Frederic Curzon

British composer, arranger, conductor, pianist, organist, violinist and cellist. Worked as head of the light music department of Boosey & Hawkes. Perhaps best known for his light music compositions, notably "The Boulevardier" (1939). Born September 4th, 1899 in London, England. Died December 6th, 1973 in Bournemouth, England. Curzon received a private education, and showed an early interest in music, showing conciderable interest and ability on both violin, cello, piano and organ. At age 12, he produced a hymn setting which was performed by a local choir. At 16, he started work as a pianist with a London theatre orchestra. By the time he was 20, he was leading his own orchestra and wrote music for silent films. He eventually concentrated on playing the organ, and for 20 years, travelled all over Britain performing as an organist in varioushalls, theatres and auditoriums. He was among the first exponents of the electric organ when it was introduced in Britain, performing many demonstration recitals. From 1926 to 1934, he served as permanent organist at the Shepherd's Bush Pavilion, following Quentin Maclean. He was employed here by the Gaumont British Film Corporation, and its musical director Louis Levy occasionally commissioned compositions from him. In 1934, he left his position at Shepherd's Bush Pavilion, and served as organist at the Victoria Cinema. Over the years, he concentrated more and more on composition, developing from simple silent film accompaniments to larger projects in sound picture scores, such as documentaries. Receiving encouragement and backing of several influential figures for his compositions, including Bournemouth Muncipial Orchestra conductor Dan Godfrey, who would include many of Curzon's compositions in his concerts - often inviting him to conduct them himself; and Ralph Hawkes of Boosey & Hawkes, who arranged for many of his scores to be printed. In 1938, he was eventually persuaded by his wife Gladys Marian Fowler (whom he had married in late 1937), to leave his position as an organist to devote himself to composition full-time, though still performing often as an organist with BBC Radio. For the rest of his life, he was devoted nearly full-time to composition, producing a large and varied body of work including orchestral suites, concert overtures, piano pieces, humoresques, a burlesque opera, a number of fanfares, a large amount of 'mood music' as well as scores for television and radio. He also served as President of the Light Music Society and was the head of Boosey & Hawkes' Light Music Department for some years. He eventually went to live by the sea in Bournemouth, and stayed there until his death in 1973.