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The 1940s: Alwyn, Easdale and Vaughan Williams

Donald Macleod explores the legacy of one of the most prolific film composers of the mid-20th century: William Alwyn. Plus works by Brian Easdale and Vaughan Williams.

Donald Macleod is joined in the studio by film music expert David Huckvale to explore the legacy of one of the most prolific film composers of the mid-20th century: William Alwyn, who juggled writing over a hundred film scores with a distinguished career in the concert hall.

The pair introduce an excerpt from Vaughan Williams's Sinfonia Antarctica - drawn from his music to the 1948 film Scott Of The Antarctic - plus a famous lollipop, Charles Williams's The Dream of Olwen, performed fabulously by Liberace...

And there's a rare chance to hear from the first score ever to win an Oscar for Best Original Score - written not by Vaughan Williams, Bliss, Walton or Alwyn - but by the "lost hero" of British film music, Brian Easdale; a man seemingly written out of British musical history.

1 hour

Music Played

  • William Alwyn

    Reinforcements arrive (Desert Victory Suite)

    Music Arranger: Philip Lane. Orchestra: ´óÏó´«Ã½ Philharmonic. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
    • Chandos CHAN9959,.
    • T13.
  • William Alwyn

    The Million-Pound Note (music)

    Orchestra: ´óÏó´«Ã½ Philharmonic. Conductor: Rumon Gamba MBzID.
    • Chandos CHAN10349,.
    • T7.
  • William Alwyn

    Nemesis (Odd Man Out Suite)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Music Arranger: Palmer, Christopher. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Chandos CHAN9243,.
    • T4.
  • Brian Easdale

    The Red Shoes Ballet

    Orchestra: Philharmonia. Conductor: Kenneth Alwyn.
    • Silva Screen FILMXCD309,.
    • 4.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Symphony No. 7 'Sinfonia Antarctica' - 1st movement (music)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • BMG-RCA Red Seal 82876 55708-2,.
    • 1.
  • Charles Williams

    The Dream of Olwen (music)

    Performer: Liberace.
    • Dynamic DYN 3578,.
    • 5.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 24 Sep 2013 12:00
  • Tue 24 Sep 2013 18:30

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