He is a composer born Frederick Chipperfield in Oxford, England, who studied law at Hertford College in Oxford before going to the Royal College of Music and continuing his education in Berlin, Vienna and the United States. During WWII he returned to his given name and served as a navigator in an RAF bomber.
He met the writer Clemence Dane and they began a collaboration that lasted for the rest of her life, starting with Adam’s Opera in 1928. It was due to her and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. that he was introduced to film composition for the British movie, in which Fairbanks starred, The Amateur Gentleman.
He was best known for this film and television music and this includes Fire Over England, Goodbye Mr. Chips, Blithe Spirit, Scrooge (1951) and The Prince and the Showgirl. His most popular work is the “Warsaw Concerto” which was written for the 1941 film Dangerous Moonlight, and “Southern Rhapsody” and played every morning at the start of TV broadcasts for a TV company in southeastern England. He died in London aged 73.
Recordings:
CHRISTMAS CAROL, A – SUITE,
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / David Newman / Ambrosian Singers – Telarc 89408 88012
FIRE OVER ENGLAND SUITE
BBC Concert Orchestra/ Alwyn – Marco Polo 8.223732
GOODBYE MR. CHIPS
BBC Concert Orchestra/ Alwyn – Marco Polo 8.223732
INVITATION WALTZ from RING ROUND THE MOON
BBC Concert Orchestra / Kenneth Alwyn – Marco Polo 8.223732
ISLE OF APPLES, THE
BBC Concert Orchestra, Alwyn – Marco Polo 223732
JOURNEY TO ROMANCE
BBC Concert Orchestra/Alwyn – Marco Polo 8.223732
SMOKEY MOUNTAINS CONCERTO, THE
BBC Concert Orchestra / Philip Martin, piano / Kenneth Alwyn – Marco Polo 8.223732
WARSAW CONCERTO
Cincinnati Pops/Kunzel, William Tritt, piano – Telarc 80175
Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra – John Varineau; RichRidenour, piano – Centaur CRC 2433
Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra/ Dragon/ Pennario – EMI 63661
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Thomas, Isador Goodman, piano – DG 413 259-2
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Moshe Atzmon / Christina Ortiz, piano – London0289 414 348 – 2 1
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/ Moshe Atzmon / Christina Ortiz, piano – DECCA 0289 468 506-2
RTE Concert Orchestra / Proinnsias ODuinn / Philip Fowke – piano – Naxos 6 36943 43232 7
Here is his “Harmony for False Lovers for Orchestra”….
Sources:
- http://imdb.com/name/nm0005941/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Addinsell
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/richard-addinsell-mn0001540777/biography
- http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.223732#
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/715301-Richard-Addinsell
- http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba117b52e