Sidney Torch
Encyclopedia
Sidney Torch MBE was a British pianist
, cinema organist
, conductor
, orchestral arranger
and a composer
of light music
.
Born Sidney Torchinsky of a Ukrainian Father and an Estonian Mother in London
, Torch learned the rudiments of music very quickly from his father, an orchestral trombonist. He worked as an accompanist
before getting a job playing the Piano
with the Orchestra of the Regal Cinema, Marble Arch
, London
. When the Cinema's Christie Theatre Organ
was installed in 1928, Torch became the Assistant Organist to the Chief Organist, Quentin Maclean. Torch took over as Chief Organist at the Cinema in 1932. Maclean had left in 1930 to become Chief Organist of the Trocadero Cinema, Elephant and Castle
and was followed at the Regal until 1932 by Reginald Foort. Torch's tenure at the Regal lasted until 1934.
Torch then played the organ in a number of London Cinemas (amongst others, the Regal, Edmonton) and in 1937 he became the Chief Organist of the new Gaumont State Cinema
, Kilburn. He continued to play the Wurlitzer
there up until 1940, when he was drafted into the RAF and stationed near Blackpool
. Torch would play and make recordings on the numerous Cinema Organs in the Blackpool area, during his spare time. While in the RAF, Torch became the Conductor of the RAF Concert Orchestra, where he learned to arrange music
and to conduct
.
He conducted many orchestras and bands, particularly those of the BBC
. Torch was even the man who created the popular BBC Light Programme
show Friday Night is Music Night
, which started in 1953 and continues to be broadcast to this day. Torch also conducted the BBC Concert Orchestra
for nearly every Friday Night show until his retirement.
Torch also composed many pieces for the BBC, particularly the theme tunes for radio
and television
shows. The themes from the radio show Much Binding In The Marsh is an example of this. Torch also composed independently, mostly pieces of light music. The piece On A Spring Note is considered to be one of Torch's best works and is still regularly played and recorded by Modern Cinema Organists. Torch made a huge number of recordings
during his lifetime. Many of Torch's Cinema Organ recordings have been rereleased on CD
and can therefore still be bought today.
A recording of Torch's Off Beats Mood was chosen by Stanley Kubrick
as the theme for the fictitious BBC news programme "The World Tonight" seen aboard the spaceship Discovery in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey
.
Torch retired from full-time conducting with the BBC in 1972 and was appointed an MBE
in 1985. He died at his Eastbourne
, Sussex
home on 16 July 1990 at the age of 82, having survived his wife Elizabeth Tyson (a former BBC producer), who died six months earlier.
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, cinema organist
Theatre organ
A theatre organ is a pipe organ originally designed specifically for imitation of an orchestra. New designs have tended to be around some of the sounds and blends unique to the instrument itself....
, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, orchestral arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
and a 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...
of light music
Light music
Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music, which originated in the 19th century and had its heyday during the early to mid part of the 20th century, although arguably it lasts to the present day....
.
Born Sidney Torchinsky of a Ukrainian Father and an Estonian Mother in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Torch learned the rudiments of music very quickly from his father, an orchestral trombonist. He worked as an accompanist
Accompaniment
In music, accompaniment is the art of playing along with an instrumental or vocal soloist or ensemble, often known as the lead, in a supporting manner...
before getting a job playing the Piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
with the Orchestra of the Regal Cinema, Marble Arch
Marble Arch
Marble Arch is a white Carrara marble monument that now stands on a large traffic island at the junction of Oxford Street, Park Lane, and Edgware Road, almost directly opposite Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park in London, England...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. When the Cinema's Christie Theatre Organ
Theatre organ
A theatre organ is a pipe organ originally designed specifically for imitation of an orchestra. New designs have tended to be around some of the sounds and blends unique to the instrument itself....
was installed in 1928, Torch became the Assistant Organist to the Chief Organist, Quentin Maclean. Torch took over as Chief Organist at the Cinema in 1932. Maclean had left in 1930 to become Chief Organist of the Trocadero Cinema, Elephant and Castle
Elephant and Castle
The Elephant and Castle is a major road intersection in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is also used as a name for the surrounding area....
and was followed at the Regal until 1932 by Reginald Foort. Torch's tenure at the Regal lasted until 1934.
Torch then played the organ in a number of London Cinemas (amongst others, the Regal, Edmonton) and in 1937 he became the Chief Organist of the new Gaumont State Cinema
Gaumont State Cinema
The Gaumont State Cinema is a Grade II* listed Art Deco theatre located in Kilburn, a district in northwest London.Designed by George Coles and opened in 1937, the Gaumont State was one of the biggest auditoria in Europe, with seating for 4,004 people. The name State is said to come from the huge ...
, Kilburn. He continued to play the Wurlitzer
Wurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
there up until 1940, when he was drafted into the RAF and stationed near Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
. Torch would play and make recordings on the numerous Cinema Organs in the Blackpool area, during his spare time. While in the RAF, Torch became the Conductor of the RAF Concert Orchestra, where he learned to arrange music
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
and to conduct
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
He conducted many orchestras and bands, particularly those of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. Torch was even the man who created the popular BBC Light Programme
BBC Light Programme
The Light Programme was a BBC radio station which broadcast mainstream light entertainment and music from 1945 until 1967, when it was rebranded as BBC Radio 2...
show Friday Night is Music Night
Friday Night is Music Night
Friday Night is Music Night is a long running live BBC radio concert programme featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra, broadcast most Fridays on BBC Radio 2 at 8.00pm. It is the world's longest-running live music radio programme....
, which started in 1953 and continues to be broadcast to this day. Torch also conducted the BBC Concert Orchestra
BBC Concert Orchestra
The BBC Concert Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London, one of the British Broadcasting Corporation's five radio orchestras. With around fifty players, it is the only one of the five which is not a full-scale symphony orchestra....
for nearly every Friday Night show until his retirement.
Torch also composed many pieces for the BBC, particularly the theme tunes for radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
shows. The themes from the radio show Much Binding In The Marsh is an example of this. Torch also composed independently, mostly pieces of light music. The piece On A Spring Note is considered to be one of Torch's best works and is still regularly played and recorded by Modern Cinema Organists. Torch made a huge number of recordings
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
during his lifetime. Many of Torch's Cinema Organ recordings have been rereleased on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
and can therefore still be bought today.
A recording of Torch's Off Beats Mood was chosen by Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
as the theme for the fictitious BBC news programme "The World Tonight" seen aboard the spaceship Discovery in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey (film)
2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, and co-written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, partially inspired by Clarke's short story The Sentinel...
.
Torch retired from full-time conducting with the BBC in 1972 and was appointed an MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1985. He died at his Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
home on 16 July 1990 at the age of 82, having survived his wife Elizabeth Tyson (a former BBC producer), who died six months earlier.
External links
- Detailed biography at the Robert Farnon Society
- Sydney Torch (1908 - 1990) (Retrieved February 27, 2010)