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557850bk Frankel 9/3/06 10:15 PM Page 2 Carl Davis Born in New York, Carl Davis continues to draw on his early years of work, which provided him with his broad Also available in the Naxos Film Music Classics series … musical background. In 1959, with his fellow-student, Stephen Vinaver, he wrote the revue Diversions which won him an Obie (Off-Broadway). When it was presented at the 1961 Edinburgh Festival and from there to London, Ned Sherrin commissioned him to compose for That Was The Week That Was, paving the way for many radio and television commissions, from the BBC’s acclaimed Pride and Prejudice to The Naked Civil Servant and Good Night Mr Tom. His feature film scores include The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Champions, Scandal, Ken Russell’s The Rainbow, Widow’s Peak, Mike Leigh’s Topsy Turvy and The Book of Eve. Carl Davis has composed a unique series of scores for restored prints of silent films, originally commissioned by Channel Four in 1980. The series featured Abel Gance’s epic film Napoleon and in 1983 the French Minister of Culture presented him with the order of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres after a screening of the film in Paris. Live cinema performances of other classic films continue to take place around the world, and his association with the London Philharmonic Orchestra has led to regular presentations of these classic films from the silent era. For eight years Carl Davis held the post of Artistic Director and Conductor for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Summer Pops Season. As part of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s 150th anniversary celebrations, he and Paul McCartney wrote Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio, given its première under Carl Davis at the Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool, in June 1991 and subsequently around the world. He has shown particular skill in composing music for dance, with a number of ballet scores to his credit. In 1999 he 8.557486 8.557549 made his début at the BBC Proms with a concert of film music with the BBC Concert Orchestra. The association continues with Proms in the Park. In 1992 he received an Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University and in 1994 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by his old College ‘Bard’ in New York. More recently, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music by Liverpool University. In 2003 he received a BAFTA Special Lifetime Achievements Award for his contribution to the worlds of film and television. In the same year he received an award for Best Score with An Angel for May at the Ale Kino Film Festival in Poland. In July 2005 he was awarded the CBE (Hon) for the significant contribution he has made to the world of music as both composer and conductor over the years. 8.557607 8.557703 5 8.557850 6 8.557850 557850bk Frankel 9/3/06 10:15 PM Page 1 Benjamin Frankel (1906-1973) former contains his first published experimentation has disappeared, along with his room. With everyone tells the harrowing story of a Roman Catholic priest with serial technique (broadly, composition based upon denying her brother’s very existence, she sets out to (Alec Guinness) in a nameless Communist state, who Curse of the Werewolf 1959 all twelve notes of the chromatic scale, in an order solve the mystery, finally rescued by a young artist is arrested on trumped-up charges of treason, predetermined by the composer, which can be (Dirk Bogarde) who remembers exchanging a few interrogated (by Jack Hawkins) and ultimately So Long at the Fair 1950 subjected to seemingly infinite variation), while the words with her lost brother. A cracking good yarn from brainwashed into confessing, in a “show” trial before 1953 latter is credited with being the first British feature film the Rank Studios, allegedly based on a true the world’s press. The story (adapted by Bridget The Net score to employ the method almost entirely. From his disappearance (though some say it is an urban myth). Boland from her stage play, also with Guinness), was The Prisoner 1955 Symphony No. 1 onwards, this was to be the main basis Frankel’s music beautifully captures the essence of the supposedly based on the true-life case of the Hungarian of Frankel’s compositional approach, although he did time and place, most notably in his charming Carriage Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty (1892-1975). It was a The career of London-born composer Benjamin Battle of the Bulge (nominated for Best Original Score not employ it again in his film music. and Pair which was an instant hit. landmark of British cinema and caused much Frankel ranks among the most remarkable and at the 1966 Golden Globes). For much of the 1930s Curse of the Werewolf (1959), was