Portrait of William Alwyn
William Alwyn CBE, born William Alwyn Smith[1] (7 November 1905 – 11 September 1985),[2] was an English composer, conductor, and music teacher.
Life and music
William Alwyn was born in Northampton, where he showed an early interest in music and began to learn to play the piccolo. At the age of 15 he entered the Royal Academy of Music in London where he studied flute and composition. He was a virtuoso flautist and for a time was a flautist with the London Symphony Orchestra.[3] Alwyn served as professor of composition at the Royal Academy of Music from 1926 to 1955.[4]
William Alwyn had a remarkable range of talents. He was a distinguished polyglot, poet, and artist, as well as musician.[4] In 1948 he became a member of the Savile Club in London. He helped found the Composers' Guild of Great Britain (now merged into the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors), and was its chairman in 1949, 1950 and 1954.[5] He was also sometime Director of the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society, a Vice-President of the Society for the Promotion of New Music (S.P.N.M.) and Director of the Performing Right Society. For many years he was one of the panel engaged by the BBC to read new scores to help assess whether the works should be performed and broadcast. He was awarded a CBE in 1978 in recognition of his services to music.[6]
His compositional output was varied and large and included five symphonies, four operas, several concertos, film scores and string quartets.
Alwyn wrote over 70 film scores from 1941 to 1962. His classic film scores included Odd Man Out, Desert Victory, Fires Were Started, The History of Mr. Polly, The Fallen Idol, The Black Tent, The Way Ahead, The True Glory and The Crimson Pirate. Some of the scores have been lost, although many scores and sketches are now in the William Alwyn Archive at Cambridge University Library. In recent years CD recordings have been made. Some works, for which only fragmentary sketches remained, were reconstructed by Philip Lane or Christopher Palmer from the film soundtracks themselves.[7]
Alwyn relished dissonance, and devised his own alternative to twelve-tone serialism. For instance, in his third symphony (1955–56), eight notes of the possible twelve are used in the first movement, with the remaining four (D, E, F, and A♭) constituting the middle movement, and all twelve being combined for the finale. The work was premièred by Sir Thomas Beecham.
Alwyn's concerto for harp and string orchestra, Lyra Angelica, was popularized when the American figure skater Michelle Kwan performed to it at the 1998 Winter Olympics.[8]
William Alwyn spent the last twenty-five years of his life at Lark Rise, Dunwich Road, Blythburgh, Suffolk,[9] and died in Southwold, Suffolk, England, in 1985. He was survived by his second wife, the composer Doreen Carwithen. (The actor Gary Cooper was a cousin of his, on Alwyn's mother's side.)
Selected works
- Stage
- Orchestral
- Five Preludes (1927)
- Aphrodite in Aulis, Eclogue after George Moore for small orchestra (1932)
- The Innumerable Dance, an English Overture (1933)
- Tragic Interlude for 2 horns, timpani and string orchestra (1936)
- Overture to a Masque (1940)
- Concerto grosso No. 1 in B♭ major (1942)
- Score for Country Town (1943)
- Suite of Scottish Dances for small orchestra (1946)
- Concerto grosso No. 2 in G major for string quartet and string orchestra (1948)
- Symphony No. 1 (1948–1949)
- Festival March (1951)
- The Magic Island, Symphonic Prelude (1952)
- Symphony No. 2 (1953)
- Symphony No. 3 (1955–1956)
- Elizabethan Dances (1956–1957)
- Fanfare for a Joyful Occasion for brass and percussion (1958)
- Symphony No. 4 (1959)
- Derby Day, Overture (1960)
- Concerto grosso No. 3 (1964)
- Sinfonietta [No. 1] for string orchestra (1970)
- Symphony No. 5 Hydriotaphia (1972–1973)
- Sinfonietta No. 2 for string orchestra (1976)[citation needed]
- Band
- The Moor of Venice, Overture for brass band (1956)
- Concertante
- Piano Concerto No. 1 (1930)
- Violin Concerto (1939)
