Idris Lewis (21 November 1889 – 15 April 1952) was a Welsh conductor and

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

. He worked on the film scores of a number of productions during the 1930s, when he was employed by British International Pictures. He was the Director of Music for the Welsh Region of the BBC.

Biography

Idris Lewis was born in Birchgrove near Swansea on 21 November 1889, the son of a coal miner. He was interested in music as a child, and when he was sixteen he won a scholarship to study at the

Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music is a music school, conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the Undergraduate education, undergraduate to the Doctorate, doctoral level in a ...

in London. In 1911 and 1912, after completing his studies at the Royal College, Lewis toured India and the Far East, giving piano recitals. He became assistant director at Daly's Theatre in London, and musical director at the Lyric and Gaiety Theatres. He was also organist at the Charing Cross Road Welsh Presbyterian Chapel and conductor of the London Welsh Choral Society and of the London Welsh Male Voice Choir. In 1927 he joined the film company British International Pictures, where he was the musical director from 1931 to 1937. While there he arranged the music for several films. His work on the 1934 film ''

Blossom Time Blossom Time may refer to: * Blossom Time (operetta), a 1921 English-language adaptation of the operetta ''Das Dreimäderlhaus'' * Blossom Time (1934 film), a British musical drama film, based on the operetta ''Das Dreimäderlhaus'' * Blossom Time ...

'' starring Richard Tauber brought Lewis to the attention of the BBC, and in 1936 he became the first Music Director of the Welsh Region of the BBC in Cardiff, where his assistants were to include the composers

Mansel Thomas Mansel Treharne Thomas, (12 June 1909 – 8 January 1986) was a Welsh composer and conductor, who worked mainly in South Wales. He was one of the most influential musicians of his generation, known as a composer, conductor and adjudicator. He ...

and

Arwel Hughes Arwel Hughes OBE (25 August 1909 – 23 September 1988) was a Welsh orchestral conductor and composer. Life and career Hughes was born in Rhosllannerchrugog near Wrexham and was educated at Ruabon Grammar School and at the Royal College ...

. At the BBC Lewis was responsible for several radio series of popular vocal music, including ''Melys Lais'' and ''Cenwch im yr hen ganiadau''. In addition to his film compositions, Lewis composed songs and arranged works for male voice choir. His song cycle ''Alun Mabon'' is a setting of a pastoral poem in Welsh by

John Ceiriog Hughes John Ceiriog Hughes (25 September 1832 – 23 April 1887) was a Welsh poet and collector of Welsh folk tunes, sometimes termed a Robert Burns of Wales. He was born at Penybryn Farm, overlooking the village of Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog in the Cei ...

(1832–1887), and includes ''Cân Yr Arad Goch'' which has become well known and has been recorded by singers including Bryn Terfel. Idris Evans died at his home in Cardiff on 15 April 1952.

Selected filmography

* ''

Why Sailors Leave Home ''Why Sailors Leave Home'' is a 1930 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Leslie Fuller, Peter Bernard and Eve Gray. The screenplay concerns a British sailor on shore leave in the Middle East who ends up being mistaken for a ...

'' (1930) * '' Love Lies'' (1931) * ''

Brother Alfred ''Brother Alfred'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Henry Edwards and starring Gene Gerrard, Molly Lamont and Elsie Randolph. After she finds him embracing one of the maids, a man's fiancée ends her engagement to him. In an effort to ...

'' (1932) * ''

Let Me Explain, Dear ''Let Me Explain, Dear'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Gene Gerrard and Frank Miller (1891–1950), Frank Miller and starring Gerrard, Viola Lyel and Claude Hulbert. It was adapted from the play ''A Little Bit of Fluff (play), A Litt ...

'' (1932) *''

Strip! Strip! Hooray!!! ''Strip! Strip! Hooray!!!'' is a 1932 British short comedy film directed by Norman Lee and starring Ken Douglas, Betty Norton and Albert E. Raynor. It was made by British International Pictures at Elstree Studios as a second feature.Chibnall p.2 ...

'' (1932) * ''

Mr. Bill the Conqueror ''Mr. Bill the Conqueror'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Norman Walker and starring Henry Kendall, Heather Angel and Nora Swinburne. It was made by British International Pictures at Elstree Studios.Wood p.72 Cast * Henry Kendall a ...

'' (1932) * ''

Letting in the Sunshine ''Letting in the Sunshine'' is a 1933 British comedy crime film directed by Lupino Lane and starring Albert Burdon, Renee Gadd and Molly Lamont. It was based on a story by Anthony Asquith.Sutton p.218 The film was made by British International ...

'' (1933) * ''

Radio Parade ''Radio Parade'' is a 1933 British musical comedy film directed by Richard Beville and Archie de Bear and featuring an ensemble cast including Florence Desmond, Claude Hulbert, Jeanne De Casalis and the comedy double act Clapham and Dwyer. A rev ...

'' (1933) * '' The Blarney Stone'' (1933) * '' Money Talks'' (1933) * ''

'' (1934) * '' Heart's Desire'' (1935) * '' It's a Bet'' (1935)

References

Bibliography

* Taves, Brian. ''P.G. Wodehouse and Hollywood: Screenwriting, Satires and Adaptations''. McFarland, 2006.

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Idris 1889 births 1952 deaths Welsh composers Welsh male composers Welsh conductors (music) British film score composers British male conductors (music) British male film score composers 20th-century Welsh musicians 20th-century British composers 20th-century British conductors (music) 20th-century British male musicians Musicians from Swansea