traditional and academically grounded Philip Heseltine.

The adoption of the Warlock name was not simply a whim; it represented a deliberate attempt to create a separate identity linked to the world of magic and ritual. While there is limited documented evidence of Warlock performing stage magic in a conventional sense, his exploration of occult practices, his fascination with folklore and witchcraft, and his adoption of the Warlock pseudonym firmly establish his place as a figure of interest in the history of magic, even if primarily in a conceptual and symbolic context. He is often described as an "armchair magician" or an "occult dabbler," reflecting the predominantly intellectual nature of his engagement with the subject. The Warlock persona contributed to the romantic mystique surrounding Heseltine's life and work, particularly in light of his early and tragic death.