- Pastoral Fantasia for viola and string orchestra (1939)
- Concerto for oboe, harp and strings (1944)
- Autumn Legend for cor anglais and string orchestra (1954)
- Lyra Angelica, Concerto for harp and string orchestra (1954)
- Piano Concerto No. 2 (1960)
- Concerto for flute and 8 wind instruments (1980)
- Chamber music
- Sonatina for violin and piano (1933)
- 2 Folk Tunes for cello or viola and piano (or harp) (1936)
- Novelette for string quartet (1938)
- Ballade for viola and piano (1939)
- Sonata Impromptu for violin and viola (1939)
- Rhapsody for violin, viola, cello and piano (1939)
- Divertimento for solo flute (1940)
- Sonatina for viola and piano (1941)
- Suite for oboe and harp (1944)
- Sonata for flute and piano (1948)
- Three Winter Poems for string quartet (1948)
- Conversations for violin, clarinet and piano (1950)
- Trio for flute, cello and piano (1951)
- String Quartet No. 1 in D minor (1953)
- Crepuscule for harp (1955)
- Sonata for clarinet and piano (1962)
- String Trio (1962)
- Moto Perpetuo for recorders (1970)
- Naiades, Fantasy Sonata for flute and harp (1971)
- String Quartet No. 2 Spring Waters (1975)
- Chaconne for Tom for descant recorder and piano (1982)
- String Quartet No. 3 (1984)
- Piano
- Hunter's Moon (1920s)
- Odd Moments, Suite (1920s)
- The Orchard (1920s)
- Haze of Noon (1926)
- Two Irish Pieces
- April Morn, 4 Petites Pièces (1924–1926)
- Fancy Free, 4 Pieces
- Contes Barbares, Hommage à Paul Gauguin (1930–1933)
- Night Thoughts (1940)
- Prelude and Fugue Formed on an Indian Scale (1945)
- Sonata alla Toccata (1946)
- By the Farmyard Gate, 4 Pieces
- From Ireland, 7 Traditional Tunes
- Wooden Walls, Suite
- Midsummer Night, Suite
- Green Hills
- Five Pieces, Suite
- Two Intermezzi
- Two Pieces
- Harvest Home, Suite
- The Tinker's Tune
- Down by the Riverside
- Nine Children's Pieces
- Fantasy-Waltzes (1956)
- Twelve Preludes (1958)
- Movements (1961)
- Twelve Diversions for the Five Fingers
- Vocal
- 3 Songs to Words by Trevor Blakemore for voice and piano (1940)
- Mirages, Song Cycle for baritone and piano (1970)
- 6 Nocturnes for baritone and piano (1973)
- Invocations, Song Cycle for soprano and piano (1977)
- A Leave Taking, Songs for tenor and piano (1978)
- Seascapes, Song Cycle for soprano, treble recorder and piano (1980)
Film scores
Date |
Title |
Director |
Notes |
1941 |
Penn of Pennsylvania |
Comfort, LanceLance Comfort |
|
1941 |
They Flew Alone |
Wilcox, HerbertHerbert Wilcox |
|
1942 |
Squadron Leader X |
Comfort, LanceLance Comfort |
|
1942 |
The Harvest Shall Come |
Wright, BasilBasil Wright |
|
1943 |
Escape to Danger |
Comfort, LanceLance Comfort
Victor Hanbury |
|
1943 |
Desert Victory |
Boulting, RoyRoy Boulting |
|
1944 |
On Approval |
Brook, CliveClive Brook |
|
1944 |
Medal for the General |
Elvey, MauriceMaurice Elvey |
|
1944 |
The Way Ahead |
Reed, CarolCarol Reed |
|
1944 |
The True Glory |
Reed, CarolCarol Reed |
|
1945 |
Great Day |
Comfort, LanceLance Comfort |
|
1945 |
Rake's ProgressThe Rake's Progress |
Gilliat, SidneySidney Gilliat |
|
1946 |
I See a Dark Stranger |
Launder, FrankFrank Launder |
a.k.a. The Adventuress |
1946 |
Odd Man Out |
Reed, CarolCarol Reed |
|
1946 |
Green for Danger |
Gilliat, SidneySidney Gilliat |
|
1947 |
Take My Life |
Neame, RonaldRonald Neame |
|
1947 |
October ManThe October Man |
Baker, Roy WardRoy Ward Baker |
|
1947 |
Captain Boycott |
Launder, FrankFrank Launder |
|
1948 |
Escape |
Mankiewicz, Joseph L.Joseph L. Mankiewicz |
|
1948 |
So Evil My Love |
Allen, LewisLewis Allen |
music also by Victor Young |
1948 |
Fallen IdolThe Fallen Idol |
Reed, CarolCarol Reed |
|
1948 |
Winslow BoyThe Winslow Boy |
Asquith, AnthonyAnthony Asquith |
|
1949 |
History of Mr. PollyThe History of Mr. Polly |
Pelissier, AnthonyAnthony Pelissier |
|
1949 |
Rocking Horse WinnerThe Rocking Horse Winner |
Pelissier, AnthonyAnthony Pelissier |
|
1949 |
Cure for LoveThe Cure for Love |
Donat, RobertRobert Donat |
|
1949 |
Madeleine |
Lean, DavidDavid Lean |
|
1949 |
Golden Salamander |
Neame, RonaldRonald Neame |
|
1950 |
