Richard Addinsell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Addinsell
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Addinsell in 1949.
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| Born | 13 January 1904 London, England
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| Died | 14 November 1977 (aged 73) London, England
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| Education | Hertford College, Oxford. Royal College of Music, Kensington, London. |
| Occupation | Composer |
Richard Stewart Addinsell (born January 13, 1904 – died November 14, 1977) was an English composer. He is most famous for his film music, especially the Warsaw Concerto. He wrote this piece for the 1941 movie Dangerous Moonlight.
Contents
About Richard Addinsell
His Early Life and Education
Richard Addinsell was born in Woburn Square, London. His father, William Arthur Addinsell, was an accountant. Richard was the younger of two brothers. He was taught at home before going to Hertford College, Oxford, to study Law. However, he left college after only 18 months. After leaving Oxford, he became very interested in music.
Starting His Music Career
In 1925, Richard Addinsell joined the Royal College of Music. But he only stayed for two terms and left without getting a formal degree. Even without a degree, he was already working with other musicians like Noel Gay. He helped create a show called an André Charlot Revue.
He continued to work on shows for Charlot in 1927. In 1928, he worked with Clemence Dane on an opera called Adam's Opera at The Old Vic theatre. To learn more about music and theatre, he traveled around Europe in 1929. He visited important cities for music, such as Berlin and Vienna.
In 1932, he worked with Clemence Dane again. They wrote the music for a Broadway play based on Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. This play opened in 1933.
Composing for Films
Richard Addinsell is best known for the Warsaw Concerto. He wrote it for the 1941 film Dangerous Moonlight. This piece is still very popular today for concerts and recordings. The movie makers wanted music that sounded like the famous composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. However, Rachmaninoff himself could not write the piece. So, Addinsell created it, and Roy Douglas arranged it for an orchestra.
The Warsaw Concerto has been recorded over 100 times. It has also sold more than three million copies! Addinsell also wrote music for Alfred Hitchcock's film Under Capricorn (1949). In this movie, he used Irish folk melodies to fit the Irish characters and their story.
He also wrote a short orchestral piece called Southern Rhapsody. This music was played every morning at the start of TV broadcasts. It was used by the Southern Television company in England from 1958 to 1981.
Many of Addinsell's film scores were destroyed by the studios. This was common for film music until the 1950s because people thought no one would be interested in them later. However, after he passed away, recordings of his film music were released. Music experts like Philip Lane often had to put the music back together from the film soundtracks.
Later Music Work
From 1942, Richard Addinsell worked with Joyce Grenfell. He wrote music for her shows in London's West End, like Tuppence Coloured. He also composed for other musical shows directed by Laurier Lister.
Addinsell's music is known as "English light music". He usually composed his music at the piano. Then, other talented musicians like Roy Douglas or Douglas Gamley would help arrange it for a full orchestra. Some of his orchestral pieces for concerts include The Invitation Waltz (1950) and The Isle of Apples (1965).
His Personal Life
Richard Addinsell stopped appearing in public in the 1960s. He passed away in Brighton in 1977 at the age of 73. His cremation took place on November 18, 1977. His ashes are buried in a special section at Golders Green Crematorium.
Film Music List
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- Note: The list of films comes from the British Film Institute.
See also
In Spanish: Richard Addinsell para niños
