Jim Parker (composer): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|British composer (1934–2023)}} |
{{Short description|British composer (1934–2023)}} |
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{{Infobox musical artist |
{{Infobox musical artist |
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| name = Jim Parker |
| name = Jim Parker |
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| birth_name = James Mavin Parker |
| birth_name = James Mavin Parker |
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| alias = |
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1934|12| |
| birth_date = {{birth date|1934|12|18|df=yes}} |
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| birth_place = [[Hartlepool]], [[County Durham]], England |
| birth_place = [[Hartlepool]], [[County Durham]], England |
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'''James Mavin Parker''' ( |
'''James Mavin Parker''' (18 December 1934 – 28 July 2023) was a British [[BAFTA|BAFTA-winning]] composer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rpo.co.uk/promoters-area/439-composer-spotlight-jim-parker|title=Composer Spotlight: Jim Parker|website=www.rpo.co.uk|accessdate=Feb 9, 2021}}</ref> |
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==Career== |
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== Life and career == |
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After graduating as a silver medallist at the [[Guildhall School of Music]], Parker played with |
After graduating as a silver medallist at the [[Guildhall School of Music]], Parker played with [[orchestras]] and [[Chamber music|chamber]] groups in London as well as being a key part of The [[Barrow Poets]] for whom he provided both original instrumental music and music to accompany the performance of a wide range of poetry spoken or sung by the rest of the band.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2023-07-31 |title=Jim Parker: Midsomer Murders composer dies aged 88 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66360435 |access-date=2023-07-31}}</ref> This music was played on a variety of instruments including the bass cacacofiddle, a home made sort of [[double bass]] with knobs on, played by William Bealby-Wright, while Parker mostly played [[oboe]] and [[cor anglais]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} |
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Parker subsequently concentrated on composing and conducting. He had early success with a series of recordings in which he set the poems of the British [[Poet Laureate]] Sir [[John Betjeman]] to music; ''Banana Blush'', ''Late Flowering Love'' (both 1974), ''Sir John Betjeman's Britain'' (1977) and ''Varsity Rag'' (1981). The albums, in which the poet recited his own words and the composer conducted a small group of musicians, have continued to be held in high regard by listeners and critics.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jarvis Cocker|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04bmtpp|title=Betjeman's Banana Blush|website=BBC Radio 4|date=2 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jon Wilde|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2013/feb/15/sir-john-betjeman-banana-blush|title=Hidden treasures: Sir John Betjeman's Banana Blush|website=The Guardian|date=15 February 2013}}</ref> |
Parker subsequently concentrated on composing and conducting. He had early success with a series of recordings in which he set the poems of the British [[Poet Laureate]] Sir [[John Betjeman]] to music; ''Banana Blush'', ''Late Flowering Love'' (both 1974), ''Sir John Betjeman's Britain'' (1977) and ''Varsity Rag'' (1981). The albums, in which the poet recited his own words and the composer conducted a small group of musicians, have continued to be held in high regard by listeners and critics.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jarvis Cocker|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04bmtpp|title=Betjeman's Banana Blush|website=BBC Radio 4|date=2 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jon Wilde|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2013/feb/15/sir-john-betjeman-banana-blush|title=Hidden treasures: Sir John Betjeman's Banana Blush|website=The Guardian|date=15 February 2013}}</ref> |
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These and subsequent records, including Captain Beaky, with words by Jeremy Lloyd, which topped the charts as both a single and album, led to work in television as well as in London West End theatres, where Parker |
These and subsequent records, including ''[[Captain Beaky and His Band]]'', with words by [[Jeremy Lloyd]], which topped the charts as both a single and album, led to work in television as well as in London West End theatres, where Parker had three musicals produced. The most successful of these was ''Follow the Star'', with book and lyrics by [[Wally K Daly]].<ref name=":0" /> It was originally produced at Chichester and was directed by [[Wendy Toye]]. |
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Parker and his wife Pauline had two daughters.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rawlinson |first1=Kevin |title=TV score composer and Betjeman collaborator Jim Parker dies aged 88 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jul/31/tv-score-composer-and-betjeman-collaborator-jim-parker-dies-aged-88 |access-date=31 July 2023 |publisher=The Guardian |date=31 July 2023}}</ref> |
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Film scores include music for numerous feature-length television films and for new prints of the classic silent films ''[[Girl Shy]]'', by [[Harold Lloyd]], and ''[[The Blot]]'', a 1921 film directed by [[Lois Weber]]. |
