Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1943

Death

:

1997

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Ballet

 

Paul Reade was a British composer who was born on September 6, 1943, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father was a pianist and his mother was a singer, and they both encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Reade began his musical education at an early age, studying piano and violin. He later attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition with Richard Rodney Bennett and piano with Gordon Green. After graduating from the academy, Reade worked as a freelance composer and arranger, writing music for television, film, and the theater. One of Reade's early successes was his score for the 1977 television series "The Victorian Kitchen Garden." The series was a hit in the UK and was later broadcast in the US, bringing Reade's music to a wider audience. He went on to write music for several other television series, including "The Pallisers" and "The Pickwick Papers." In addition to his work in television, Reade also composed music for the theater. He wrote the score for the 1984 musical "The Hunting of the Snark," which was based on the Lewis Carroll poem of the same name. The musical was a critical and commercial success, and it was later adapted for television. Reade's most famous work is his "The Victorian Kitchen Garden Suite," which is based on his music for the television series. The suite was first performed in 1987 and has since become a popular piece in the classical repertoire. It features a variety of musical styles, including folk, classical, and popular music, and is known for its catchy melodies and lush orchestration. Another notable work by Reade is his "The Little Red Engine Goes to Town," which is a children's ballet based on the popular children's book series. The ballet premiered in 1996 and has since been performed by several ballet companies around the world. Reade was also known for his collaborations with other artists. He worked with the poet Roger McGough on several projects, including the musical "Tom, Dick, and Harry" and the song cycle "The Way Things Are." He also collaborated with the artist David Hockney on the opera "Love Counts," which premiered in 1983. Throughout his career, Reade was recognized for his contributions to music. He was awarded the Ivor Novello Award for Best TV Theme in 1984 for his work on "The Victorian Kitchen Garden," and he was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 1991. He continued to compose music until his death in 1997 at the age of 53. In conclusion, Paul Reade was a talented composer who made significant contributions to the world of music. His work in television, film, and the theater brought his music to a wide audience, and his compositions for the classical repertoire continue to be performed and enjoyed today. Reade's legacy lives on through his music, which remains a testament to his creativity and skill as a composer.

More....