20 Facts About Malcolm Arnold

Sir Malcolm Henry Arnold was an English composer.

Malcolm Arnold's style is tonal and rejoices in lively rhythms, brilliant orchestration, and an unabashed tunefulness.

Malcolm Arnold wrote extensively for the theatre, with five ballets specially commissioned by the Royal Ballet, as well as two operas and a musical.

Malcolm Arnold produced scores for more than a hundred films, among these The Bridge on the River Kwai, for which he won an Oscar.

Malcolm Arnold was born in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, the youngest of five children from a prosperous Northampton family of shoemakers.

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Malcolm Arnold began his career playing trumpet professionally, but by the age of 30 his life was devoted to composition.

Malcolm Arnold was ranked with Benjamin Britten as one of the most sought-after composers in Britain.

Malcolm Arnold was a highly successful composer of film music, penning the scores to over a hundred features and documentaries, including titles such as The Bridge on the River Kwai, Hobson's Choice and the St Trinian's series.

Malcolm Arnold wrote a variety of concertos and chamber works, as well as music for the theatre including major ballets.

Malcolm Arnold died at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, on 23 September 2006, aged 84, after suffering from a chest infection.

Malcolm Arnold was a relatively conservative composer of tonal works, but a prolific and popular one.

Malcolm Arnold wrote a number of concertos, including one for guitar for Julian Bream, one for cello for Julian Lloyd Webber, two for clarinet for Frederick Thurston and Benny Goodman, one for harmonica for Larry Adler and one – enthusiastically welcomed at its premiere during the 1969 Proms – for three hands on two pianos for the husband-and-wife team of Cyril Smith and Phyllis Sellick.

Malcolm Arnold wrote some highly successful concert overtures, including Beckus the Dandipratt, the strikingly scored Tam o' Shanter, the rollicking A Grand Grand Overture, and the dramatic Peterloo Overture .

Malcolm Arnold is known for his relatively large number of compositions and arrangements of his own compositions for brass band.

In 1957, Malcolm Arnold won an Academy Award for the music to David Lean's film The Bridge on the River Kwai.

Malcolm Arnold wrote the music for the entire series of St Trinian's films, including The Belles of St Trinian's, which was a particular favourite with the composer.

Malcolm Arnold was the President of the Rochdale Youth Orchestra until his death in September 2006.

Malcolm Arnold conducted the orchestra in a 1963 De Montfort Hall concert that included his own English Dances and Tam O'Shanter.

Malcolm Arnold wrote the Trevelyan Suite to mark the opening of Trevelyan College, University of Durham.

Malcolm Arnold conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the live Royal Albert Hall recording of Jon Lord's Concerto for Group and Orchestra with Deep Purple in September, 1969.