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Donald Swann

March 28, 2023

Not to be confused with Donald A. Swan.

Donald Ibrahim Swann (30 September 1923 – 23 March 1994) was a British composer, musician, singer and entertainer. He was one half of Flanders and Swann, writing and performing comic songs with Michael Flanders.[1]

Donald Swann
Swann in 1966
Born
Donald Ibrahim Swann

(1923-09-30)30 September 1923
Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Died23 March 1994(1994-03-23) (aged 70)
London, England
Occupation(s)Composer, musician and entertainer
Known forFlanders and Swann
Spouse(s)
Janet Oxborrow
​
​
(m. 1955; div. 1983)​

Alison Smith
Children2

Life

Donald Swann was born in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. His father, Herbert Alfredovich Swann, was a Russian doctor of English descent, from the expatriate community that started out as the Muscovy Company. His mother, Naguimé Sultán Swann (born Piszóva), was a Turkmen-Russian nurse from Ashgabat, now part of Turkmenistan.[2] They were refugees from the Russian Revolution. Swann's great-grandfather, Alfred Trout Swan, a draper from Lincolnshire, emigrated to Russia in 1840 and married the daughter of the horologer to the tsars. Some time later the family added a second 'n' to their surname. His uncle Alfred wrote the first biography of Alexander Scriabin in English.[3]

The family moved to London, where Swann attended Dulwich College Preparatory School and Westminster School. It was at the latter that he first met Michael Flanders, a fellow pupil. In July and August 1940 they staged a revue called Go To It.[4] The pair then went their separate ways during World War II, but were later to establish a musical partnership writing songs and light opera, Flanders providing the words and Swann composing the music.

In 1941 Swann was awarded an exhibition to Christ Church, Oxford, to read modern languages. In 1942 he registered as a conscientious objector and served with the Friends' Ambulance Unit (a Quaker relief organisation) in Egypt, Palestine and Greece. After the war, Swann returned to Oxford to read Russian and Modern Greek.

In the 1970s, Swann became a Sponsor of the Peace Pledge Union.

Donald Swann was married twice; he married Janet Oxborrow in 1955 and they were divorced in 1983; his second wife was the art historian Alison Smith. In 1992 he was diagnosed with cancer. He died at Trinity Hospice in South London on 23 March 1994.

Career

When by chance Swann and Flanders met again in 1948 it led to the start of their professional partnership. They began writing songs and light opera, Swann writing the music and Flanders writing the words. Their songs were performed by artists such as Ian Wallace and Joyce Grenfell. They subsequently wrote two two-man revues, At the Drop of a Hat and At the Drop of Another Hat, which they performed all over the world until their partnership ended in 1967.

At the same time, Swann was maintaining a prolific musical output, writing the music for several operas and operettas, including a full-length version of C. S. Lewis's Perelandra, and a setting of J. R. R. Tolkien's poems from The Lord of the Rings to music in The Road Goes Ever On song cycle.[5]

In 1953–59 Swann provided music for seven plays by Henry Reed on the BBC Third Programme, generally known as the Hilda Tablet plays for one of the fictional characters, a lady composer of avant-garde "musique concrète renforcée". Besides incidental music, Swann composed for this character an opera, "Emily Butter" and several other complete works.[6] A lifelong friendship with Sydney Carter resulted in scores of songs, the best known being "The Youth of the Heart" which reappeared in At the Drop of A Hat, and a musical Lucy & the Hunter.

After his partnership with Flanders ended, Swann continued to give solo concerts and to write for other singers. He also formed the Swann Singers and toured with them in the 1970s. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, he continued performing in various combinations with singers and colleagues and as a solo artist. In the later years of his life he 'discovered' Victorian poetry and composed some of his most profound and moving music to the words of William Blake, Emily Dickinson, Christina Rossetti, Oscar Wilde and others.[7] He wrote a number of hymn tunes which appear in modern standard hymn books.

