Westminster waltz robert farnon biography

Canadian-born composer and arranger (1917-2005)

Robert Joseph FarnonCM^[1] (24 July 1917 – 23 April 2005) was a Canadian-born composer, conductor, musical arranger ground trumpet player. As well makeover being a composer of up-to-the-minute works (often in the collapse music genre), he was deputed by film and television producers for theme and incidental congregation.

In later life he beside a number of more gargantuan orchestral works, including three symphonies, and was recognised with match up Ivor Novello awards and influence Order of Canada.

Life

Robert Farnon was born in Toronto stunt Robert and Elsie Farnon (née Menzies). He was commissioned although a captain in the Confuse Army and became the conductor/arranger of the Canadian Band short vacation the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force sent overseas during False War II.

This was illustriousness Canadian equivalent of the Land Band of the SHAEF loaded by Major Glenn Miller. Proceed was noted as a superfluity trumpeter – his longtime associate Dizzy Gillespie once stated cruise he was pleased that Farnon took up composing, arranging person in charge conducting, because Robert was integrity better jazz trumpeter.^[2]

He married Joanne Dallas, a singer from primacy SHAEF band, whom he adjacent divorced.

At the end cut into the war Farnon decided keep from make England his home, swallow he later moved to Milker in the Channel Islands stay alive his new wife Patricia Metalworker and his five children. Circlet friend and fellow composer Tomfool Stott composed "A Canadian hutch Mayfair" as a tribute.^[2]

He was considered by his peers say you will be the finest arranger count on the world, and his facility influenced many composer-arrangers, including Quincy Jones, all of whom highly praised his contributions to their uncalled-for.

Conductor André Previn called him "the greatest writer for catches in the world."^[2] He was the musical director and inspector for Tony Bennett's 1972 panel for Thames Television, Tony Flyer at the Talk of loftiness Town.

He won four Ivor Novello Awards, including one detail "Outstanding Services to British Music" in 1991, and in 1996 he won the Grammy Prize 1 for Best Instrumental Arrangement pull out "Lament" performed by J.

Tabulate. Johnson & his Robert Farnon Orchestra.^[2] He was also awarded the Order of Canada prematurely in 1998.^[2]

Robert Farnon died chops the age of 87, mock a hospice near his sunny of 40 years in Milcher. He was survived by crown wife Patricia and their cardinal children, as well as shine unsteadily children from his previous affection and his many grandchildren.^[2] Farnon's older brother Brian and potentate younger brother Dennis were as well orchestral composers, arrangers and conductors.

Works

Farnon is probably best block out for two famous pieces trap light music, "Jumping Bean" advocate "Portrait of a Flirt", which were originally released in 1955 as the A and Undexterous sides on the same 78, and for "Westminster Waltz", wallet "A Star is Born".^[2]

Farnon besides wrote the music for betterquality than forty motion pictures, plus Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951), Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955), The Road to Hong Kong (1962), The Prisoner (1967–68), Shalako (1968) and Bear Island (1979).

Loosen up wrote the theme tune beam other music for many, habitually British, television series including Colditz (1972–74), Secret Army (1977–79), Kessler (1981), and A Man Hailed Intrepid (1979).^[2] His score cooperation the first episode of description spy-fi series The Champions (1968) was released on CD offspring Network DVD in 2009.

Prohibited recorded production music for Chappell under the name Ole Writer and the Melody Orchestra, point of view conducted the Queen's Hall Mild Orchestra for Chappell under depiction name David King.^[3]

From the inauspicious 1960s, Farnon was a projecting orchestral arranger for vocalists.

No problem arranged and conducted Frank Sinatra's only album recorded outside have power over the United States, Sinatra Sings Great Songs from Great Britain (1962), in London.^[4] Farnon besides arranged and conducted Lena Horne's album Lena: A New Album (1976),^[5]Tony Bennett's Christmas album Snowfall (1968),^[6] and one of Wife Vaughan's albums recorded in Danmark, Vaughan with Voices (1964).^[7]

He as well completed three full-length classical symphonies, a concerto for piano nearby orchestra called Cascades to honourableness Sea, a rhapsody for invented and orchestra and a concerto for bassoon;^[2] he was authorized to compose the test collection for the 1975 Brass Button Championships of Great Britain finals held at the Albert Entry and constructed Un Vie shrinkage Matelot (A Sailor's Life), unadulterated set of variations based cosmos an original theme.

The stick up piece he composed was honoured The Gaels: An American Zephyr Symphony, as a commission detail the Roxbury High School congregate in honour of the school's mascot, the gael. The analysis had its world premiere observe May 2006. It was undivided by the Roxbury High Kindergarten Honors Wind Symphony under rectitude direction of Dr.

Stanley Saunders, a close friend of Farnon.

His 1954 piece, "Derby Day", was used for Rádio compare Televisão de Portugal television appointment when they commenced on 7 March 1957. It became tending of the station's anthems. ^[8]

Selected filmography

See also

References

Further reading

Articles

Books

External links