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Francis Chagrin

December 15, 2023

Francis Chagrin (born Alexander Paucker, 15 November 1905 – 10 November 1972),[1][2] was a composer of film scores and popular orchestral music, as well as a conductor. He was also the "organizer and chief moving spirit" who founded the Society for the Promotion of New Music.[3]

Francis Chagrin
Born
Alexander Paucker

(1905-11-15)November 15, 1905
Bucharest, Romania
DiedNovember 10, 1972(1972-11-10) (aged 66)
Hampstead, London, England
OccupationComposer

Career edit

He 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.[4] He 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.[4]

By playing in nightclubs and cafes and writing popular songs, he funded himself for two years, from 1933, at the Ecole Normale, where his teachers included Paul Dukas and Nadia Boulanger, and settled in England in 1936.[4]

At the outbreak of World War II, he was appointed musical adviser and composer-in-chief to the BBC French Service and the programme Les Français parlent aux Français. For this, he was decorated Officier d'Academie by the French government in 1948. He spoke French fluently, as well as perfect English (with a French accent), Romanian and German, and good Italian and Spanish. For a trip to the USSR in October 1966, he studied Russian.[1]

In January 1943 Chagrin founded The Committee for the Promotion of New Music (later renamed Society for the Promotion of New Music) with the intention of promoting the creation, performance and appreciation of new music by young and unestablished composers.[5] Ralph Vaughan Williams agreed to be its president, with Arthur Bliss the committee's vice-president.[3][6] In his obituary of Chagrin, fellow composer Benjamin Frankel said that through the Society Chagrin "gave many composers (not only the young ones) their first opportunity of a hearing: he had travelled abroad as our representative, had battled with publishers and spoken passionately on the question of performing rights. He had, in fact, become the first person to whom we turned when composer's problems arose".[7]

In 1951 Chagrin formed his own chamber group, the Francis Chagrin Ensemble which performed and broadcast regularly over the next two decades, including many first performances.[1]

Family edit

Chagrin married his second wife Eileen during the Second World War and they lived in London, at 48 Fellows Road, Hampstead.[8] His sons are the actors Nicolas and Julian Chagrin,[9] husband of actress and comedian Rolanda Chagrin. There was also a stepson, the poet Gerald Benson.[10] Chagrin died in Hampstead after several heart attacks. The Francis Chagrin Fund for Young Composers was established in his memory in 1973 and continues today.[11]

Music edit

Chagrin's compositions include orchestral concert works, light music, chamber music[12] and over 200 film scores, television and commercials.[13] His Prelude and Fugue for orchestra was given its world premiere at The Proms in 1947 by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Basil Cameron.[14] He composed the score for the 1955 film about Colditz, The Colditz Story.[15] His harmonica work Roumanian Fantasy was composed in 1956 for Larry Adler. In 1959 he composed the theme and incidental music for the Sapphire Films TV series The Four Just Men for ITV. In 1963, he won the Harriet Cohen International Music Award as "film composer of the year".[1] The following year, he composed music for the Doctor Who television episodes The Dalek Invasion of Earth.[1][16]

He left a third symphony incomplete at his death.[4] Chagrin had also 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.[17] At his request, the Lamento appassionato for string orchestra was played instead.[18]

Concert music edit

Including:

  • Prelude and Fugue for Orchestra (1947)
  • Piano Concerto (1948)[2]
  • Prelude and Fugue for Two Violins (1950)
  • Aquarelles (Portraits of Five Children) for strings (1951)
  • Helter Skelter overture (1951)
  • Lamento appassionato for strings (1951)
  • Sarabande for oboe and strings (1951)
  • Divertimento for wind quintet (1952)
  • Roumanian Fantasy for harmonica and orchestra (1956)
  • Symphony No 1 (1946–59, rev 1965)
  • Sept Petite Pieces pour 8 Instruments (1966)
  • Symphony No 2 (1965–71)
  • Castellana, Spanish dance for orchestra (1968)
  • Divertimento for brass quintet (1969)
  • Renaissance Suite for strings, optional wind (1969)

