Malcolm Arnold
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Sir Malcolm Henry Arnold, KBE (born 21 October 1921, Northampton,
UK) is an English composer.
Arnold began his career as a professional trumpeter, but by the
time he was thirty he was composing full-time, being bracketed with
Britten and Walton as one of the most sought-after composers in
Britain. His natural melodic gift has earned him a reputation as a
composer of light music in works such as the sets of English,
Scottish and Welsh Dances, or the scores to the St Trinians films
and Hobson's Choice.
Contents [hide]
1 Biography
1.1 Career highlights
2 Key works
3 Selected recordings
4 External links
[edit]
Biography
He was born in Northampton and studied at the Royal College of
Music before joining the London Philharmonic Orchestra as a
trumpeter (he eventually became principal trumpet). By the end of
the 1940s he was concentrating entirely on composition. He was made
a CBE in 1970, and was knighted in 1993.
Arnold is a relatively conservative composer of tonal works, but a
prolific and popular one. He has acknowledged Hector Berlioz as an
influence, and several commentators have drawn a comparison with
Jean Sibelius. Arnold's most significant works are generally
considered to be his nine symphonies. He has also written a number
of concertos, including one for guitar for Julian Bream, and one
for harmonica for Larry Adler. His sets of dances, which consist of
two sets of English Dances (Op.27 and Op. 33[1]), and one set each
of Scottish Dances (Op. 59), Irish Dances (Op. 126), Welsh Dances
(Op. 13
and Cornish
Dances (Op. 91), are in a lighter vein and also popular (one of the
English Dances is used as the theme music for the British
television programme What the Papers Say). Another popular short
work is his Divertimento for Flute, Oboe and Clarinet (Op
37).
Arnold has also written a number of film scores, winning an Academy
Award for The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), and also providing
music for The Belles of St Trinian's (1954), The Inn of the Sixth
Happiness (195 and Whistle
Down the Wind (1961) among many others. He conducted the Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra in the recording of Deep Purple's Concerto
for Group and Orchestra, and conducted the London Symphony
Orchestra in the group's organist Jon Lord's Gemini Suite.
His works are particularly popular with youth and amateur
orchestras, partly because of their playability, and also because
of the accessibility of his unique style, which combines the
musical elements of classical, jazz, popular and folk. He is also
currently the patron of the Rochdale Youth Orchestra.
The Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra always had a soft
spot for the music of Malcolm Arnold, making the first commercial
recording of Divertimento for the Pye label in July 1967 and
performing many of his works. Arnold also conducted the orchestra
in a 1963 De Montfort Hall concert.
After a decline in both finances and health, Arnold moved to
Attleborough, Norfolk, UK, where he still lives under full time
care. The care has not only nursed him, but helped Arnold align his
finances and, more recently, helped fight a bitter family battle
which could have seen his daughter win sole rights over her
father's fortune.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Arnold
The Bridge on the River Kwai Concert Suite (1957; orchestra)
Four Scottish Dances (1957; orchestra or brass band)