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Robert Farnon
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Robert Farnon
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Robert Joseph Farnon CM[1] (24 July 1917 – 23 April 2005) was a Canadian-born composer, conductor, musical arranger and trumpet player. As well as being a composer of original works (often in the light music genre), he was commissioned by film and television producers for theme and incidental music. In later life he composed a number of more serious orchestral works, including three symphonies, and was recognised with four Ivor Novello awards and the Order of Canada.

Key Information

Life

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Robert Farnon was born in Toronto to Robert and Elsie Farnon (née Menzies). He was commissioned as a captain in the Canadian Army and became the conductor/arranger of the Canadian Band of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force sent overseas during World War II. This was the Canadian equivalent of the American Band of the SHAEF led by Major Glenn Miller. He was noted as a jazz trumpeter – his longtime friend Dizzy Gillespie once stated that he was pleased that Farnon took up composing, arranging and conducting, because Robert was the better jazz trumpeter.[2]

He married Joanne Dallas, a singer from the SHAEF band, whom he later divorced. At the end of the war Farnon decided to make England his home, and he later moved to Guernsey in the Channel Islands with his new wife Patricia Smith and his five children. His friend and fellow composer Wally Stott composed "A Canadian in Mayfair" as a tribute.[2]

He was considered by his peers to be the finest arranger in the world, and his talents influenced many composer-arrangers, including Quincy Jones, all of whom acknowledged his contributions to their work. Conductor André Previn called him "the greatest writer for strings in the world."[2] He was the musical director and conductor for Tony Bennett's 1972 series for Thames Television, Tony Bennett at the Talk of the Town.

He won four Ivor Novello Awards, including one for "Outstanding Services to British Music" in 1991, and in 1996 he won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for "Lament" performed by J. J. Johnson & his Robert Farnon Orchestra.[2] He was also awarded the Order of Canada early in 1998.[2]

Robert Farnon died at the age of 87, at a hospice near his home of 40 years in Guernsey. He was survived by his wife Patricia and their five children, as well as two children from his previous marriage and his many grandchildren.[2] Farnon's older brother Brian and his younger brother Dennis were also orchestral composers, arrangers and conductors.

Works

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Farnon is probably best known for two famous pieces of light music, "Jumping Bean" and "Portrait of a Flirt", which were originally released in 1955 as the A and B sides on the same 78, and for "Westminster Waltz", and "A Star is Born".[2]

Farnon also wrote the music for more than forty motion pictures, including Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951), Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955), The Road to Hong Kong (1962), The Prisoner (1967–68), Shalako (1968) and Bear Island (1979). He wrote the theme tune and other music for many, mostly British, television series including Colditz (1972–74), Secret Army (1977–79), Kessler (1981), and A Man Called Intrepid (1979).[2] His score for the first episode of the spy-fi series The Champions (1968) was released on CD by Network DVD in 2009. He recorded production music for Chappell under the name Ole Jensen and the Melody Orchestra, and conducted the Queen's Hall Light Orchestra for Chappell under the name David King.[3]

From the early 1960s, Farnon was a prominent orchestral arranger for vocalists. He arranged and conducted Frank Sinatra's only album recorded outside of the United States, Sinatra Sings Great Songs from Great Britain (1962), in London.[4] Farnon also arranged and conducted Lena Horne's album Lena: A New Album (1976),[5] Tony Bennett's Christmas album Snowfall (1968),[6] and one of Sarah Vaughan's albums recorded in Denmark, Vaughan with Voices (1964).[7]

He also completed three full-length classical symphonies, a concerto for piano and orchestra called Cascades to the Sea, a rhapsody for violin and orchestra and a concerto for bassoon;[2] he was commissioned to compose the test piece for the 1975 Brass Band Championships of Great Britain finals held at the Albert Hall and constructed Un Vie de Matelot (A Sailor's Life), a set of variations based on an original theme.