Film scores edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Francis Chagrin at Chester Novello
  2. ^ a b Scowcroft, Philip (January 2009). "Francis Chagrin". MusicWeb-International. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  3. ^ a b Carner, Mosco (October 1945), "The Committee for the Promotion of New Music", The Musical Times, 86 (1232): 297–299, doi:10.2307/934638, JSTOR 934638
  4. ^ a b c d Cole Hugo. 'Francis Chagrin' in Grove Music Online"
  5. ^ Chagrin, Francis. ‘A Quarter Century of New Music’, in The Composer 26 (1967–8), p 4–6
  6. ^ Payne, Anthony. "Society for the Promotion of New Music", Grove Music Online, Oxford University Press, retrieved 15 June 2014. (subscription required)
  7. ^ Frankel, Benjamin. 'Francis Chagrin' in Musical Times, No 1559 (January 1973), p 65
  8. ^ Getty Images
  9. ^ Julian Chagrin profile
  10. ^ Gerald Benson obituary, The Guardian, 26 May 2014
  11. ^ Francis Chagrin Award
  12. ^ British Music Collection
  13. ^ Lane, Philip. Notes to Chandos 10323: The Film Music of Francis Chagrin (2005)
  14. ^ BBC Proms archive, 2 September 1947
  15. ^ Gramophone review: The Film-Scores of Francis Chagrin, 2005
  16. ^ "The Dalek Invasion of Earth". Dr Who guide. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  17. ^ 'Elizabeth Maconchy writes about the Society for the Promotion of New Music', in The Listener, 26 April 1973
  18. ^ Music in Our Time, BBC Radio 3, 1 May 1973

