Charles Williams (8 May 1893 – 7 September 1978) was a British composer and conductor, contributing music to over 50 films. While his career ran from 1934 through 1968, much of his work came to the big screen as
stock music and was therefore uncredited.
Biography
Williams was born in London as Isaac Cozerbreit in 1893.[1] He began his career as a freelance
violinist in theatres, cinemas and symphony orchestras and later studied composition with
Norman O'Neill at the
Royal Academy of Music. In 1933, he went to
Gaumont British Films as composer and stayed there until 1939. He composed for many British films and radio shows and after the end of
World War II, he became the conductor of the new
Queen's Hall Light Orchestra. Later, he formed his own Concert Orchestra.
He composed many orchestral pieces and marches for his ensembles, which were recorded in the "Mood Music" category of
light music and during the 1950s became familiar as film and television signature themes, often in his own recordings:
"Blue Devils" is a popular march and Williams' first success as a composer. It was originally published as "The Kensington March" and written for the opening of the
Odeon in
Kensington in 1926, where Williams conducted the cinema orchestra. When he left the cinema in 1928 the march was renamed "Blue Devils" and first published under that name in 1929,[2] dedicated to the
Territorial Army regiment
Kensington Rifles.[3]
"High Adventure", adapted slightly, is still used as the signature tune of BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night.
"A Quiet Stroll" was used for BBC Television's Farming programme at its launch in 1957, as well as a more recent programme Tracks.
"Rhythm on Rails" was often used in the BBC Morning Music programmes, but contrary to some reports was not its signature tune.
"
Majestic Fanfare" (1935) was used by the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for many years as the signature tune for its radio and television news broadcasts, beginning in 1952.[4] A version as re-orchestrated by
Richard Mills in 1988,[5] is still used for radio news broadcasts, as of 2020.[4]