He was a composer, conductor, poet, artist and teacher born in Northampton, England. He started to be interested in music from a young age and learned the piccolo before entering the Royal Academy of Music on scholarships when he was fifteen to study composition and flute. He became a virtuoso flautist and was employed by the London Symphony Orchestra as their principal flute. In 1926 he accepted the position of Professor of Composition at the Royal Academy of Music and he would stay there until 1955. Among his honours were the Collard Fellowship of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, fellowships from the British Film Academy, Royal Academy of Music and the International Poetry Society, and he was awarded the C.B.E. by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978. A contemporary of Britten, Tippett & Walton, he was a prolific composer of classical and film music and would write many pieces that include five symphonies, concertos, string quartets and four operas, and in the movies he wrote the scores for 60 films that included The Fallen Idol, Swiss Family Robinson, Carve Her Name With Pride, Odd Man Out and The History of Mr. Polly, and around 150 documentaries. He lived in the county of Suffolk in England and in 1985 he died in Southwold there when he was 79 years old. His wife was the composer Doreen Carwithen.

Autumn Legend for English Horn and String Orchestra recordings

City of London Sinfonia / Richard Hickox ; Nicholas Daniel - English Horn - Chandos 0 95115 90652 1

Desert Victory - Suite recordings

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra - Rumon Gamba - Chandos CHAN 9959

Lyra Angelica - Concert for Harp and Orchestra recordings

City of London Sinfonia/ Hickox/ Masters - Chandos 9065

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra - David Lloyd-Jones; Suzanne Willison, harp - Naxos 8.557647

Pastoral Fantasia for Viola and String Orchestra recordings

City of London Sinfonia - Hickox, Steven Tees, viola - Chandos 9065

Sonata for Oboe and Piano recordings

Nicholas Daniel, oboe, Julius Drake, piano - Chandos 9197

Suite of Scottish Dances recordings

Royal Ballet Sinfonia - Gavin Sutherland - ASV CD WHL 2116

Symphony No. 2 recordings

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra - David Lloyd-Jones - Naxos 8.557647

Symphony No. 5 - Hydriotaphia recordings

London Symphony Orchestra - Richard Hickox - Chandos CHAN 9196

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra - David Lloyd-Jones - Naxos 8.557647

Sources:

1. http://www.musicweb.uk.net/alwyn/biog.htm