one of Hammer The Net (1953), one of many films Frankel scored controversy. The exchanges between Guinness and diversified of the twentieth century. A musically gifted and 1940s, he was also heavily involved in musical Films’ better productions and enjoys cult status. It tells for Anthony Asquith, concerns a team of scientists Hawkins are riveting and Wilfrid Lawson is child, he faced stern parental opposition to notions of theatre, as musical director or arranger, working for the tale of Leon (played by a young Oliver Reed in his working on an experimental aircraft at a top-secret memorable as the jailor. From its dramatic outburst at a career in music and was apprenticed to a watchmaker, many famous names of the day, such as Noel Coward first starring rôle) who is afflicted by lycanthropy, installation. All is not well, as a spy on the team the very start, Frankel’s tense, psychological score when he left school at fourteen. His gifts, however, and C. B. Cochran. causing him to change into a werewolf with each cycle attempts to steal it and kidnap its designer. Familiar never lets up, but for one tender moment of romantic came to the notice of the American pianist Victor Frankel’s concert music gained recognition towards of the full moon. His mother, pregnant by the crazed favourites James Donald, Phyllis Calvert and Herbert sub-plot, as the battle between church and state is Benham who persuaded his parents otherwise, and the end of the War, with striking solo and chamber beggar who raped her in the dungeon of the Marquis Lom contribute to an interesting sci-fi story, with waged in the guises of Cardinal and Interrogator. undertook to teach him, free of charge, for a period of works, most notably the Sonata No. 1 for solo violin Siniestro’s castle, dies in childbirth on Christmas Day, excellent special effects. Frankel’s tender Love Theme two years, the last six months being in Germany. and the first four String Quartets. In 1951, his Violin thereby triggering the dreaded curse. Leon, raised by lends poignancy to one of the film’s key moments. Dimitri Kennaway Although Frankel’s formal training was as a pianist, he Concerto, Op. 24, composed in memory of the six Photo of composer courtesy Dimitri Kennaway the kindly Don Alfredo and his housekeeper, appears The Prisoner (1955), directed by Peter Glenville, Frankel website: www.benjaminfrankel.org was also a talented violinist and, on returning to million victims of the Holocaust, and commissioned the concert hall, Frankel was also leading professor of cured by loving care but once out in the world as a London, began playing for numerous dance bands, later by the violinist Max Rostal, for the Festival of Britain, composition during the years 1946-56 at London’s young man, falls victim once again, as human vices to include those of Roy Fox, Fred Elizalde and Carroll cemented his reputation as one of the most original and Guildhall School of Music, where pupils included tempt him. The love of a pure young woman, Christina, Gibbons (The Savoy Orpheans). Apart from acquiring important post-War composers. James Stevens, Buxton Orr and George Martin (now seems to offer a fleeting hope but a trail of carnage a reputation as a leading “hot jazz” fiddler, he was in It was when he moved to Switzerland in 1957, Sir George Martin, of later Beatles fame). brings a tragic end, as Don Alfredo shoots his adopted Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra demand as an arranger, most notably for Henry Hall however, that he found the time and seclusion which This centenary release brings together music from son with a silver bullet fashioned from a crucifix. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra gives over sixty concerts from September to June in Liverpool’s and the BBC Dance Orchestra during the mid-1930s. enabled him to concentrate at last on his concert music four of Frankel’s scores, composed during his busiest Despite the inevitably hair-raising nature of the score, Philharmonic Hall and presents concerts throughout the United Kingdom, in addition to tours abroad. Despite a busy working life, he continued formal and compose his Symphony No. 1 in 1958. During the period in film. The Prisoner appears here for the first Frankel did not waste the fleeting opportunities Members of the orchestra are involved in a number of innovative community education projects. One of the studies with Orlando Morgan, at the Guildhall School last fifteen years of his life, he wrote a further seven time and Curse of the Werewolf, for the first time in its provided by the odd rustic scene, to compose some oldest concert-giving organizations in the world, the RLPO dates back to 1840. In 1957 it acquired the title of Music in London, on scholarships from the symphonies, a Viola Concerto, an opera, Marching entirety.

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