Sir Malcolm Arnold Honoured With ISM Award
11th January 2005
To view the actual press release as a PDF click here.
The eminent composer Sir Malcolm Arnold CBE has been honoured with the Incorporated Society of Musicians’ Distinguished Musician Award for 2004.
The ISM established its Distinguished Musician Award in 1976, as a means by
which the profession could acknowledge the outstanding contribution of a
colleague to British musical life. Previous recipients have been Sir Alexander
Gibson, Sir William Walton, Sir Peter Pears, Sir Adrian Boult, Sir James Galway,
Jacqueline du Pre, Janet Craxton, Sir Michael Tippett, Sir Reginald Goodall, Sir
Charles Groves, Sir Simon Rattle, Norman Del Mar, Witold Lutoslawski, Julian
Bream, Sir Colin Davis, George Malcolm, Christopher Hogwood, Sir David Willcocks,
Dame Fanny Waterman, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Sir Charles Mackerras and John
McCabe.
At its meeting on 27 November last, the ISM’s Council voted unanimously to
confer the Award for 2004 on Sir Malcolm, himself a lifelong member of the ISM.
Proposing Sir Malcolm for the Award, Kenneth H˙tch, the ISM’s Eastern Regional
Councillor, said:
‘In offering Sir Malcolm Arnold its Distinguished Musician Award for 2004,
the ISM would be acknowledging the immense contribution of an increasingly
recognised composer of great historical importance. His set of nine magnificent
symphonies show the direct line of that genre back through Shostakovich, Mahler
and Berlioz to Beethoven. There are now two complete sets of recordings of these
symphonies. His music has given great pleasure to all musicians, whether
soloists, chamber groups or orchestras. Amateur music makers are always pleased
to perform his approachable style. Indeed Sir Malcolm has always composed as his
“own man”, whatever fashion might be in vogue. A new biography of Sir Malcolm –
Rogue Genius – has just been published, illustrating the increasing interest in
his music.
‘Though now in well-deserved retirement, Sir Malcolm should be recognised for
his lifetime’s achievements as one of the greatest composers of the 20th
century.’
Sir Malcolm said he was ‘thrilled to be honoured by the ISM, and to be joining
such an eminent list of members who have received the Distinguished Musician
Award’.
Born in Northampton in 1921, Sir Malcolm studied trumpet at the RCM with Ernest
Hall and composition with Gordon Jacob. Shortly after joining the LPO, he was
promoted to principal trumpet. In 1948 he took up full-time composing, writing
many concertos for performers he admired, and composing up to six film scores a
year: the music for Bridge on the River Kwai won him an Oscar. Sir Malcolm was
appointed CBE in 1970 and was knighted in 1993. In 1986 he received the Ivor
Novello Award, and in 2001 was made a fellow of the British Academy of Composers
and Songwriters to mark his 80th birthday. Sir Malcolm now lives in Norfolk.
The special medal for the Distinguished Musician Award will be presented to Sir
Malcolm in the near future.
Ends 01 / 2005
Note to Editors: The ISM, founded in 1882, is the UK’s professional body
for all musicians. It promotes the art of music and upholds the honour and
interests of the musical profession by protecting the interests of musicians,
raising professional standards, and providing legal advice and other benefits to
its 5,000 members, who include performers, teachers, composers, conductors,
organists, writers and others involved in professional musical work. The ISM
established its Distinguished Musician Award in 1976. The Award is a silver
medallion, bearing the ISM logo and engraved on the reverse with the recipient’s
name.
Contact: Neil Hoyle, T. 020 7629 4413 .
