Role

:

Composer Conductor Performer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

1923 in Leeds, England

Death

:

January 14, 2009

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Film

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Angela Morley was a British composer and arranger who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born as Walter Stott on March 10, 1924, in Leeds, England, Morley began her musical journey at a young age. She started playing the piano when she was just four years old and later learned to play the violin and viola. Her parents were both musicians, and her father was a conductor, which helped to foster her love for music. Morley's early career was marked by her work as a saxophonist and arranger for various big bands in the 1940s and 1950s. She was one of the few women working in the male-dominated world of jazz at the time, and her talent and skill quickly earned her a reputation as one of the best arrangers in the business. She worked with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Quincy Jones. In the 1960s, Morley began to shift her focus to classical music. She studied composition with Gordon Jacob at the Royal College of Music in London and quickly established herself as a talented composer. Her early works were marked by their lush, romantic sound and their use of traditional orchestration techniques. One of Morley's most significant contributions to classical music was her work as an arranger. She was known for her ability to take existing pieces of music and transform them into something new and exciting. Her arrangements were often used in film and television scores, and she worked on some of the most iconic soundtracks of the 20th century. Morley's work in film and television began in the 1960s, and she quickly became one of the most sought-after composers in the industry. She worked on a wide range of projects, from small independent films to big-budget Hollywood blockbusters. Some of her most notable film scores include "Watership Down," "The Little Prince," and "The Slipper and the Rose." Morley's work in television was equally impressive. She composed the theme music for several popular British TV shows, including "The Forsyte Saga," "The Onedin Line," and "Watership Down." She also worked on several American TV shows, including "Dynasty" and "Dallas." Despite her success in the world of film and television, Morley never lost her love for classical music. She continued to compose and arrange music throughout her career, and her work was widely respected by her peers. In 1974, she became the first transgender person to be nominated for an Academy Award for her work on the film "The Little Prince." Morley's later works were marked by their experimentation with electronic music and their use of unconventional instrumentation. She was always looking for new ways to push the boundaries of classical music and to create something fresh and exciting. Morley passed away on January 14, 2009, at the age of 84. Her legacy as a composer and arranger continues to live on, and her contributions to the world of classical music and film and television scores will always be remembered.

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