Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

February 18, 1948 in Smethwick, England

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Chris Hazell was a British composer and arranger who was born on September 17, 1948, in London, England. He was the son of a professional musician, and his father's influence played a significant role in his musical development. Hazell began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and French horn. He attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition and orchestration. Hazell's early career was focused on performing as a French horn player. He played with several orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. However, he soon began to focus more on composition and arranging. In the 1970s, he worked as a freelance arranger for several record labels, including EMI and Decca. He also worked as a composer for television and film, writing music for shows such as "The Two Ronnies" and "The Benny Hill Show." Hazell's first major success as a composer came in 1984 with his work "Three Brass Cats." The piece was commissioned by the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble and was later recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra. "Three Brass Cats" is a playful and lighthearted work that showcases Hazell's skill as an arranger. The piece features three movements, each of which is based on a different cat: a Siamese, a Persian, and a tabby. In the years that followed, Hazell continued to compose and arrange music for a variety of ensembles. He wrote several works for brass bands, including "Seaside Rendezvous" and "The Haworth Suite." He also wrote music for wind ensembles, including "Three More Cats" and "The Four Winds Suite." Hazell's music is known for its accessibility and its ability to appeal to a wide range of audiences. One of Hazell's most famous works is his arrangement of "The Carnival of Venice" for trumpet and orchestra. The piece was originally written for solo trumpet and piano by the Italian composer Giulio Briccialdi in the 19th century. Hazell's arrangement, which features a virtuosic trumpet solo accompanied by a full orchestra, has become a staple of the trumpet repertoire. The piece has been recorded by several prominent trumpet players, including Wynton Marsalis and Alison Balsom. Hazell's music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world. His works have been featured at the Proms in London and at the Edinburgh Festival. He has also been commissioned to write music for several major events, including the opening ceremony of the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In addition to his work as a composer and arranger, Hazell was also a respected music educator. He taught at several institutions, including the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He was also a frequent guest conductor and clinician, working with ensembles around the world. Hazell's career was cut short by his untimely death in 2008 at the age of 59. However, his music continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world. His legacy as a composer and arranger is a testament to his talent and his dedication to the art of music.

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