Film scores include music for numerous feature-length television films and for new prints of the classic silent films ''[[Girl Shy]]'', by [[Harold Lloyd]], and ''[[The Blot]]'', a 1921 film directed by [[Lois Weber]]. |
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Parker won the [[British Academy Award]] for Best Original Television Music four times, and wrote scores for over two hundred programmes. His work in film and television ranged from music for ''[[The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders (TV series)|Moll Flanders]]'', ''[[The History of Tom Jones: a Foundling (TV series)|Tom Jones]]'', ''[[Midsomer Murders]]'', ''[[Born and Bred]]'', ''[[Foyle's War]]'', ''[[The House of Eliott]]'', and ''[[Mapp & Lucia (1985 TV series)|Mapp & Lucia]]'' to the score for the contemporary political thrillers ''[[House of Cards (British TV series)|House of Cards]]'' (UK version), ''[[To Play the King]]'' and ''[[The Final Cut (TV serial)|The Final Cut]]''. The opening and closing theme music for those television series is entitled "Francis Urquhart's March."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicroom.com/product/bh10315/jim-parker-francis-urquhart-s-march-piano.aspx|title=Jim Parker: Francis Urquhart's March: Piano|website=www.musicroom.com|accessdate=Feb 9, 2021}}</ref> With [[Tom Stanier]] he wrote the music for schools programmes such as ''Watch'', ''Zig Zag'' and ''[[Fourways Farm]]'' plus musicals such as ''Blast Off: Mr Jones Goes to Jupiter''. |
Parker won the [[British Academy Award]] for Best Original Television Music four times, and wrote scores for over two hundred programmes. His work in film and television ranged from music for ''[[The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders (TV series)|Moll Flanders]]'', ''[[The History of Tom Jones: a Foundling (TV series)|Tom Jones]]'', ''[[Midsomer Murders]]'', ''[[Born and Bred]]'', ''[[Foyle's War]]'', ''[[The House of Eliott]]'', and ''[[Mapp & Lucia (1985 TV series)|Mapp & Lucia]]'' to the score for the contemporary political thrillers ''[[House of Cards (British TV series)|House of Cards]]'' (UK version), ''[[To Play the King]]'' and ''[[The Final Cut (TV serial)|The Final Cut]]''.<ref name=":0" /> The opening and closing theme music for those television series is entitled "Francis Urquhart's March."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicroom.com/product/bh10315/jim-parker-francis-urquhart-s-march-piano.aspx|title=Jim Parker: Francis Urquhart's March: Piano|website=www.musicroom.com|accessdate=Feb 9, 2021}}</ref> With [[Tom Stanier]] he wrote the music for schools programmes such as ''Watch'', ''Zig Zag'' and ''[[Fourways Farm]]'' plus musicals such as ''Blast Off: Mr Jones Goes to Jupiter''. |
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Parker worked on several occasions with [[Victoria Wood]], early on in her career. He arranged the songs for the television adaptation of her play ''[[Talent (play)|Talent]]'' in 1979, as well as its sequel ''[[Nearly A Happy Ending]]'' in 1980, both of which starred Wood with [[Julie Walters]] and a further play ''[[Happy Since I Met You]]'' in 1982, starring Walters and [[Duncan Preston]]. He was also cast as the bandleader of her debut sketch show ''[[Wood and Walters]]''.<ref name="BBC Jim Parker">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-66360435|title=Jim Parker: Midsomer Murders composer dies aged 88|date=31 July 2023|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref> |
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Concert works were written for the [[Nash Ensemble]], [[Philip Jones Brass Ensemble|Philip Jones Brass]], [[The Hilliard Ensemble]], [[The Albion Ensemble]], [[The Wallace Collection]] and [[Poems on the Underground]]. His published compositions include "[[A Londoner in New York]]" for [[brass]], "Mississippi Five" for [[wind quintet]], "[[The Golden Section]]" for [[brass quintet]], and a clarinet [[concerto]]. He was also the recipient of an honorary degree from the [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]]. |
Concert works were written for the [[Nash Ensemble]], [[Philip Jones Brass Ensemble|Philip Jones Brass]], [[The Hilliard Ensemble]], [[The Albion Ensemble]], [[The Wallace Collection]] and [[Poems on the Underground]]. His published compositions include "[[A Londoner in New York]]" for [[brass]], "Mississippi Five" for [[wind quintet]], "[[The Golden Section]]" for [[brass quintet]], and a clarinet [[concerto]]. He was also the recipient of an honorary degree from the [[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]]. |
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==Personal life and death== |
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Parker |
Parker married Sonia Levy in 1961 and the couple had one daughter together. The marriage later ended in divorce. He married Pauline George in 1969 and the couple had two daughters together.<ref name = "Rawlinson 2023">{{cite news |last1=Rawlinson |first1=Kevin |title=TV score composer and Betjeman collaborator Jim Parker dies aged 88 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jul/31/tv-score-composer-and-betjeman-collaborator-jim-parker-dies-aged-88 |access-date=31 July 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=31 July 2023}}</ref> |
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Parker died on 28 July 2023, aged 88, following a long illness.<ref name = "Rawlinson 2023"/><ref name="Rees 2023">{{cite web |last1=Rees |first1=Jasper |title=Jim Parker obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jul/31/jim-parker-obituary |website=The Guardian |access-date=31 July 2023 |date=31 July 2023}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*{{IMDb name|0662353}} |
*{{IMDb name|0662353}} |
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*{{discogs artist|Jim Parker (2)}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:1934 births]] |