The last piece he composed was entitled The Gaels: An American Wind Symphony, as a commission for the Roxbury High School band in honour of the school's mascot, the gael. The piece had its world premiere in May 2006. It was performed by the Roxbury High School Honors Wind Symphony under the direction of Dr. Stanley Saunders, a close friend of Farnon.

His 1954 piece, "Derby Day", was used for Rádio e Televisão de Portugal television services when they commenced on 7 March 1957. It became one of the station's anthems. [8]

Selected filmography

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See also

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References

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Further reading

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Robert Farnon

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Robert Farnon (1917–2005) was a Canadian-born , conductor, arranger, and trumpeter renowned for his elegant , film scores, and orchestral works that blended classical sophistication with popular appeal. Born Robert Joseph Farnon on July 24, 1917, in , , into a musical family, he demonstrated early talent by studying with his mother at age seven and soon after, later switching to by 1934. By his teens, Farnon was performing in local dance bands and with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) orchestra, and from 1937 to 1943, he contributed to the popular radio show The Happy Gang as a musician and arranger. His compositional studies under Louis Waizman in the 1930s led to his first symphony premiering with the in 1941, marking the start of a prolific career that spanned over seven decades. During , Farnon served as music director for the Canadian revue The Army Show and later as conductor of the Canadian Band of the Allied Expeditionary Forces from 1943 to 1945, entertaining troops across and gaining recognition for arrangements like March Along, Joe Soldier. After the war, he settled in the , where he became a resident conductor and arranger for , composed signature radio themes such as Jumping Bean for the , and scored films including Spring in Park Lane (1947), (1951), and His Majesty O'Keefe (1954). Farnon's arrangements for artists like —earning him the nickname "the Guv'nor"—and collaborations with figures such as and further solidified his influence on mid-20th-century popular music. In his later years, Farnon expanded into more serious orchestral compositions, including three symphonies—such as Symphony No. 2 "" (1942) and Symphony No. 3 "The Edinburgh" (2004)—and works like the Colditz March (1972 Novello Award winner) and Canadian Impressions. His legacy endures through honors including four (1956, 1960, 1973, 1991), a 1996 Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement ( with ), and induction into the in 1997. Farnon passed away on April 23, 2005, in , , leaving behind a catalog of over 100 original works that inspired arrangers like and .

Early Life

Childhood and Family

Robert Farnon was born on 24 July 1917 in , , . He grew up in a highly musical environment that profoundly shaped his early interests. His father, a clothier by trade, was an accomplished violinist, while his mother was a who provided initial musical instruction to her children. Farnon had one sister, who became a , and two brothers—, the eldest, who played in college bands from a young age, and Dennis, the youngest, who later pursued a career as a and arranger. From an early age, Farnon was immersed in music through his family's activities and home life. He began learning the as his first instrument, followed by lessons with his mother starting at age seven and continuing with teacher Jack Gray by age nine. This familial emphasis on music fostered his natural aptitude, leading him to experiment with multiple instruments during his childhood. By age 11, he was already performing with the Junior Symphony Orchestra, demonstrating precocious talent on piano and drums. Farnon's childhood hobbies centered on musical exploration, progressing from to and eventually as he sought to expand his skills. These early experiences in school and community ensembles laid the groundwork for his later formal studies in adolescence, where he delved deeper into composition and .

