Elizabeth (‘Betty’) Langford (1929–2009), UK teacher of the Alexander Technique, author of several books on the Technique, and Head of Training.
Life
Elizabeth Langford was born in London. In 1952 she married the Hungarian musician Tamas Rajna. She studied violin with Max Rostal. She became the second concertmaster of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. She qualified from the Carringtons at the Constructive Teaching Centre in December 1969. In 1972 she was part of the team of teachers who taught the Technique at John G. Bennett’s (1897–1974) International Academy for Continuous Education in Sherbourne, Goucestershire, (where people were learning the teachings of Gurdjieff).
After qualifying she started teaching the Alexander Technique at the Guildhall School of Music. She ran a teachers training course in London together with Paul Collins, ‘The School of Alexander Studies’, around 1975–79. (She was briefly known as Betty Collins during this time.) In 1987 she moved to Leuven, Belgium, where she started a teacher training course, Alexandertechniek Centrum.[1] [2]
She wrote several books of which her most famous book is her introductory to the Alexander Technique, Mind and Muscle.
Books
Mind and Muscle by Elizabeth Langford.[3]
Mind, Muscle and Music by Elizabeth Langford.[4]
Only Connect by Elizabeth Langford.[5]
Remembering Walter Carrington edited by Elizabeth Langford.[6]
Articles
‘The ambush of fear’ by Elizabeth Langford.[7]
‘Educating the public’ by Elizabeth Langford.[8]
Obituaries
‘Elizabeth Langford’ by Mara Sokolsky.[9]
‘Elizabeth Langford’ (no author).[10]
Remembrances
‘Elizabeth Langford Remembrances’ by Helene Weisbach.[11]
‘Elizabeth Langford’ by Helene Weisbach, Ken J. Thompson, Elisabeth Waterhouse, Athanase Vettas, Jean Clark.[12]
Elizabeth Langford *21 February 1929 – †11 August 2009.
