Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Birth

:

May, 1930 in Edgware, Middlesex, England

Genre

:

Band

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Gordon Langford was a British composer, arranger, and pianist who was born on May 11, 1930, in Edgware, Middlesex, England. He was the son of a professional musician, and his father played the trumpet in the Royal Artillery Band. Langford showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. He attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition, piano, and conducting. Langford's career as a composer began in the 1950s when he started writing music for television and radio. He worked for the BBC as a staff arranger and composer, and his music was featured on many popular programs, including "The Benny Hill Show" and "The Morecambe and Wise Show." Langford also wrote music for films, including "The Blue Max" and "The Return of the Pink Panther." In addition to his work in television and film, Langford was a prolific composer of classical music. He wrote many works for orchestra, including his "Rhapsody for Trombone and Orchestra," which was premiered by the London Symphony Orchestra in 1976. Langford also wrote several concertos, including his "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra," which was premiered by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1984. One of Langford's most famous works is his "Fantasy on British Sea Songs," which he arranged for the Last Night of the Proms in 1979. The piece is a medley of traditional British sea shanties, including "Rule, Britannia!" and "The Sailor's Hornpipe." Langford's arrangement has become a staple of the Last Night of the Proms and is often performed by orchestras around the world. Langford was also known for his arrangements of popular music. He arranged many songs for the British singer Matt Monro, including "Born Free" and "From Russia with Love." Langford's arrangement of "The Windmills of Your Mind" was used in the film "The Thomas Crown Affair" and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Throughout his career, Langford received many awards and honors for his contributions to music. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1993 for his services to music, and he was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 2001. Langford continued to compose and arrange music until his death on April 18, 2017, at the age of 86. In conclusion, Gordon Langford was a talented composer, arranger, and pianist who made significant contributions to classical music, television, and film. His works for orchestra, including his "Fantasy on British Sea Songs," have become beloved classics, and his arrangements of popular music have been heard by millions of people around the world. Langford's legacy as a composer and arranger will continue to inspire musicians for generations to come.

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