Francis Chagrin was the "organizer and chief moving spirit" who founded the Society for the Promotion of New Music.
11 Facts About Francis Chagrin
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Francis Chagrin was born in Bucharest, Romania to Jewish parents and at their insistence studied for an engineering degree in Zurich while secretly studying at that city's music conservatoire.
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Francis Chagrin graduated in 1928 but when his family failed to support his musical ambitions, left home and moved to Paris where he adopted his new, French-sounding name.
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Francis Chagrin spoke French fluently, as well as perfect English, Romanian and German, and good Italian and Spanish.
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In January 1943 Chagrin founded The Committee for the Promotion of New Music with the intention of promoting the creation, performance and appreciation of new music by young and unestablished composers.
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Francis Chagrin married his second wife Eileen during the Second World War and they lived in London, at 48 Fellows Road, Hampstead.
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Francis Chagrin's sons are the actors Nicolas and Julian Chagrin, husband of actress and comedian Rolanda Chagrin.
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Francis Chagrin's compositions include orchestral concert works, light music, chamber music and over 200 film scores, television and commercials.
9.
Francis Chagrin composed the score for the 1955 film about Colditz, The Colditz Story.
10.
Francis Chagrin left a third symphony incomplete at his death.
11.
Francis Chagrin had been commissioned to write a new piece for performance at the SPNM's 30th-anniversary concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 5 February 1973 - one of the few times his own work was ever performed at an SPNM event - but was unable to complete the work.