Musical Training

Farnon's formal musical education began in earnest during his teenage years, building on the foundational piano lessons he received from his mother in childhood. At age 13, in 1930, he started studying percussion with Duncan Snider while playing in the dance band led by his older brother , gaining early practical experience in ensemble performance. By 1934, at age 17, Farnon had shifted his focus exclusively to the , performing as a professional musician in several Toronto-based dance bands, including those led by Bus Browne, Stanley St. John, and Bob Shuttleworth. These engagements honed his technical skills on the instrument and introduced him to the demands of live settings. In 1936, at age 19, Farnon secured his first major radio position as lead trumpeter with Percy Faith's orchestra on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), where he also began arranging music and contributing scores. This role marked a pivotal step in his , as Faith mentored him in techniques and score layout, exposing him to sophisticated arrangements that blended classical precision with popular appeal. During , Farnon furthered his compositional training as a pupil of Louis Waizman, applying these lessons to create choral arrangements for Faith's ensembles and later for American broadcasters like and André Kostelanetz. Farnon's early influences drew heavily from American leaders such as , whose expansive style informed his own arranging approaches, as well as from European traditions exemplified by composers like , whose melodic lyricism shaped his emerging compositional voice. These elements combined in his initial works to produce polished, evocative scores that bridged and symphonic writing.

Professional Career

Wartime Service

Farnon enlisted in the Canadian Army at the outset of (1939) as a , drawing on his pre-war experience playing in dance bands. He quickly rose through the ranks to become a captain, leveraging his musical talents to contribute to military entertainment efforts. From 1943, Farnon served in as musical director for The Army Show, an entertainment troupe formed to boost troop morale through music, , skits, songs, and orchestral pieces for Canadian forces stationed overseas. During this period, he arranged and conducted morale-boosting pieces such as patriotic finales like "Let’s Make a Job of It Now" and themes for shows including "Smilin' Along" for "The Tin Hats." Following the D-Day landings in June 1944, Farnon's unit advanced with Allied forces into and later , performing concerts and adapting shows for combat-weary troops in Northwest . He also oversaw broadcasting efforts, conducting the Canadian Band of the (SHAEF Band) for radio transmissions on the , CBC, and the Allied Expeditionary Forces Network, which reached troops across the front lines and helped maintain high spirits amid the rigors of campaign. These wartime experiences honed Farnon's skills in large-scale and , laying the groundwork for his postwar career.

Film and Television Scoring

Having arrived in England in 1944 with the Canadian Band of the AEF and settling permanently after the war in 1946, Robert Farnon entered the British film industry, beginning with scores for producers such as . His wartime conducting experience with the Canadian Band of the AEF had equipped him with the skills to transition seamlessly into studio work. Farnon's first major film score was for I Live in Grosvenor Square (1945), a project completed shortly after the war's end, where he provided incidental music including dance-hall sequences. Over the following decades, he composed or directed music for more than 40 films, blending his signature light orchestral style with cinematic demands. Notable examples include the swashbuckling score for Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951), evoking Erich Wolfgang Korngold's influence; the light-hearted arrangements for The Road to Hong Kong (1962), where he served as music director; and the Western adventure Shalako (1968). In television, Farnon contributed memorable themes and scores that enhanced dramatic tension in several acclaimed British series. He composed the stirring main title for (1972–1974), capturing the isolation of POW life, and the evocative theme for Secret Army (1977–1979), set during occupation. His work extended to (1968), providing atmospheric cues for the espionage thriller. Additionally, Farnon acted as musical director for Tony Bennett's 1972 series, overseeing backing arrangements that highlighted Bennett's vocal style. Farnon's approach to scoring emphasized a fusion of orchestral traditions with tailored dramatic cues, often leveraging lush string sections to convey emotional depth and narrative propulsion—qualities praised by contemporaries like for their elegance and precision.