[[Category:1934 births]] |
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[[Category:2023 deaths]] |
[[Category:2023 deaths]] |
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[[Category:21st-century British composers]] |
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[[Category:Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama]] |
[[Category:Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama]] |
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[[Category:BAFTA winners (people)]] |
[[Category:BAFTA winners (people)]] |
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[[Category:Musicians from County Durham]] |
[[Category:Musicians from County Durham]] |
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[[Category:People from Hartlepool]] |
[[Category:People from Hartlepool]] |
Latest revision as of 11:27, 20 February 2024
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2023) |
Jim Parker | |
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Birth name | James Mavin Parker |
Born | Hartlepool, County Durham, England | 18 December 1934
Died | 28 July 2023 | (aged 88)
Occupation | Composer |
James Mavin Parker (18 December 1934 – 28 July 2023) was a British BAFTA-winning composer.[1]
Career
[edit]After graduating as a silver medallist at the Guildhall School of Music, Parker played with orchestras and chamber groups in London as well as being a key part of The Barrow Poets for whom he provided both original instrumental music and music to accompany the performance of a wide range of poetry spoken or sung by the rest of the band.[2] This music was played on a variety of instruments including the bass cacacofiddle, a home made sort of double bass with knobs on, played by William Bealby-Wright, while Parker mostly played oboe and cor anglais.[citation needed]
Parker subsequently concentrated on composing and conducting. He had early success with a series of recordings in which he set the poems of the British Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman to music; Banana Blush, Late Flowering Love (both 1974), Sir John Betjeman's Britain (1977) and Varsity Rag (1981). The albums, in which the poet recited his own words and the composer conducted a small group of musicians, have continued to be held in high regard by listeners and critics.[3][4]
These and subsequent records, including Captain Beaky and His Band, with words by Jeremy Lloyd, which topped the charts as both a single and album, led to work in television as well as in London West End theatres, where Parker had three musicals produced. The most successful of these was Follow the Star, with book and lyrics by Wally K Daly.[2] It was originally produced at Chichester and was directed by Wendy Toye.
Film and television
[edit]Film scores include music for numerous feature-length television films and for new prints of the classic silent films Girl Shy, by Harold Lloyd, and The Blot, a 1921 film directed by Lois Weber.
Parker won the British Academy Award for Best Original Television Music four times, and wrote scores for over two hundred programmes. His work in film and television ranged from music for Moll Flanders, Tom Jones, Midsomer Murders, Born and Bred, Foyle's War, The House of Eliott, and Mapp & Lucia to the score for the contemporary political thrillers House of Cards (UK version), To Play the King and The Final Cut.[2] The opening and closing theme music for those television series is entitled "Francis Urquhart's March."[5] With Tom Stanier he wrote the music for schools programmes such as Watch, Zig Zag and Fourways Farm plus musicals such as Blast Off: Mr Jones Goes to Jupiter.
Parker worked on several occasions with Victoria Wood, early on in her career. He arranged the songs for the television adaptation of her play Talent in 1979, as well as its sequel Nearly A Happy Ending in 1980, both of which starred Wood with Julie Walters and a further play Happy Since I Met You in 1982, starring Walters and Duncan Preston. He was also cast as the bandleader of her debut sketch show Wood and Walters.[6]
Concert works
[edit]Concert works were written for the Nash Ensemble, Philip Jones Brass, The Hilliard Ensemble, The Albion Ensemble, The Wallace Collection and Poems on the Underground. His published compositions include "A Londoner in New York" for brass, "Mississippi Five" for wind quintet, "The Golden Section" for brass quintet, and a clarinet concerto. He was also the recipient of an honorary degree from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Personal life and death
[edit]Parker married Sonia Levy in 1961 and the couple had one daughter together. The marriage later ended in divorce. He married Pauline George in 1969 and the couple had two daughters together.[7]
Parker died on 28 July 2023, aged 88, following a long illness.[7][8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Composer Spotlight: Jim Parker". www.rpo.co.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ a b c "Jim Parker: Midsomer Murders composer dies aged 88". BBC News. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Jarvis Cocker (2 August 2014). "Betjeman's Banana Blush". BBC Radio 4.
- ^ Jon Wilde (15 February 2013). "Hidden treasures: Sir John Betjeman's Banana Blush". The Guardian.
- ^ "Jim Parker: Francis Urquhart's March: Piano". www.musicroom.com. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ "Jim Parker: Midsomer Murders composer dies aged 88". BBC News. BBC. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ a b Rawlinson, Kevin (31 July 2023). "TV score composer and Betjeman collaborator Jim Parker dies aged 88". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Rees, Jasper (31 July 2023). "Jim Parker obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
External links
[edit]- Jim Parker at IMDb
- Jim Parker discography at Discogs