The prolific composer and conductor Harry Rabinowitz has died at his home in France aged 100.
Born in Johannesburg in 1916, he came to England in 1946 to study at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama, joining PRS for Music as a composer member in 1953.
He became a prominent figure in TV and radio during the decade and into the sixties, making his name working with The Goons, Stanley Holloway and Terry-Thomas.
From there he became music director of popular and light entertainment for the BBC and then London Weekend Television (LWT).
In addition to conducting the orchestra for the Val Doonican Show, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore’s Not Only... But Also and many others, he composed music for The Frost Report (1966).
Later, his theme music for LWT’s Love for Lydia (1977) was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award, while in the eighties he composed music for scores of programmes including the TV series the Agatha Christie Hour (1982) and Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983).
Over in theatreland, Harry was also making great strides, conducting the orchestra at the premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber and TS Eliot’s musical Cats (1981) and Don Black and Lloyd Webber’s Song and Dance the following year.
He was in even greater demand to work in films, and in 1991 alone recorded music for nine movies. His cinema credits included Chariots of Fire (1981), The Remains of the Day (1993), Howards End (1992), The English Patient (1996) and The Talented Mr Ripley (1999).
His final film score assignment, at the age of 87, was Cold Mountain (2003).
Harry was made MBE for his services to British music in 1977 and received a Gold Badge Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) in 1985.
He had only recently become a centenarian and was due to take part in a concert with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican in London in November to mark both his birthday and his long career.
Last year, Harry appeared on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs programme. Tune in here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0606vtx
Born in Johannesburg in 1916, he came to England in 1946 to study at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama, joining PRS for Music as a composer member in 1953.
He became a prominent figure in TV and radio during the decade and into the sixties, making his name working with The Goons, Stanley Holloway and Terry-Thomas.
From there he became music director of popular and light entertainment for the BBC and then London Weekend Television (LWT).
In addition to conducting the orchestra for the Val Doonican Show, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore’s Not Only... But Also and many others, he composed music for The Frost Report (1966).
Later, his theme music for LWT’s Love for Lydia (1977) was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award, while in the eighties he composed music for scores of programmes including the TV series the Agatha Christie Hour (1982) and Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983).
Over in theatreland, Harry was also making great strides, conducting the orchestra at the premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber and TS Eliot’s musical Cats (1981) and Don Black and Lloyd Webber’s Song and Dance the following year.
He was in even greater demand to work in films, and in 1991 alone recorded music for nine movies. His cinema credits included Chariots of Fire (1981), The Remains of the Day (1993), Howards End (1992), The English Patient (1996) and The Talented Mr Ripley (1999).
His final film score assignment, at the age of 87, was Cold Mountain (2003).
Harry was made MBE for his services to British music in 1977 and received a Gold Badge Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) in 1985.
He had only recently become a centenarian and was due to take part in a concert with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican in London in November to mark both his birthday and his long career.
Last year, Harry appeared on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs programme. Tune in here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0606vtx
