Carl Davis 1936 - 2023

[Nick Armstrong]

Very sad to hear of his death today - his music has woven its way all through my life … perhaps most pervasively the theme music for World at War - those opening & closing titles imprinted themselves when I watched the series as it came out.

RIP

[edashtav]

Very sad to hear of his death today - his music has woven its way all through my life … perhaps most pervasively the theme music for World at War - those opening & closing titles imprinted themselves when I watched the series as it came out.

RIP

He found a niche where his enthusiasm, professionalism and hard work provided a ‘go to’, unique service.
🥀

[Pulcinella]

The only CD I think I have with him conducting is one of Walton's Film Music.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Walton-Film-Music-William/dp/B000005GSA/ref=sr_1_4?crid=34G0EWZ2R6J83&keywords=Walton+carl+davis&qid=1691074824&s=music&sprefix=walton+carl+davis%2Cpopular%2C63&sr=1-4

As he was married to Jean Boht, I couldn't think of him as other than Mr Bread!
But I was disappointed that he recorded Copland's Lincoln Portrait with the words changed to accommodate a certain female narrator.

[Nick Armstrong]

The only CD I think I have with him conducting is one of Walton's Film Music.

Me too - a terrific disc [and annoyingly (and mysteriously) not available on Qobuz ]

I was in the hall when he conducted the LPO in his score for the 1925 Ben Hur alongside a screening of the film - a thrilling evening it was too.

[pastoralguy]

I heard him conduct the (R)SNO in May 1995 where they accompanied the Thief of Baghdad. Unforgettable evening.

He wrote the music to the HOLLYWOOD tv series in the 1970’s/80’s. (I really wish this would be released on dvd).

very sad news. RIP

[kernelbogey]

PS

Very sad to hear of his death today - his music has woven its way all through my life … perhaps most pervasively the theme music for World at War - those opening & closing titles imprinted themselves when I watched the series as it came out.

RIP

Being a kind of tv refusenik for a large part of my life I came to World at War rather late - I'd say only in the 21st Century, probably - but agree with you, Nick, about his titles music for it.
Recently I watched bits of the reshowing of Tinker Tailor, which now looks like a period piece in production values as well as in its settings. Unless I am hopelessly muddled here, didn't he write the titles music for this too? And wasn't that the first use - later a bit of a cliche - of a treble voice in pseudo-liturgical style? Eerily effective.

[Rolmill]

PS
Recently I watched bits of the reshowing of Tinker Tailor, which now looks like a period piece in production values as well as in its settings. Unless I am hopelessly muddled here, didn't he write the titles music for this too? And wasn't that the first use - later a bit of a cliche - of a treble voice in pseudo-liturgical style? Eerily effective.

That was Geoffrey Burgon's Nunc Dimittis.

Sad to hear of Carl Davis's passing - my main musical recollection is his very effective contribution to Andrew Davies's 1980s TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

[kernelbogey]

That was Geoffrey Burgon's Nunc Dimittis.

Oops...

[Nick Armstrong]

PS

Being a kind of tv refusenik for a large part of my life I came to World at War rather late - I'd say only in the 21st Century, probably - but agree with you, Nick, about his titles music for it.
Recently I watched bits of the reshowing of Tinker Tailor, which now looks like a period piece in production values as well as in its settings. Unless I am hopelessly muddled here, didn't he write the titles music for this too? And wasn't that the first use - later a bit of a cliche - of a treble voice in pseudo-liturgical style? Eerily effective.

No, TTSS was Geoffrey Burgon…

[cloughie]

Good contributor to the British music scene over the last few decades as Composer / Arranger / Conductor.
RIP Carl

[Lancashire Lass]

Yes, RIP Carl, he was immensely talented but had no side to him at all, not the imperious maestro but very much one with the audience.
I was lucky enough to be in a Christmas concert which he conducted at the Fairfield Halls with the RPO. I was with Wimbledn Chroal and he wasn't too proud to turn up for a rehearsal in Wimbledon, at the (sadly) dilapidated community centre where we then rehearsed. Sat on a barstool up on stage with the equally down-to-earth Elizabeth Watts, who was the soloiat for the concert.
At the performance itself, he was constantly engaging with the audience, with explanatory introductions to the pieces and also little anecdotes. For the second half, he came onstage in what could only be descrbied as a long trailing golden dressing-gown, think there was a Santa hat there somewhere as well. really entered into the Christmas spirit. a true lover of humanity as well as music.