Malcolm Arnold: The Bridge On The River Kwai- Concert Suite (Score)

The River Kwai March was composed by Malcolm Arnold for the 1957 film The Bridge On The River Kwai. It is a counterpoint melody to the well-known theme tune of the film the Colonel Bogey March which was written earlier by the British Army Bandmaster Kenneth J Aldford. It has been arranged here for solo Piano.Sir Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006) was an English composer who is best remembered for his film scores most famously the St Trinian's series. However he also wrote several orchestral works and ballets. He studied Trumpet and composition at the RCM before becoming a professional trumpeter playing as Principal Trumpet with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

From the classic WWII film from 1957 Bridge on the River Kwai here is Malcolm Arnold's famous march that incorporates Kenneth Alford's Colonel Bogey March along with Arnold's original counterline melody. The whistling part is optional but adds a unique and authentic touch.

Malcolm Arnold's one act ballet score Homage To The Queen was commissioned in 1953 by the Royal Opera House Covent Garden to celebrate the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The ballet was conceived and choreographed by Frederick Ashton with designs by Oliver Messel and was danced by the full company of the Sadler's Wells Ballet with an illustrious cast that comprised Nadia Nerina as Queen of the Earth Violetta Elvin as Queen of the Waters Beryl Grey as Queen of Fire and Margot Fonteyn as Queen of the Air. The conductor of the ROH orchestra was Robert Irving. Homage to the Queen was first performed on the night of the coronation 2June1953.One of the towering musical figures of the 20th century Sir Malcolm Arnold has a remarkable catalogue of major concert works to his credit including nine symphonies seven ballets two operas one musical over twenty concertos two string quartets and music for brass band and wind band. He has also written over 132 film scores and among these are some of the finest works ever composed for the medium: Bridge On The River Kwai Inn Of The Sixth Happiness Hobson's Choice Whistle Down The Wind and David Copperfield.

The Concerto was written in 1954 and given its premiere at the Royal Albert Hall with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. It is composed in three movements Grazioso Mesto and Con brio.Malcolm Arnold was a British composer who earned an international reputation both as a composer of serious works including nine symphonies and as a composer of light music. He composed more than one hundred film scores among them the Oscar-winning music for The Bridge on the River Kwai the award-winning music for The Inn of the Sixth Happiness Whistle Down the Wind and Hobson’s Choice. Larry Adler for whom this work was written was an absolute maestro of the chromatic mouth Organ who recorded andperformed widely and with some of the other greatest musicians of his time. It is due to Adler’s artistry and popularity that there exists any real repertoire for the instrument.

Malcolm Arnold composer of one of the greatest British symphonic cycles as well as music for countless iconic films (including Bridge on the River Kwai Whistle Down the Wind and St Trinian's) was as direct in his words as he was in his music. This collection of his writings and interviews presents a fascinating insight into his complex mind.Foreword by Katherine Arnold.