Carl Davis: Maestro

How do you bring a forgotten silent film back to life? What are the techniques behind writing a successful film score? How do you work with and inspire choreographers? Carl Davis's fascinating story gives an insight into the prolific composing and conducting career of one of the world's most celebrated film and television composers. Born in New York, Carl Davis spent his early years of his career in American before going on to study in Copenhagen. From there he moved to Britain and entered the worlds of classical music, theatre, film and television. He has since composed almost 400 film and TV scores, winning several BAFTAs and Ivor Novello awards, as well as establishing himself as the number one choice to score silent films.Some of his most recognisable work includes the soundtracks for The French Lieutenant's Woman (BAFTA/Ivor Novello Winner), Pride and Prejudice (1995 TV Series), Scandal (1989) and Cranford. Written by Wendy Thompson, Carl Davis: Maestro is a glimpse into the life of a consummate all-round musician and his impact on many spheres of music-making. This is the full eBook version of the original hardback edition

A consummate all-round musician, Carl Davis is widely known internationally in many spheres of music-making. Born in New York in 1936, he studied composition with Paul Nordoff and Hugo Kauder, and subsequently with Per Nørgård in Copenhagen. His early work in the USA provided valuable conducting experience with organizations such as New York City Opera and the Robert Shaw Chorale. In 1959 the revue Diversions, of which he was co-author, won an off-Broadway Emmy and subsequently travelled to the 1961 Edinburgh Festival. As a direct result of its success there, Davis was commissioned by Ned Sherrin to write music for That Was The Week That Was. Other radio and TV commissions followed and Davis's UK career was launched. Since then he has been enormously successful in the world of theatre, film and TV, composing scores for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the much-loved themes to the award winning BBC series Pride and Prejudice and Cranford. Music for silent films has been a particularly enduring strand to Davis's activities. His 1980 score for Abel Gance's silent film Napoléon triggered an extraordinary revival of interest in the silent film, and Davis's oeuvre of more than fifty scores for this medium, including Flesh and the Devil, Ben-Hur, The Thief of Bagdad, Greed, Intolerance, I'm King Kong and The Godless Girl, has brought him international acclaim. A much sought-after conductor of silent films and concerts throughout the world, in 2005 he was awarded a CBE (Hon). The 'Carl Davis Collection' was formed in 2009 to record and promote his works.