It is estimated that Swann wrote or set to music nearly 2,000 songs during his career.[8]

Discography

Flanders and Swann

  • 1957 – Excerpts from at the Drop of a Hat (EP)
  • 1957 – More Excerpts from at the Drop of a Hat (EP)
  • 1957 – More out of the Hat! (EP)
  • 1959 – Little Drummer Boy/The Storke Carol (EP)
  • 1960 – At The Drop of a Hat (produced by George Martin)
  • 1961 – The Bestiary of Flanders & Swann (EP)
  • 1964 – At The Drop of Another Hat (produced by George Martin)
  • 1964 – Favourites from at the Drop of Another Hat (EP)
  • 1964 – More out of the New Hat (EP)
  • 1966 – EMI Comedy Classics (Hat and Another Hat on two cassettes)
  • 1967 – The Bestiary of Flanders & Swann (produced by George Martin)
  • 1975 – And Then We Wrote...
  • 1977 – Tried by the Centre Court
  • 1994 – The Complete Flanders & Swann (first three albums in a boxed set)
  • 1994 – A Transport of Delight: The Best of Flanders & Swann
  • 1997 – More out of the Drop of a Hat – Again! (double cassette)
  • 1999 – The Flanders and Swann Collection
  • 2000 – A Drop of Hilarity from Flanders & Swann
  • 2007 – Hat Trick: Flanders & Swann Collector's Edition

Other works

  • 1951 – The Youth of the Heart (78 rpm)
  • 1958 – London Sketches (Donald Swann & Sebastian Shaw)
  • 1963 – Festival Matins (EP)
  • 1964 – Songs of Faith & Doubt (EP)
  • 1965 – For The Love of Betjeman (Donald Swann & Sir John Betjeman, EP)
  • 1966 – Donald Swann & the Choir of the Friends' School, Saffron Walden (EP)
  • 1967 – Poems and Songs of Middle Earth (J. R. R. Tolkien, Donald Swann, and William Elvin)
  • 1968 – Sing Round The Year (Boys of Westminster School and Girls of Mayfield Putney)
  • 1970 – An Evening in Crete (Donald Swann & Lilli Malandraki)
  • 1971 – The Song of Caedmon (Donald Swann & Arthur Scholey, EP)
  • 1973 – A Crack in Time (The Swann Singers)
  • 1973 – Wacky & His Fuddlejig (Donald Swann & Arthur Scholey, narrated by Peter Ustinov, EP)
  • 1973 – The Rope of Love (The Swann Singers)
  • 1975 – The Five Scrolls or "The Five Seasons of God" (Donald Swann & Rabbi Albert Friedlander) [9]
  • 1975 – The Parable of the Lost Sons (Donald Swann & The Nairobi Youth Choir, EP)
  • 1980 – Radio Orwell (The Olive Quantrill Singers)
  • 1981 – Swann with Topping (Donald Swann & Frank Topping)
  • 1984 – Requiem for the Living (Donald Swann & Cecil Day-Lewis)[10]
  • 1989 – Alphabetaphon (Donald Swann, 3 cassettes)
  • 1992 – Amiscellany (Donald Swann & John Amis)
  • 1994 – Swann in Jazz
  • 1999 – The Isles of Greece

Books

  • Swann, Donald (1968). The Space Between the Bars. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 9780340043783.
  • Swann, Donald (1975). Swann's Way Out: A Posthumous Adventure. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 978-0297768913.
  • Swann, Donald (1987). Alphabetaphon. Albert House Press. ISBN 0-9511451-1-8.
  • Swann, Donald (1991). Swann's Way: A life in Song. Heinemann; Revised, Arthur James 1993. Revised, Thames Publishing 1997. ISBN 0-85305-329-4.

Father's autobiography

Song collections

References

  1. ^ Smith, Lyn (1993). Swann's Way: A Life in Song. London: Arthur James Limited. p. 297. ISBN 0-85305-329-4.
  2. ^ Swann, Donald (1991). Swann's Way: A life in Song (1st ed.). London: Heinemann. p. 13. ISBN 0-434-75292-4.
  3. ^ . Nyanko.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Hat Shows". Donaldswann.co.uk.
  5. ^ Tolkien & Swann 2002, "Foreword to the Second Edition" p. 5.
  6. ^ "Henry Reed radio drama – Diversity". Suttonelms.org.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  7. ^ Donald Swann. Last Songs (2001)
  8. ^ 'Donald Swann. (1923–1994). Songs', Hyperion CDA68172 (2017), reviewed at MusicWeb International
  9. ^ "Choral & Sacred Music". Donaldswann.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Requiem for the Living by Various Artists". Rateyourmusic.com. Retrieved 3 September 2019.

Other sources

  • "Milestones Apr. 4, 1994". Time. 4 April 1994. 143 (14): p. 19. (obituary)

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Donald Swann.

