Freddie Phillips
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Freddie Phillips | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Born | United Kingdom |
| Died | 4 October 2003 |
| Genres | Classical |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Years active | 1950s–1990s |
Freddie Phillips (died 4 October 2003) was a British musician and composer, best known for his work on television theme music, particularly the children's programmes, Camberwick Green, Trumpton and Chigley.
Mainly a classical guitarist, Phillips worked and performed in the fields of opera and ballet, including with The Royal Ballet, and with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. His television career began with providing musical scores for a pair of short films by Lotte Reiniger, and composing short pieces for use in television continuity.[1] Around this time he began his involvement with the animator Gordon Murray, firstly with A Rubovian Legend, and later the Trumptonshire trilogy of children's TV programmes. Phillips wrote individual songs for the characters in the latter programmes, as well as the theme music. The songs were sung by Brian Cant.
Phillips also provided many of the sound effects for the programmes, and was noted for his experimental attitude towards creating the sounds he wanted, including use of an early multitrack recording system, reverb, and adjustment of tape speed to create different effects.[1]
Many of Phillips' recordings were made available as vinyl records, particularly the Trumptonshire and Rubovia series. Phillips died in Ewell, Surrey, in October 2003.
In 2003, Antony Harding of the folk group July Skies and Ben Holton of Epic 45 recorded "For Freddie Phillips", an acoustic guitar instrumental inspired by Phillips' work, under the group title of Play Hours and Half Holidays.[2] Harding is also a member of Avrocar.
Filmography
- Prince Achmed (1954 – revision of the original 1926 film by Lotte Reiniger)
- Hansel and Gretel (1955 animated film by Lotte Reiniger)
- The Gallant Little Tailor (1957)
- Peeping Tom (1960)
- Barbara Hepworth, a film by John Read (BBC) (1961)
- A Rubovian Legend or Rubovia (1955–60)
- Camberwick Green (1966)
- Man in a Suitcase (1967 – one episode The Man Who Stood Still)
- Trumpton (1967)
- Chigley (1969)
- The Gublins (1977)
References
- ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 24, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Play Hours and Half Holidays". Julyskies.com. Retrieved 2016-06-30.