Composer Information: Gordon Langford

Born Edgware, North London, 1930

Early interest in playing and writing music. Piano lessons from age five. First composition performed in public at age nine. First concerto played at public concert (Mozart K488) at age eleven. Won Middlesex Scholarship to Royal Academy of Music. Also studied trombone. Army service with Royal Artillery Band, Woolwich. First BBC broadcast as solo pianist (with the RA Band) in 1951. Several years of varied jobs such as pianist with seaside orchestras, pianist at school of ballet, trombone player with touring opera company, restaurant pianist, vibraphone player with jazz group and ship's musician.

During the sixties, began to be featured as pianist/arranger/composer on countless BBC programmes such as Music in the Air, Melody Around the World, Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead (Ronnie Barker), Thanks For The Memory (Hubert Gregg), Friday Night is Music Night, The Radio Orchestra Show, At the Piano, etc. plus appearances at the Royal Festival Hall at the Light Music Festivals.

Ivor Novello Award in 1971. Twice winner o the European Broadcasting Union's competition for new music for brass. Has written many arrangements for the King's Singers, London Miniatures for the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, and much other original music for brass band, orchestra, and various chamber groups. Worked as orchestrator for several West End musical shows, plus orchestrations for many American movies such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Superman II, First Great Train Robbery, Clash of the Titans, Return to Oz, Tribute etc. Apart from brass and military bands, many LPs and CDs feature his orchestral arrangements, notably with Vernon and Maryetta Midgley, Evelyn Glennie and Michala Petri. Also featured on record as pianist with Marilyn Hill Smith and the late Max Jaffa.

Commissioned by the BBC to write a Grand Fantasia on La Boheme for the centenary of the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in 1994. Also in 1994 was awarded the Gold Badge of Merit by British Academy of Song-writers, Composers and Authors.

Now lives in East Devon. Mostly writing but occasional recording, concert or broadcasting appearances.

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