Orchestral Works and Arrangements

Robert Farnon's contributions to orchestral music encompassed both compositions and more ambitious classical works, alongside a prolific output of arrangements for leading recording artists. His signature pieces, such as Jumping Bean from the 1940s, Portrait of a Flirt (1955), and Westminster Waltz from the 1950s, exemplified his mastery of evocative, melodic orchestral writing that blended elegance with rhythmic vitality, becoming staples in British light music repertoires. These works were frequently performed by studio orchestras and broadcast on radio, showcasing Farnon's ability to craft accessible yet sophisticated scores for concert and recording settings. In the realm of classical compositions, Farnon produced three symphonies spanning from the early to the , including his Symphony No. 1 (premiered by the in 1941), Symphony No. 2 "Ottawa" (1942), and Symphony No. 3 (completed in 2004 and dedicated to ). He also composed the Concerto Cascades to the Sea, originally written in 1944 but lost and later revised in 1998, which evoked the fluidity of water through lyrical lines and orchestral textures. Additionally, Farnon created a concerto titled Romancing the Phoenix toward the end of his life, commissioned for virtuoso Daniel Smith and premiered posthumously in a jazz-inflected style that highlighted the instrument's expressive range within a full . Farnon's arrangements extended his influence into popular music, where he collaborated with artists including Frank Sinatra on the 1962 album Sinatra Sings Great Songs from Great Britain—the singer's only studio recording made outside the United States—Tony Bennett as musical director for his 1972 Thames Television series, and Sarah Vaughan on orchestral backings that enhanced her vocal phrasing. He also produced notable LPs for labels like Decca and Philips, featuring tributes to songwriters such as Rodgers and Hammerstein, where his lush, brass-rich orchestrations drew on his early experience as a trumpeter to create layered, cinematic accompaniments. His final original work, The Gaels: An American Wind Symphony, commissioned for the Roxbury High School band in New Jersey and premiered posthumously in 2006, paid homage to the school's mascot with a vibrant, winds-focused composition. Overall, Farnon's oeuvre included over 100 original works and thousands of arrangements, reflecting a career dedicated to bridging light and classical orchestral traditions.

Personal Life

Marriages and Family

Farnon married Joanne Dallas, a singer with the SHAEF band, during the ; the couple later divorced and had two children together. In 1963, he wed Patricia Smith, a casting director, with whom he had five children, resulting in a total of seven offspring. After the , Farnon established his life in the starting in 1946, raising his children there despite his extensive travels as a conductor across and beyond. In his later years, with the 's support, Farnon concentrated more on composition, and several of his children engaged with music, including his son , who became a composer known for work on .

Death

Robert Farnon died on 23 April 2005 at the age of 87 in a near his long-term home on in the , where he had resided since the . He passed away peacefully in his sleep. He was survived by his wife, , to whom he had been married since , his seven children from his two marriages (five sons and two daughters), and numerous grandchildren. A private family funeral service was held in Guernsey shortly after his death, followed by plans for a public memorial event organized by the Robert Farnon Society. Tributes from musical peers highlighted his profound influence on composers and arrangers worldwide. One of Farnon's final compositions, his Third Symphony subtitled The Edinburgh, received its world premiere on 14 May 2005 at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland, performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra—just three weeks after his passing.

Legacy

Awards and Honors

Robert Farnon received four : in 1957 for "Westminster Waltz" (Outstanding Light Orchestral Composition), in 1961 for "Seashore", in 1973 for the " March" (Best Theme from Radio or Television), and in 1991 for Outstanding Services to British Music, recognizing his enduring contributions to composition and arrangement over decades of professional work. In 1996, he won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for his orchestration of "Lament," performed by and the Robert Farnon Orchestra on the album Tangence. Farnon was appointed a Member of the in 1997 for his significant impact on the music industry, particularly through orchestral and film scoring that bridged Canadian and British traditions.

