Leighton Lucas
Encyclopedia
Leighton Lucas was an English
composer
and conductor. Born into a musical family (his father, Clarence Lucas
, was also a noted composer), he began his career as a dancer for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes
(1918–21). He became a ballet conductor at 19, as well as a self-taught composer of religious works and film music.
He is particularly noted for his film compositions, including the scores for Target for Tonight
(1941), Alfred Hitchcock's Stage Fright
(1950), Ice-Cold in Alex
(1958) and the incidental music for The Dam Busters
(based on the title march by Eric Coates
).
Benjamin Britten
wrote that Lucas's Partita (1934) for piano and chamber orchestra was 'very interesting - especially quite lovely Sarabande." Lucas's 'Sinfonia Brevis' (1936?) for horn and 11 instruments may be one of the earliest British scores to incorporate Balinese gamelan effects (it was heard by Benjamin Britten who went on to use such effects in his music from Paul Bunyan).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and conductor. Born into a musical family (his father, Clarence Lucas
Clarence Lucas
Clarence Lucas , was a Canadian composer, lyricist, conductor, and music professor.Lucas was born at Six Nations Reserve, Ontario and was a student of Romain-Octave Pelletier I. He taught at the Toronto College of Music, taught in Utica, New York, and was the musical director at Wesleyan Ladies...
, was also a noted composer), he began his career as a dancer for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes
Ballets Russes
The Ballets Russes was an itinerant ballet company from Russia which performed between 1909 and 1929 in many countries. Directed by Sergei Diaghilev, it is regarded as the greatest ballet company of the 20th century. Many of its dancers originated from the Imperial Ballet of Saint Petersburg...
(1918–21). He became a ballet conductor at 19, as well as a self-taught composer of religious works and film music.
He is particularly noted for his film compositions, including the scores for Target for Tonight
Target for Tonight
Target for Tonight is a 1941 British documentary film billed as being filmed by and acted by the Royal Air Force, all while under fire. It was directed by Harry Watt. The film revolves for the most part around one crew in a single Wellington aircraft...
(1941), Alfred Hitchcock's Stage Fright
Stage Fright (film)
Stage Fright is a 1950 British crime film directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock starring Jane Wyman, Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding and Richard Todd...
(1950), Ice-Cold in Alex
Ice-Cold in Alex
Ice-Cold in Alex is a British film based on the novel of the same name by British author Christopher Landon. Directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring John Mills, the film was a prizewinner at the 8th Berlin International Film Festival...
(1958) and the incidental music for The Dam Busters
The Dam Busters (film)
The Dam Busters is a 1955 British Second World War war film starring Michael Redgrave and Richard Todd and directed by Michael Anderson. The film recreates the true story of Operation Chastise when in 1943 the RAF's 617 Squadron attacked the Möhne, Eder and Sorpe dams in Germany with Wallis's...
(based on the title march by Eric Coates
Eric Coates
Eric Coates was an English composer of light music and a viola player.-Life:Eric was born in Hucknall in Nottinghamshire to William Harrison Coates , a surgeon, and his wife, Mary Jane Gwynne, hailing from Usk in Monmouthshire...
).
Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
wrote that Lucas's Partita (1934) for piano and chamber orchestra was 'very interesting - especially quite lovely Sarabande." Lucas's 'Sinfonia Brevis' (1936?) for horn and 11 instruments may be one of the earliest British scores to incorporate Balinese gamelan effects (it was heard by Benjamin Britten who went on to use such effects in his music from Paul Bunyan).
Compositions
- "Eve's Rhapsody" from the film "Stage FrightStage Fright (film)Stage Fright is a 1950 British crime film directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock starring Jane Wyman, Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding and Richard Todd...
" (1950) - Clarinet Concerto http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0009VKR7Q
- Partita (1934) for piano and chamber orchestra
- Sinfonia Brevis (1936?) for horn and 11 instruments
- Chorale and Variations, for brass band
- Symphonic Suite, for brass band
- A Waltz Overture, for brass band
- Spring Song, for brass band
- The Road to Alex, march for brass band
- Target For Tonight, march for orchestra
- Score for We of the West Riding (1945)