State Secret |
Gilliat, SidneySidney Gilliat |
|
1950 |
MagnetThe Magnet |
Frend, CharlesCharles Frend |
|
1950 |
MudlarkThe Mudlark |
Negulesco, JeanJean Negulesco |
|
1950 |
Morning Departure |
Baker, Roy WardRoy Ward Baker |
|
1951 |
Night Without Stars |
Pelissier, AnthonyAnthony Pelissier |
|
1951 |
No Resting Place |
Rotha, PaulPaul Rotha |
|
1951 |
Magic BoxThe Magic Box |
Boulting, JohnJohn Boulting |
|
1951 |
House in the SquareThe House in the Square |
Baker, Roy WardRoy Ward Baker |
a.k.a. I'll Never Forget You |
1951 |
Lady Godiva Rides Again |
Launder, FrankFrank Launder |
a.k.a. Bikini Baby |
1952 |
CardThe Card |
Neame, RonaldRonald Neame |
|
1952 |
Saturday Island |
Heisler, StuartStuart Heisler |
a.k.a. Island of Desire |
1952 |
Mandy |
Mackendrick, AlexanderAlexander Mackendrick
Fred F. Sears |
|
1952 |
Crimson PirateThe Crimson Pirate |
Siodmak, RobertRobert Siodmak |
|
1952 |
Long MemoryThe Long Memory |
Hamer, RobertRobert Hamer |
|
1953 |
Malta Story |
Hurst, Brian DesmondBrian Desmond Hurst |
|
1953 |
Master of Ballantrae (film)The Master of Ballantrae |
Keighley, WilliamWilliam Keighley |
|
1953 |
Personal Affair |
Pelissier, AnthonyAnthony Pelissier |
|
1954 |
Million Pound NoteThe Million Pound Note |
Neame, RonaldRonald Neame |
|
1954 |
Rainbow JacketThe Rainbow Jacket |
Dearden, BasilBasil Dearden |
|
1954 |
SeekersThe Seekers |
Annakin, KenKen Annakin |
|
1954 |
Svengali |
Langley, NoelNoel Langley |
|
1955 |
Bedevilled |
Leisen, MitchellMitchell Leisen |
|
1955 |
Ship That Died of ShameThe Ship That Died of Shame |
Dearden, BasilBasil Dearden |
|
1955 |
Geordie |
Launder, FrankFrank Launder |
|
1955 |
Safari |
Young, TerenceTerence Young |
|
1956 |
Black TentThe Black Tent |
Hurst, Brian DesmondBrian Desmond Hurst |
|
1956 |
Smiley |
Kimmins, AnthonyAnthony Kimmins |
|
1956 |
Zarak |
Young, TerenceTerence Young |
|
1957 |
Smallest Show on EarthThe Smallest Show on Earth |
Dearden, BasilBasil Dearden |
|
1957 |
Manuela |
Hamilton, GuyGuy Hamilton |
a.k.a. Stowaway Girl |
1958 |
Fortune Is a Woman |
Gilliat, SidneySidney Gilliat |
|
1958 |
Carve Her Name with Pride |
Gilbert, LewisLewis Gilbert |
|
1958 |
I Accuse! |
Ferrer, JoséJosé Ferrer |
|
1958 |
Silent EnemyThe Silent Enemy |
Fairchild, WilliamWilliam Fairchild |
|
1958 |
Night to RememberA Night to Remember |
Baker, Roy WardRoy Ward Baker |
|
1959 |
Shake Hands with the Devil |
Anderson, MichaelMichael Anderson |
|
1959 |
Killers of Kilimanjaro |
Thorpe, RichardRichard Thorpe |
|
1959 |
Third Man on the Mountain |
Annakin, KenKen Annakin |
|
1959 |
Devil's Bait |
Scott, Peter GrahamPeter Graham Scott |
|
1960 |
ProfessionalsThe Professionals |
Sharp, DonDon Sharp |
|
1960 |
Swiss Family Robinson |
Annakin, KenKen Annakin |
|
1961 |
Naked EdgeThe Naked Edge |
Anderson, MichaelMichael Anderson |
|
1962 |
Night of the Eagle |
Hayers, SidneySidney Hayers |
|
1962 |
Life for Ruth |
Dearden, BasilBasil Dearden |
|
1962 |
In Search of the Castaways |
Stevenson, RobertRobert Stevenson |
|
1963 |
Running ManThe Running Man |
Reed, CarolCarol Reed |
|
References
- ^ Ian Johnson, William Alwyn: The Art of Film Music (Woodbridge: Boydell, 2005), ISBN 1-84383-159-7.
- ^ "Alwyn, William". Who Was Who in America, 1993-1996, vol. 11. New Providence, N.J.: Marquis Who's Who. 1996. p. 5. ISBN 0-8379-0225-8.
- ^ William Alwyn, Winged Chariot Composing in words (London: Toccata Press, 2009) ISBN 978-0-907689-71-3
- ^ a b Mervyn Cooke, "Alwyn, William", The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell (New York: Grove's Dictionaries, 2001).
- ^ English Music Festival: Composer Profiles. Accessed 27 April 2013
- ^ William Alwyn Foundation: Biography. Accessed 26 February 2016
- ^ Philip Lane, "Reconstructing Film Scores", William Alwyn Society Newsletter (December 1997).
- ^ Michelle Kwan at the 1998 Olympics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZEfmMOpQGk&feature=related
- ^ Correspondence in the William Alwyn Archive, Cambridge University Library
External links
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