External links edit

December 15, 2023
francis, chagrin, born, alexander, paucker, november, 1905, november, 1972, composer, film, scores, popular, orchestral, music, well, conductor, also, organizer, chief, moving, spirit, founded, society, promotion, music, bornalexander, paucker, 1905, november,. Francis Chagrin born Alexander Paucker 15 November 1905 10 November 1972 1 2 was a composer of film scores and popular orchestral music as well as a conductor He was also the organizer and chief moving spirit who founded the Society for the Promotion of New Music 3 Francis ChagrinBornAlexander Paucker 1905 11 15 November 15 1905Bucharest RomaniaDiedNovember 10 1972 1972 11 10 aged 66 Hampstead London EnglandOccupationComposer Contents 1 Career 2 Family 3 Music 3 1 Concert music 3 2 Film scores 4 References 5 External linksCareer editHe 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 4 He 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 4 By playing in nightclubs and cafes and writing popular songs he funded himself for two years from 1933 at the Ecole Normale where his teachers included Paul Dukas and Nadia Boulanger and settled in England in 1936 4 At the outbreak of World War II he was appointed musical adviser and composer in chief to the BBC French Service and the programme Les Francais parlent aux Francais For this he was decorated Officier d Academie by the French government in 1948 He spoke French fluently as well as perfect English with a French accent Romanian and German and good Italian and Spanish For a trip to the USSR in October 1966 he studied Russian 1 In January 1943 Chagrin founded The Committee for the Promotion of New Music later renamed Society for the Promotion of New Music with the intention of promoting the creation performance and appreciation of new music by young and unestablished composers 5 Ralph Vaughan Williams agreed to be its president with Arthur Bliss the committee s vice president 3 6 In his obituary of Chagrin fellow composer Benjamin Frankel said that through the Society Chagrin gave many composers not only the young ones their first opportunity of a hearing he had travelled abroad as our representative had battled with publishers and spoken passionately on the question of performing rights He had in fact become the first person to whom we turned when composer s problems arose 7 In 1951 Chagrin formed his own chamber group the Francis Chagrin Ensemble which performed and broadcast regularly over the next two decades including many first performances 1 Family editChagrin married his second wife Eileen during the Second World War and they lived in London at 48 Fellows Road Hampstead 8 His sons are the actors Nicolas and Julian Chagrin 9 husband of actress and comedian Rolanda Chagrin There was also a stepson the poet Gerald Benson 10 Chagrin died in Hampstead after several heart attacks The Francis Chagrin Fund for Young Composers was established in his memory in 1973 and continues today 11 Music editChagrin s compositions include orchestral concert works light music chamber music 12 and over 200 film scores television and commercials 13 His Prelude and Fugue for orchestra was given its world premiere at The Proms in 1947 by the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Basil Cameron 14 He composed the score for the 1955 film about Colditz The Colditz Story 15 His harmonica work Roumanian Fantasy was composed in 1956 for Larry Adler In 1959 he composed the theme and incidental music for the Sapphire Films TV series The Four Just Men for ITV In 1963 he won the Harriet Cohen International Music Award as film composer of the year 1 The following year he composed music for the Doctor Who television episodes The Dalek Invasion of Earth 1 16 He left a third symphony incomplete at his death 4 Chagrin had also 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 17 At his request the Lamento appassionato for string orchestra was played instead 18 Concert music edit Including Prelude and Fugue for Orchestra 1947 Piano Concerto 1948 2 Prelude and Fugue for Two Violins 1950 Aquarelles Portraits of Five Children for strings 1951 Helter Skelter overture 1951 Lamento appassionato for strings 1951 Sarabande for oboe and strings 1951 Divertimento for wind quintet 1952 Roumanian Fantasy for harmonica and orchestra 1956 Symphony No 1 1946 59 rev 1965 Sept Petite Pieces pour 8 Instruments 1966 Symphony No 2 1965 71 Castellana Spanish dance for orchestra 1968 Divertimento for brass quintet 1969 Renaissance Suite for strings optional wind 1969 Film scores edit The Silent Battle 1939 Behind the Guns 1940 Law and Disorder 1940 Helter Skelter 1949 Last Holiday 1950 The Happy Family 1952 Castle in the Air 1952 The Intruder 1953 An Inspector Calls 1954 The Beachcomber 1954 The Colditz Story 1955 Simba 1955 Charley Moon 1956 No Time for Tears 1957 The Scamp 1957 The Snorkel 1958 Danger Within 1959 Marriage of Convenience 1960 Clue of the Twisted Candle 1960 Greyfriars Bobby 1961 In the Cool of the Day 1963 References edit a b c d e Francis Chagrin at Chester Novello a b Scowcroft Philip January 2009 Francis Chagrin MusicWeb International Retrieved 3 January 2011 a b Carner Mosco October 1945 The Committee for the Promotion of New Music The Musical Times 86 1232 297 299 doi 10 2307 934638 JSTOR 934638 a b c d Cole Hugo Francis Chagrin in Grove Music Online Chagrin Francis A Quarter Century of New Music in The Composer 26 1967 8 p 4 6 Payne Anthony Society for the Promotion of New Music Grove Music Online Oxford University Press retrieved 15 June 2014 subscription required Frankel Benjamin Francis Chagrin in Musical Times No 1559 January 1973 p 65 Getty Images Julian Chagrin profile Gerald Benson obituary The Guardian 26 May 2014 Francis Chagrin Award British Music Collection Lane Philip Notes to Chandos 10323 The Film Music of Francis Chagrin 2005 BBC Proms archive 2 September 1947 Gramophone review The Film Scores of Francis Chagrin 2005 The Dalek Invasion of Earth Dr Who guide Retrieved 2 January 2011 Elizabeth Maconchy writes about the Society for the Promotion of New Music in The Listener 26 April 1973 Music in Our Time BBC Radio 3 1 May 1973External links editFrancis Chagrin at IMDb Concert Programmes The Francis Chagrin Collection The Francis Chagrin Award List of emigre composers in Britain Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis Chagrin amp oldid 1187451090, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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