We regret to inform readers that noted composer Robert Farnon passed away peacefully on the night of Friday, 22 April 2005, at a hospice near his home in Guernsey. He was 87.
Farnon was widely regarded as one of the foremost composers and arrangers of light orchestral music of the 20th Century, with an extensive collection of memorable works to his name, including not only light music but over forty film scores such as Captain Horatio Hornblower RN and Spring in Park Lane. He also composed jingle packages, including the launch package for Britain's first on-shore commercial radio station, LBC, in 1973. In addition, he was an excellent trumpet player. He is particularly remembered for such classic signature tunes as Jumping Bean (possibly the most widely-used sig tune ever), Portrait of a Flirt and Journey into Melody along with many others.
Farnon was born in Toronto, Ontario, and first arrived in England in 1944 as the conductor of the Canadian Band of the Allied Expeditionary Force. When the end of the war came, he decided to stay, moving to Guernsey in the mid 1960s, where he lived for the rest of his life.
Farnon wrote three symphonies, the third being dedicated to Edinburgh: he passed away just three weeks before its premiere. His last major work was a bassoon concerto, Romancing the Phoenix. Farnon received wide international recognition, receiving four Ivor Novello awards including one for Outstanding Services to British Music in 1991, and a Grammy in 1995.
All of us at Transdiffusion express our sincere condolences to Patricia Farnon and the other members of her family: our thoughts are with them at this sad time.
