Malcolm Arnold
Malcolm Arnold – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes
Explore the life and music of Sir Malcolm Arnold (born 21 October 1921) — a prolific English composer and conductor known for his symphonies, film scores (including The Bridge on the River Kwai), ballets, chamber works, and his vivid, tuneful style.
Introduction
Sir Malcolm Henry Arnold (21 October 1921 – 23 September 2006) was one of England’s most versatile and prolific 20th-century composers.
His musical output spans nine symphonies, a wealth of concertos, chamber music, works for brass and wind bands, film and theatre scores, ballets, operas, overtures, and lighter orchestral pieces.
Arnold’s music is celebrated for its tunefulness, energetic rhythms, rich orchestration, and emotional immediacy.
Early Life and Education
Malcolm Arnold was born in Northampton, England, into a family steeped in musical tradition.
Although his father ran a prosperous shoe business, both parents were amateur pianists, and Arnold’s great-great grandfather was William Hawes, a choirmaster at the Chapel Royal.
When Arnold was around 12 years old, after hearing Louis Armstrong play in Bournemouth, he took up the trumpet.
He went on to win a scholarship to the Royal College of Music, where he studied composition with Gordon Jacob and trumpet with Ernest Hall.
In 1941, he joined the London Philharmonic Orchestra as second trumpet, and by 1943 he was principal trumpet.
During World War II, Arnold initially registered as a conscientious objector, but later (after his brother died in RAF service) volunteered — though he reportedly shot himself in the foot to escape front-line duty.
By 1948 Arnold left full-time performance to devote himself fully to composition.
Career and Major Works
Orchestral, Symphonic & Concert Works
Arnold’s nine symphonies (spanning 1949 to 1986) are often considered the backbone of his serious output.
His Symphony No. 5 (Op. 74), composed in 1961, is often singled out. It was dedicated to four friends who died young (humorist Gerard Hoffnung, clarinettist Frederick Thurston, choreographer David Paltenghi, and horn player Dennis Brain).
Arnold also composed lighter orchestral works — notably his English Dances (Opp. 27, 33), Scottish Dances, Irish Dances, Welsh Dances, and Cornish Dances — which have become audience favorites.
His concert overtures Beckus the Dandipratt, Tam o’ Shanter, A Grand Grand Overture, and Peterloo Overture are among his more adventurous and playful orchestral pieces.
He also wrote numerous concertos: for guitar (for Julian Bream), cello (for Julian Lloyd Webber), clarinet, harmonica (for Larry Adler), trumpet, viola, among others.
Film, Theatre, Ballet & Media
Arnold was a prolific film composer: he wrote over 100 scores for films and documentaries.
His most famous film score is The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), for which he won an Oscar for Best Original Score.
Other notable film works include The Sound Barrier (1952), Hobson’s Choice (1954), The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958), 1984 (1956), Trapeze (1956), Dunkirk (1958), The Angry Silence (1960), The Thin Red Line (1964), The Heroes of Telemark (1965), and many others.
In theatre, Arnold composed five ballets commissioned by the Royal Ballet, two operas, and a musical.
He also arranged many of his own pieces for brass bands and wind bands, contributing to the repertoire in British band culture.
Honors, Later Life & Challenges
Arnold received numerous honors:
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He became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1970.
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In 1993 he was knighted (Knight Bachelor) for services to music.
Despite his success, Arnold’s later life was marred by struggles with alcoholism, mental illness, and financial and health difficulties.
In the late 1970s, he was treated in psychiatric hospitals and entered a period under the Court of Protection.
He completed his Ninth Symphony in 1986. It was not performed publicly until 1992, due to its bleak mood and sparse scoring.
Arnold died on 23 September 2006 in Norwich, following a chest infection.
Personality, Style & Artistic Legacy
Arnold’s music often straddles two worlds: the popular, melodic side (dances, film scores) and the more serious, introspective side (symphonies).
He resisted more avant-garde trends such as serialism or atonality, favoring a tonal vocabulary enriched by folk, jazz, and orchestral color.
Critics of his time often dismissed him as insufficiently “serious,” partly because his lighter works (dances, film music) made him popular, but arguably diminished his reputation in more academic circles.
Yet Arnold’s ability to write directly communicative music, to reach both general audiences and serious listeners, is part of his lasting appeal.
His diverse command of orchestration, his rhythmic vitality, and his emotional frankness make his works stand out.
After his death, regular festivals celebrate his legacy (e.g. Malcolm Arnold Festival in Northampton).
Famous Quotes by Malcolm Arnold
Here are some notable quotations:
“Music is the social act of communication among people, a gesture of friendship, the strongest there is.”
“Although I enjoyed writing Film Music it was always a means to an end, in that it enabled me to keep a wife and family and write my classical music, which has always been my passion.”
“Although, I am proud of all my Symphonies as they all have something special to say, my particular favourite is the Fifth. As the great Mahler expert Donald Mitchell said that if Mahler had written another Symphony, it would have been my Fifth!”
These lines reveal his personal sense of balancing between popular success (film music) and deeper artistic ambition.
Lessons from Malcolm Arnold
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Artistic duality can be strength
Arnold could write music that was both accessible and profound, bridging popular and classical idioms. -
Melody and communication matter
He believed music can be a gesture of friendship and connection — not merely abstract experimentation. -
Struggles don’t erase achievement
Despite personal battles, Arnold produced a large, varied, and emotionally powerful body of work. -
Be true to personal voice
Even when critical trends shifted away from tonal music, he remained committed to his musical instincts. -
Legacy is maintained through community
The ongoing festivals, revival of performances, and championing by musicians keep his music alive.
Conclusion
Sir Malcolm Arnold’s life and output exemplify a composer of both breadth and depth. His music ranges from lively dances and memorable film scores to intense, emotionally rich symphonies. Though his personal life was marked by turmoil, his musical legacy endures.