Charles Williams (composer)

Charles Williams (born Isaac Cozerbreit^[1] on 8 May 1893 in London, died 7 September 1978 in Findon Valley, Worthing, West Sussex, England) was a British composer and conductor, contributing music to over 50 films. While his career ran from 1934 through 1968, much of his work came to the big screen as stock music and was therefore uncredited.

He began his career as a freelance violinist in theatres, cinemas and symphony orchestras and later studied composition with Norman O'Neill at the Royal Academy of Music. In 1933, he went to Gaumont British Films as composer and stayed there until 1939. He composed for many British films and radio shows and after the end of World War II, he became the conductor of the new Queen's Hall Light Orchestra. Later, he formed his own Concert Orchestra.

Light music compositions

He composed many orchestral pieces and marches for his ensembles, which were recorded in the "Mood Music" category of light music and during the 1950s became familiar as film and television signature themes, often in his own recordings:

• "Devil's Galop" was the theme tune to the radio serial Dick Barton.
• "The Young Ballerina" accompanied The Potter's Wheel probably the most famous of the BBC's 1950s interludes.
• "The Old Clockmaker" was chosen as the radio theme to Jennings at School
• "Girls in Grey", originally written for the Women's Junior Air Corp during World War II later became known as the BBC Television Newsreel theme.
• "High Adventure", adapted slightly, is still used as the signature tune of BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night.
• "A Quiet Stroll" was used for BBC Radio's Farming programme, as well as a more recent programme Tracks.
• "Rhythm on Rails" was used as the BBC Morning Music.

He also composed the popular piano concerto pastiche, The Dream of Olwen, for the film While I Live and "Majestic Fanfare" (1935) was used by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for many years as the signature tune for its radio and television news broadcasts. A version as re-orchestrated by Richard Mills in 1988 is still used for radio news broadcasts.^[2]

Film compositions

• The 39 Steps - 1935
• The Citadel - 1938
• Hey! Hey! USA! - 1938
• Strange Boarders - 1938
• Kipps - 1941
• The Night Has Eyes - 1942
• The Young Mr Pitt - 1942
• Women Aren't Angels - 1942
• Thursday's Child - 1943
• The Silver Fleet - 1943
• The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp - 1943
• A Medal for the General - 1944
• English Without Tears - 1944
• The Way to the Stars - 1945 (with Nicolas Brodszky)
• Carnival - 1946
• Quiet Weekend - 1946
• While I Live - 1947 ("The Dream of Olwen" was featured in this film)
• The Romantic Age - 1949
• The Apartment - 1960 ("Theme from The Apartment," also known as Williams's "Jealous Lover")

References

1. ^ Mood Music
2. ^ Screensound

• Oxford Companion to Popular Music by Peter Gammond - published by Oxford University Press 1991 - ISBN 0-19-280004-3

External links

• Charles Williams at the Internet Movie Database
• A Sixth Garland of British Music

Persondata
Name	Williams, Charles
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	8 May 1893
Place of birth
Date of death	7 September 1978
Place of death