Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006). British composer and musician

British composer Malcolm Arnold was particularly known for his narrative music for film and ballet. His comedic writing set him apart from the conventional British establishment of classical music, and his comedy overture Beckus the Dandipratt perfectly exemplifies an ironic sense of humour, whilst his lyrical, and at times heartbreaking Fifth Symphony indicates his emotional dexterity in writing. A gifted trumpet player, his music is characteristically melodic and tonal; his most famous work being his music for David Lean’s 1957 film Bridge Over the River Kwai.
In 1953, Arnold was commissioned by Sadler’s Wells Ballet to compose a ballet to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The result, Homage to the Queen, with choreography by Frederick Ashton, was first performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on Coronation Day in 1953. Arnold also wrote the one-act ballet Elektra for choreographer Robert Helpmann at the Royal Opera House in 1963, but the ballet only received its first concert performance at the Royal Festival Hall in 2004. Malcolm Arnold’s other works for ballet include Ashton’s Rinaldo and Armida (1954), and John Cranko’s Sweeny Todd (1959). The music for Kenneth MacMillan’s Solitaire (1956) was taken from Arnold’s Eight English Dances.