March 28, 2023
donald, swann, confused, with, donald, swan, donald, ibrahim, swann, september, 1923, march, 1994, british, composer, musician, singer, entertainer, half, flanders, swann, writing, performing, comic, songs, with, michael, flanders, swann, 1966borndonald, ibrah. Not to be confused with Donald A Swan Donald Ibrahim Swann 30 September 1923 23 March 1994 was a British composer musician singer and entertainer He was one half of Flanders and Swann writing and performing comic songs with Michael Flanders 1 Donald SwannSwann in 1966BornDonald Ibrahim Swann 1923 09 30 30 September 1923Llanelli Carmarthenshire WalesDied23 March 1994 1994 03 23 aged 70 London EnglandOccupation s Composer musician and entertainerKnown forFlanders and SwannSpouse s Janet Oxborrow m 1955 div 1983 wbr Alison SmithChildren2 Contents 1 Life 2 Career 3 Discography 3 1 Flanders and Swann 3 2 Other works 4 Books 5 Father s autobiography 6 Song collections 7 References 8 Other sources 9 External linksLife EditDonald Swann was born in Llanelli Carmarthenshire Wales His father Herbert Alfredovich Swann was a Russian doctor of English descent from the expatriate community that started out as the Muscovy Company His mother Naguime Sultan Swann born Piszova was a Turkmen Russian nurse from Ashgabat now part of Turkmenistan 2 They were refugees from the Russian Revolution Swann s great grandfather Alfred Trout Swan a draper from Lincolnshire emigrated to Russia in 1840 and married the daughter of the horologer to the tsars Some time later the family added a second n to their surname His uncle Alfred wrote the first biography of Alexander Scriabin in English 3 The family moved to London where Swann attended Dulwich College Preparatory School and Westminster School It was at the latter that he first met Michael Flanders a fellow pupil In July and August 1940 they staged a revue called Go To It 4 The pair then went their separate ways during World War II but were later to establish a musical partnership writing songs and light opera Flanders providing the words and Swann composing the music In 1941 Swann was awarded an exhibition to Christ Church Oxford to read modern languages In 1942 he registered as a conscientious objector and served with the Friends Ambulance Unit a Quaker relief organisation in Egypt Palestine and Greece After the war Swann returned to Oxford to read Russian and Modern Greek In the 1970s Swann became a Sponsor of the Peace Pledge Union Donald Swann was married twice he married Janet Oxborrow in 1955 and they were divorced in 1983 his second wife was the art historian Alison Smith In 1992 he was diagnosed with cancer He died at Trinity Hospice in South London on 23 March 1994 Career EditWhen by chance Swann and Flanders met again in 1948 it led to the start of their professional partnership They began writing songs and light opera Swann writing the music and Flanders writing the words Their songs were performed by artists such as Ian Wallace and Joyce Grenfell They subsequently wrote two two man revues At the Drop of a Hat and At the Drop of Another Hat which they performed all over the world until their partnership ended in 1967 At the same time Swann was maintaining a prolific musical output writing the music for several operas and operettas including a full length version of C S Lewis s Perelandra and a setting of J R R Tolkien s poems from The Lord of the Rings to music in The Road Goes Ever On song cycle 5 In 1953 59 Swann provided music for seven plays by Henry Reed on the BBC Third Programme generally known as the Hilda Tablet plays for one of the fictional characters a lady composer of avant garde musique concrete renforcee Besides incidental music Swann composed for this character an opera Emily Butter and several other complete works 6 A lifelong friendship with Sydney Carter resulted in scores of songs the best known being The Youth of the Heart which reappeared in At the Drop of A Hat and a musical Lucy amp the Hunter After his partnership with Flanders ended Swann continued to give solo concerts and to write for other singers He also formed the Swann Singers and toured with them in the 1970s Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s he continued performing in various combinations with singers and colleagues and as a solo artist In the later years of his life he discovered Victorian poetry and composed some of his most profound and moving music to the words of William Blake Emily Dickinson Christina Rossetti Oscar Wilde and others 7 He wrote a number of hymn tunes which appear in modern standard hymn books It is estimated that Swann