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Robert Farnon

Robert Joseph Farnon was a Canadian-born composer, conductor, musical arranger and trumpet player. As well as being a composer of original works (often in the light music genre), he was commissioned by film and television producers for theme and incidental music. In later life he composed a number of more serious orchestral works, including three symphonies, and was recognised with four Ivor Novello awards and the Order of Canada.

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1

Interview

Jeff Sultanof on Robert Farnon, Part 2

Jeff Sultanof on Robert Farnon, Part 2

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

Robert Farnon composed several film scores, of which the best known is the music for Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951). The trombonist, composer and arranger J.J. Johnson told me that a theme from the film, “Lady Barbara” was one of his favorites. Johnson eventually recorded it with Farnon. We hear a bit of the theme in this scene from the motion picture with Gregory Peck and Virginia Mayo. Farnon recorded a long-running series of albums for U.K. Decca, released in the ...

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Recording

Jazzwax List: Robert Farnon

Jazzwax List: Robert Farnon

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Last week I posted on Paul Weston's Mood for 12, a mid-'50s relaxing delight that I feel is among the smartest “easy listening" albums of the decade. My Weston post triggered a wave of emails from secret easy-listening listeners who offered up their own suggestions. Among the emailers was arranger and historian Jeff Sultanof, who favors Robert Farnon [pictured]. Admittedly, I've never been a big Farnon guy. A little heavy on the “easy" for me and not enough nearly enough ...

Music

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