Carl Davis 1936-2023

[vandermolen]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/04/carl-davis-obituary

Sorry to hear of the death of the TV and film composer Carl Davis. I remember his music for the TV series 'The World at War' in the 1970s and much much more.

[Roasted Swan]

The complete absence of any additional comments after Jeffrey's opening of this thread rather neatly sums up the way musicans such as Carl Davis are viewed/appreciated/valued.

For me what Carl Davis did best he did very very well indeed.  One of the old school of composer/conductor/arranger/all-round fine musician.  His great good sense was - much like Ron Goodwin amongst many others - was that he knew what he was good at and by and large he stuck to that.  By chance my wife and I rewatched all of the classic BBC's "Pride & Prejudice" a couple of weeks ago.  It "works" so well on so many levels - great adaptation (avoiding the pitfalls of the current preference for making classic stoires "modern" - cf the recent Great Expectations" or making new material as period soap operas - cf Bridgerton which is huge here but fundementally awful).  A big part of P&P's success is the Davis score.  A memorable main theme that "feels" period(ish) but also captures the essential warm-heartedness of the story.  And throughout the series the incidental music is apt and effective.

Jeffrey mentioned "The World at War" - I'm not sure anyone who has seen that series can forget the power of the opening titles of which - again - Davis' theme is key.  But he was a decent concert-hall/occasional composer as well.  Whatever Paul McCartney might say - A Liverpool Oratorio is basically a Davis work on themes by McCartney.  Hopefully his fee and royalties made up for his nominally back-seat role.  There's a fine CFP disc which includes a couple of Davis' occasional works;



as well as excerpts from his genuinely great score to the silent movie Napoleon.  As a conductor - especially of film and show music he had a real feel.  I worked with him quite a lot back in the day of Summer "muddy field" concerts with the RPO.  He knew how to get a programme across to an audience with maximum effect and minimum fuss (as well as very hi-vis tailcoats!!).

A couple of his CD's with the RLPO of Robert Russell Bennett's orchestrations of shows are genuinely superb - as good as any.  This RLPO Bernstein/West Side Story Symphonic Dances is as good as any - really!



Jeffrey often mentions his EMI disc of Walton film music too - another genuinely fine recording



All in all a genuine loss to the world of music but his legacy will endure - even when people don't realsie its him!

[vandermolen]

The complete absence of any additional comments after Jeffrey's opening of this thread rather neatly sums up the way musicans such as Carl Davis are viewed/appreciated/valued.

For me what Carl Davis did best he did very very well indeed.  One of the old school of composer/conductor/arranger/all-round fine musician.  His great good sense was - much like Ron Goodwin amongst many others - was that he knew what he was good at and by and large he stuck to that.  By chance my wife and I rewatched all of the classic BBC's "Pride & Prejudice" a couple of weeks ago.  It "works" so well on so many levels - great adaptation (avoiding the pitfalls of the current preference for making classic stoires "modern" - cf the recent Great Expectations" or making new material as period soap operas - cf Bridgerton which is huge here but fundementally awful).  A big part of P&P's success is the Davis score.  A memorable main theme that "feels" period(ish) but also captures the essential warm-heartedness of the story.  And throughout the series the incidental music is apt and effective.

Jeffrey mentioned "The World at War" - I'm not sure anyone who has seen that series can forget the power of the opening titles of which - again - Davis' theme is key.  But he was a decent concert-hall/occasional composer as well.  Whatever Paul McCartney might say - A Liverpool Oratorio is basically a Davis work on themes by McCartney.  Hopefully his fee and royalties made up for his nominally back-seat role.  There's a fine CFP disc which includes a couple of Davis' occasional works;



as well as excerpts from his genuinely great score to the silent movie Napoleon.  As a conductor - especially of film and show music he had a real feel.  I worked with him quite a lot back in the day of Summer "muddy field" concerts with the RPO.  He knew how to get a programme across to an audience with maximum effect and minimum fuss (as well as very hi-vis tailcoats!!).

A couple of his CD's with the RLPO of Robert Russell Bennett's orchestrations of shows are genuinely superb - as good as any.  This RLPO Bernstein/West Side Story Symphonic Dances is as good as any - really!



Jeffrey often mentions his EMI disc of Walton film music too - another genuinely fine recording



All in all a genuine loss to the world of music but his legacy will endure - even when people don't realsie its him!

Thanks for this very thoughtful and considered response RS. Of course, I'm quite used to being the initiator of the 'Zero Response' thread but I was genuinely surprised to get no response, until yours, especially from those with an interest in music for the cinema.
I gave up with the recent Great Expectations and thought it awful. Bridgerton didn't appeal either. That Carl Davis Walton disc is my favourite of those featuring WW's film music - thank you for reminding me of this. I have some nice CD CD collections:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxxmjr

[pjme]

Davis as conductor. 
Carl Davis was "just a name" to me. I'm intrigued now!

[Roasted Swan]

Thanks for this very thoughtful and considered response RS. Of course, I'm quite used to being the initiator of the 'Zero Response' thread but I was genuinely surprised to get no response, until yours, especially from those with an interest for music for the cinema.
I gave up with the recent Great Expectations and thought it awful. Bridgerton didn't appeal either. That Carl Davis Walton disc is my favourite of those featuring WW's film music - thank you for reminding me of this. I have some nice CD CD collections:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxxmjr

I have the RPO/Tring disc - very good it is too.  Don't forget Davis is also conductor on your much-enjoyed disc of Frankel film scores....



He conducted an extended suite from Korngold's Elizabeth & Essex here;



although in fact that is not his finest hour - somehow the orchestra just doesn't "come alive" on this disc.  Fun fact - his wife of many years was actress Jean Boht (who is still alive in her 90's).  Best known in the UK for her lead role in the Liverpool based TV series Bread - not that I liked it much but at one time it was huge!

[vandermolen]

I have the RPO/Tring disc - very good it is too.  Don't forget Davis is also conductor on your much-enjoyed disc of Frankel film scores....



He conducted an extended suite from Korngold's Elizabeth & Essex here;



although in fact that is not his finest hour - somehow the orchestra just doesn't "come alive" on this disc.  Fun fact - his wife of many years was actress Jean Boht (who is still alive in her 90's).  Best known in the UK for her lead role in the Liverpool based TV series Bread - not that I liked it much but at one time it was huge!

How could I forget 'Curse of the Werewolf'!

[vandermolen]

I wasn't aware of the Elizabeth and Essex (Bay Cities) CD - thanks. I see that it's available S/H not too expensively on discogs but, in view of your comments, I think that I'll stick with my Charles Gerhardt RCA CD (now on Sony).