wrote or set to music nearly 2 000 songs during his career 8 Discography EditFlanders and Swann Edit 1957 Excerpts from at the Drop of a Hat EP 1957 More Excerpts from at the Drop of a Hat EP 1957 More out of the Hat EP 1959 Little Drummer Boy The Storke Carol EP 1960 At The Drop of a Hat produced by George Martin 1961 The Bestiary of Flanders amp Swann EP 1964 At The Drop of Another Hat produced by George Martin 1964 Favourites from at the Drop of Another Hat EP 1964 More out of the New Hat EP 1966 EMI Comedy Classics Hat and Another Hat on two cassettes 1967 The Bestiary of Flanders amp Swann produced by George Martin 1975 And Then We Wrote 1977 Tried by the Centre Court 1994 The Complete Flanders amp Swann first three albums in a boxed set 1994 A Transport of Delight The Best of Flanders amp Swann 1997 More out of the Drop of a Hat Again double cassette 1999 The Flanders and Swann Collection 2000 A Drop of Hilarity from Flanders amp Swann 2007 Hat Trick Flanders amp Swann Collector s EditionOther works Edit 1951 The Youth of the Heart 78 rpm 1958 London Sketches Donald Swann amp Sebastian Shaw 1963 Festival Matins EP 1964 Songs of Faith amp Doubt EP 1965 For The Love of Betjeman Donald Swann amp Sir John Betjeman EP 1966 Donald Swann amp the Choir of the Friends School Saffron Walden EP 1967 Poems and Songs of Middle Earth J R R Tolkien Donald Swann and William Elvin 1968 Sing Round The Year Boys of Westminster School and Girls of Mayfield Putney 1970 An Evening in Crete Donald Swann amp Lilli Malandraki 1971 The Song of Caedmon Donald Swann amp Arthur Scholey EP 1973 A Crack in Time The Swann Singers 1973 Wacky amp His Fuddlejig Donald Swann amp Arthur Scholey narrated by Peter Ustinov EP 1973 The Rope of Love The Swann Singers 1975 The Five Scrolls or The Five Seasons of God Donald Swann amp Rabbi Albert Friedlander 9 1975 The Parable of the Lost Sons Donald Swann amp The Nairobi Youth Choir EP 1980 Radio Orwell The Olive Quantrill Singers 1981 Swann with Topping Donald Swann amp Frank Topping 1984 Requiem for the Living Donald Swann amp Cecil Day Lewis 10 1989 Alphabetaphon Donald Swann 3 cassettes 1992 Amiscellany Donald Swann amp John Amis 1994 Swann in Jazz 1999 The Isles of GreeceBooks EditSwann Donald 1968 The Space Between the Bars Hodder amp Stoughton ISBN 9780340043783 Swann Donald 1975 Swann s Way Out A Posthumous Adventure Weidenfeld amp Nicolson ISBN 978 0297768913 Swann Donald 1987 Alphabetaphon Albert House Press ISBN 0 9511451 1 8 Swann Donald 1991 Swann s Way A life in Song Heinemann Revised Arthur James 1993 Revised Thames Publishing 1997 ISBN 0 85305 329 4 Father s autobiography EditSwann Herbert 1968 Home on the Neva Victor Gollancz ISBN 9780575001176 Song collections EditFlanders Michael Swann Donald The Flanders and Swann Song Book International Music Publications ISBN 1 85909 003 6 Swann Donald 1965 Sing Round the Year Bodley Head ISBN 0 370 01070 1 Tolkien J R R Swann Donald 2002 1968 The Road Goes Ever On 2nd ed Allen amp Unwin ISBN 9780047840098 Swann Donald 1971 The Song of Caedmon Stainer amp Bell ISBN 0 85249 107 7 Swann Donald 1973 The Rope of Love Around the Earth in Song Bodley Head Children s Books ISBN 0 370 01272 0 Swann Donald illustrated by Alison Smith 1991 The Poetic Image A Victorian Song Cycle Albert House Press References Edit Smith Lyn 1993 Swann s Way A Life in Song London Arthur James Limited p 297 ISBN 0 85305 329 4 Swann Donald 1991 Swann s Way A life in Song 1st ed London Heinemann p 13 ISBN 0 434 75292 4 Flanders and Swann Online Nyanko pwp blueyonder co uk Archived from the original on 7 March 2015 Retrieved 15 August 2014 Hat Shows Donaldswann co uk Tolkien amp Swann 2002 Foreword to the Second Edition p 5 Henry Reed radio drama Diversity Suttonelms org uk Retrieved 15 August 2014 Donald Swann Last Songs 2001 Donald Swann 1923 1994 Songs Hyperion CDA68172 2017 reviewed at MusicWeb International Choral amp Sacred Music Donaldswann co uk Retrieved 3 September 2019 Requiem for the Living by Various Artists Rateyourmusic com Retrieved 3 September 2019 Other sources Edit Milestones Apr 4 1994 Time 4 April 1994 143 14 p 19 obituary External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Donald Swann Official website Donald Swann at IMDb Donald Swann at the Internet Broadway Database Donald Swann biography at Llanelli Community Heritage Portraits of Donald Swann at the National Portrait Gallery London Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Donald Swann amp oldid 1136051627, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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