Influence on Music

Robert Farnon's innovative arrangements and compositions profoundly shaped the landscape of and orchestral scoring, earning high praise from prominent figures in the industry. cited Farnon as a major influence on his own work as a and arranger, acknowledging the Canadian's sophisticated harmonic and textural approaches that elevated popular orchestral music. Similarly, conductor regarded Farnon as "the greatest string writer in the world," highlighting his masterful techniques that blended classical precision with accessible . These endorsements underscore Farnon's status as a pivotal mentor figure whose methods influenced generations of musicians across , , and genres. In the realm of film scoring, Farnon's contributions extended beyond individual projects to define British cinema's orchestral style, where his lush, narrative-driven soundtracks emphasized emotional depth through intricate and voicings. Over the course of his career, he composed scores for approximately 40 motion pictures, including notable works like (1951), which helped establish a template for symphonic in adventure and drama genres that subsequent British composers adopted. His techniques, such as subtle dynamic layering and thematic development, were integrated into the broader toolkit of film music production, influencing the evolution of orchestral scoring in both British and international cinema during the mid-20th century. Farnon's legacy in has seen a notable revival in recent decades, with his compositions reinterpreted in contemporary and orchestral recordings that bridge mid-century styles with modern production values. Pieces like Jumping Bean (1946), originally a playful miniature evoking rhythmic vitality, have been featured in new performances and albums, such as those by the New London Orchestra under Ronald Corp and various releases, demonstrating enduring appeal in genres that emphasize melodic charm and instrumental color. This resurgence reflects a broader interest in preserving and updating light music traditions, keeping Farnon's buoyant, evocative works alive in concert halls and streaming platforms. Farnon's educational impact is evident in the study of his arrangements within music programs and their role in inspiring Canadian talent, amplified by his 1997 appointment as a Member of the for contributions to orchestral and film music. His Chappell library scores, renowned for their structural elegance, have been analyzed by aspiring arrangers for their balance of form and expression, fostering a lineage of composers who draw on his precision in light orchestral writing. This recognition has positioned Farnon as a foundational influence for Canadian musicians, encouraging the development of national styles in composition and scoring.

References

  1. https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/robert-farnon-emc
  2. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/apr/26/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1
  3. https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/composer/4192/Robert-Farnon/
  4. https://www.grammy.com/artists/robert-farnon/11010
  5. https://nationaljazzarchive.org.uk/explore/interviews/1633699-robert-farnon-interview-1
  6. https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/robert-farnon-490626.html
  7. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-apr-27-me-farnon27-story.html
  8. http://www.donaldclarkemusicbox.com/encyclopedia/detail.php?s=1309
  9. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/robert-farnon-emc
  10. http://www.donaldclarkemusicbox.com/encyclopedia/detail.php?s=1372
  11. https://www.ejazzlines.com/big-band-arrangements/by-arranger/robert-farnon-studio-orchestra-arrangements/
  12. https://rfsoc.org.uk/robert-farnon-society/
  13. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/robert-farnon-and-his-orchestra/3572774
  14. https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/robert-farnon
  15. https://ucalgary.scholaris.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/c09db6c2-4afe-4f2b-be73-31e0e23888ee/content
  16. https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-army-show-emc
  17. https://broadcasting-history.ca/personalities/farnon-robert/
  18. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/robert-farnon-490626.html
  19. https://www.classicalmusicdaily.com/articles/f/r/robert-farnon.htm
  20. https://www.chandos.net/composers/Robert_Farnon/944
  21. https://referencerecordings.com/artist/robert-farnon/
  22. https://www.myheritage.com/names/joanne_dallas
  23. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/170954506/patricia_mary-farnon
  24. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1497911/bio/
  25. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/arts/music/robert-farnon-87-composer-of-popular-postwar-light-music-dies.html
  26. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/canadian-composer-robert-farnon-dies-1.565488
  27. https://musicforstowaways.wordpress.com/2018/12/06/ivor-novello-awards-winners-1956-2018-part-two/
  28. https://musicforstowaways.wordpress.com/2018/10/18/ivor-novello-awards-the-1970s/
  29. https://www.grammy.com/awards/38th-annual-grammy-awards
  30. https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/01/arts/the-winners-of-the-1996-grammy-awards.html
  31. https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-5125
  32. https://musiccanada.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/robert-farnon/
  33. https://nationaljazzarchive.org.uk/explore/interviews/1633699-robert-farnon-interview-1?
  34. https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dw.asp?dc=W4218_GBAJY9686804
  35. http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/Jul/Farnon-orchestral-8574323.htm
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