Robert Farnon facts for kids

Robert Joseph Farnon (born July 24, 1917 – died April 23, 2005) was a talented musician from Canada. He was a composer, a conductor, and a musical arranger. He also played the trumpet. Farnon wrote music for movies and TV shows. Later in his life, he created larger orchestral pieces, like three symphonies. He won many awards, including four Ivor Novello awards and the Order of Canada.

Robert Farnon's Life Story

Robert Farnon was born in Toronto, Canada. His parents were Robert and Elsie Farnon. During World War II, he became a captain in the Canadian Army. He led the Canadian Band of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force overseas. This band was like the American band led by Glenn Miller.

A Talented Trumpet Player

Farnon was known as a great jazz trumpet player. His friend, the famous jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie, once said something interesting. Gillespie was glad Farnon started composing and conducting. He thought Robert was a better jazz trumpeter than he was!

Life After the War

After the war, Farnon decided to live in England. He later moved to Guernsey in the Channel Islands. He lived there with his wife, Patricia Smith, and their five children. Another composer, Wally Stott, wrote a song called "A Canadian in Mayfair" for him.

A Master of Music

Many musicians thought Robert Farnon was the best arranger in the world. An arranger takes a song and decides how different instruments will play it. His skills influenced many other composers. Even famous musicians like Quincy Jones recognized his talent. Conductor André Previn called him "the greatest writer for strings in the world." Farnon also worked as a musical director for singer Tony Bennett's TV show in 1972.

Awards and Recognition

Robert Farnon won four Ivor Novello Awards. One of these was for his "Outstanding Services to British Music" in 1991. In 1996, he won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement. This was for a piece called "Lament." He also received the Order of Canada in 1998. This is one of Canada's highest honors.

His Final Years

Robert Farnon passed away at age 87 in Guernsey. He lived there for 40 years. He was survived by his wife Patricia and their five children. He also had two children from a previous marriage and many grandchildren. Robert's brothers, Brian and Dennis, were also composers and conductors.

Robert Farnon's Musical Works

Farnon is famous for his "light music" pieces. These are often cheerful and easy to listen to. Two of his most well-known songs are "Jumping Bean" and "Portrait of a Flirt." These were released together in 1955. Other popular pieces include "Westminster Waltz" and "A Star is Born."

Music for Film and Television

Robert Farnon wrote music for more than forty movies. Some of these include Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951) and The Road to Hong Kong (1962). He also composed theme songs and other music for many British TV shows. These include Colditz (1972–74) and Secret Army (1977–79).

Working with Singers

From the 1960s, Farnon became a top arranger for singers. He arranged and conducted Frank Sinatra's only album recorded outside the United States. This album, Sinatra Sings Great Songs from Great Britain, was made in London in 1962. He also worked with other famous singers. These included Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, and Sarah Vaughan.

Classical Compositions

Farnon also wrote serious classical music. He completed three full-length symphonies. He wrote a piano concerto called Cascades to the Sea. He also composed a rhapsody for violin and orchestra. For the 1975 Brass Band Championships, he wrote Un Vie de Matelot. This piece was a set of variations on a theme.

His Last Piece

His very last piece was called The Gaels: An American Wind Symphony. He wrote it for the Roxbury High School band in New Jersey. It was named after the school's mascot. The piece was first performed in May 2006.

A TV Anthem

In 1957, Farnon's 1954 piece "Derby Day" became famous in Portugal. It was used when Rádio e Televisão de Portugal television services began. It became one of the station's main theme songs.

Selected Film Music

See also

• Music of Canada
• List of Canadian composers