Short bio Walter Leigh
Full biography Walter Leigh
Walter Leigh was an English composer born on June 22 , 1905 and passed away on June 12, 1942. He is best known for his works in the field of music for film, having written scores for documentary films. In addition to his film scores, Leigh also composed numerous classical works, including a pantomime for the Festival Theatre at Cambridge and two comic operas. His second comic opera, "Jolly Roger," ran for six months.
Leigh's style was heavily influenced by his studies with notable teachers such as Harold Darke and Paul Hindemith. Some of his other famous works include the overture "Agincourt" and "The Frogs of Aristophanes" for chorus and orchestra. Leigh's music has been described as having a poetical and thrilling quality, with a particular emphasis on melody.
One of Leigh's most well-known works is the Concertino for Harpsichord and Strings, which was composed in 1934 and has been lauded for its poetic nature. Another famous piece of Leigh's music is his unfinished sketch for a violin concerto. The unfinished work has been studied and recorded by other composers as they speculate what Leigh might have done with it.
Despite his relatively short life - Leigh passed away at the age of 36 - he made a significant impact on the world of music and his works continue to be performed and celebrated today.
Compositions featuring Walter Leigh
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonatina for recorder (or flute) & piano | 8:47 min | Chamber Music | 1939 |
| 2 | Agincourt Overture | 12:11 min | Orchestral | 1937 |
| 3 | Overture & Dance from The Frogs | Orchestral | 1936 | |
| 4 | Concertino for harpsichord (or piano) & string orchestra | 9:27 min | Concerto | 1936 |
| 5 | Trio for flute, oboe & piano | 9:18 min | Chamber Music | 1935 |
| 6 | Jolly Roger or The Admiral's Daughter, comic opera | 136:41 min | Opera | 1933 |
| 7 | Jolly Roger Overture | 3:38 min | Opera | 1933 |
| 8 | Sonatina for viola & piano | 11:13 min | Chamber Music | 1932 |
| 9 | Music for string orchestra | 6:25 min | Orchestral | 1931 |
| 10 | Movements (3) for string quartet | 4:52 min | Chamber Music | 1930 |
| 11 | Student String Quartet | 11:06 min | Chamber Music | 1929 |
| 12 | Reverie for violin & piano | 5:15 min | Chamber Music | 1922 |
| 13 | Playtime Pieces (5) | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - | |
| 14 | Waltzes (3) for 2 pianos | Keyboard | - | |
| 15 | Songs (9) | Vocal Music | - | |
| 16 | Air for treble recorder & piano | 1:17 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 17 | Romance for piano quintet | 3:32 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 18 | Polka | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - | |
| 19 | Piano Album | Keyboard | - | |
| 20 | A Midsummer Night's Dream, incidental music | 3:50 min | Orchestral | - |
| 21 | Music for Three Pianos | Keyboard | - | |
| 22 | Klavieralbum | Keyboard | - | |
| 23 | Eclogue | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
Albums featuring Walter Leigh
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
'Jolly Roger' Or 'The Admiral's Daughter'(2×CD, Album, Remastered, Mono) | 2015 | Lyrita Recorded Edition |
| 2 |  |
John Field (2), Hamilton Harty, Walter Leigh / Daniel Adni • English Sinfonia • Neville Dilkes – A John Field Suite • Concertino For Harpsichord & String Orchestra(CD, Compilation, Remastered) | 2001 | EMI Classics |
| 3 |  |
George Butterworth, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Walter Leigh, Peter Warlock, Gerald Finzi – The Banks of Green Willow(CD, Compilation) | 1999 | BBC Worldwide Music |
| 4 |  |
Purcell / Händel / Wotkins / Leigh & Murrill - Robert Bakker (2) & Anke Anderson – Two Centuries Of English Music(CD, ) | 1993 | Robagram |
| 5 |  |
Concertino - Music For Strings - Midsummer's Night Dream - The Frogs(LP, Album, Repress, Stereo) | 1985 | Lyrita Recorded Edition |
| 6 |  |
William Alwyn, Francis Chagrin, Malcolm Arnold, Alan Rawsthorne, Geoffrey Bush, Walter Leigh – Overtures | 1979 | Lyrita Recorded Edition |
| 7 |  |
Walter Leigh, John Ireland, George Butterworth, Peter Warlock, E. J. Moeran, Neville Dilkes Conducting The English Sinfonia – Concertino For Harpsichord And Strings / The Holy Boy / Two English Idylls / Capriol Suite / Lonely Waters / Whythorne's Shadow(L | 1972 | His Master's Voice |
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