Leighton Lucas (5 January 1903 – 1 November 1982) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

composer and conductor. Born into a musical family (his father,

Clarence Lucas Clarence Lucas (October 19, 1866 – July 2, 1947), was a Canadian composer, lyricist, conductor, and music professor. Lucas was born at Six Nations Reserve, Ontario and was a student of Romain-Octave Pelletier I. He taught at the Toronto Col ...

, was also a noted composer and his mother Clara Asher-Lucas a concert pianist), he began his career as a dancer for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes (1918–21). He became a ballet conductor at 19, and in 1941 became musical director of the Ballet Guild, a wartime company for which he formed first a quintet, later an orchestra. He also worked as an arranger for

Jack Hylton Jack Hylton (born John Greenhalgh Hilton; 2 July 1892 – 29 January 1965) was an English pianist, composer, band leader and impresario. Hylton rose to prominence during the British dance band era, being referred as the "British King of Jazz" ...

's orchestra between c.1926 and 1930. Lucas was a self-taught composer of religious works and film music He is particularly noted for his film compositions, including the scores for ''

Target for Tonight ''Target for Tonight'' (or ''Target for To-Night'') is a 1941 British World War II documentary film billed as filmed and acted by the Royal Air Force, all during wartime operations. It was directed by Harry Watt for the Crown Film Unit. The fi ...

'' (1941), Alfred Hitchcock's ''

Stage Fright Stage fright or performance anxiety is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia which may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, real or imagined, whether actually or potentially (for example, when perf ...

'' (1950), '' Ice-Cold in Alex'' (1958) and the incidental music for '' The Dam Busters'' (based on the title march by

Eric Coates Eric Francis Harrison Coates (27 August 1886 – 21 December 1957) was an English composer of light music and, early in his career, a leading viola, violist. Coates was born into a musical family, but, despite his wishes and obvious talent, ...

). His first major composition to receive recognition was the Partita for piano and chamber orchestra, broadcast in 1934 with the composer conducting the

London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's Hall Orc ...

and his mother Clara Asher-Lucas as the solo pianist.

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other ...

described it as "very interesting – especially the quite lovely Sarabande." Lucas's ''Sinfonia Brevis'' (1936?) for horn and 11 instruments may be one of the earliest British scores to incorporate Balinese gamelan effects. It was also heard by Britten, who went on to use such effects in his music from ''Paul Bunyan''. ''Ballet de la Reine'' (1949, revised 1957) is a six movement suite taken from the sketches of an unperformed ballet, ''Pavan for Mary'', which was originally intended for the Edinburgh Ballet Club. The music looks back to Elizabethan music forms (similarly to

Peter Warlock Philip Arnold Heseltine (30 October 189417 December 1930), known by the pseudonym Peter Warlock, was a British composer and music critic. The Warlock name, which reflects Heseltine's interest in occult practices, was used for all his published ...

's ''Capriol Suite'') while also retaining a French flavour (because

Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legitimate child of James V of S ...

spent her childhood in France).

Selected compositions

Orchestral *1934 – ''Partita'' (1934) for piano and chamber orchestra *1936? – ''Sinfonia Brevis'' for horn and 11 instruments *1945 – ''We of the West Riding'' *1939 – ''Sonatina concertante'' for saxophone and orchestra *1940 – ''Suite française'' *1941 – March-Prelude (from ''Target for Tonight'') *1942 – ''A Litany'' for orchestra *1947 – Introductory Theme for

Just William ''Just William'' is the first book of children's short stories about the young school boy William Brown, written by Richmal Crompton, and published in 1922. The book was the first in the series of William Brown books which was the basis for ...

radio series *1949 – ''Ballet de la Reine'' for strings (revised 1957) *1950 – ''Dedication'' (from ''Portrait of Clare (film), Portrait of Clare'') *1950 – ''Eve's Rhapsody'' (from ''Stage Fright'') *1953 – ''This Is York'' (music from the documentary film) *1954 – ''Prelude'' and ''Dam Blast'' (from ''The Dam Busters'') *1956 – ''Cello Concertino'' for cello and orchestra *1956 – ''Concert Champetre'' for violin and orchestra *1956 – ''Prelude, Aria and Finale'' for viola d'amore and orchestra *1957 – Clarinet Concerto *1957 – ''Portrait of the Amethyst'' (from ''Yangtse Incident'') *1958 – Suite from ''Ice Cold in Alex'' *1970 – ''Birthday Variations'' Ballet *1935 – ''The Wolf’s Ride'' *1936 – ''Death in Adagio'' (after Domenico Scarlatti) *1945-6 – ''The Horses'' *1972-3 – ''Tam O’Shanter'' Brass Band * 1960 – ''Symphonic Suite'' * 1962 – ''Spring Song'' * 1968 – ''Chorale and Variations'' * 1973 – ''A Waltz Overture'' Choral *1928 – ''Masque of the Sea'' for chorus and orchestra. Dedicated "To Mrs. Ernest Toye with All Affection"Vocal score in possession of the editor *1934 – ''Massa pro defunctis'' *1953 – ''My True Love hath my Heart'', madrigal for women's voices *1953 – ''Sleep and Death'', partsong SATB *1967 – Mass in G minor *1969 – ''Parish Mass'' Chamber *1956 – ''Meditation'' for cello and piano *1959 – ''Aubade'' for horn, bassoon and piano *1960 – ''Soliloquy'' for viola and piano *1961 – ''Tristesse'' for viola and piano *1966 – ''Disquisition'' for two cellos and piano duet

Selected filmography

* '' Princess Charming'' (1934) * ''

The Cardinal ''The Cardinal'' is a 1963 American drama film produced independently, directed by Otto Preminger and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The screenplay was written by Robert Dozier, based on the novel of the same name (1950) by Henry Morton Robi ...

'' (1936) * '' Head over Heels'' (1937) * ''

'' (1941) * ''

Now Barabbas ''Now Barabbas'' is a 1949 British drama film directed by Gordon Parry and starring Richard Greene, Cedric Hardwicke and Kathleen Harrison. It is sometimes known as ''Now Barabbas Was a Robber''. It was based on a 1947 play of the same title by ...

'' (1949) * '' Portrait of Clare'' (1950) * ''

'' (1950) * ''

The Weak and the Wicked ''The Weak and the Wicked'' (called ''Young and Willing'' in the United States) is a 1954 British drama film directed by J. Lee Thompson based on the autobiographical novel '' Who Lie in Gaol'' by his wife, Joan Henry, starring Glynis Johns and ...

'' (1954) * '' The Dam Busters'' (1955) * '' Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst'' (1957) * ''

Ice Cold in Alex ''Ice Cold in Alex'' is a 1958 British war film set during the Western Desert campaign of World War II based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Landon. Directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring John Mills, the film was a prizewinner ...

'' (1958) * ''

The Son of Robin Hood ''The Son of Robin Hood'' is a 1958 American adventure DeLuxe color CinemaScope film directed by George Sherman, starring David Hedison and June Laverick. Plot The imposter son of Robin Hood gets locked up in the dungeon. His brother later gets ...

'' (1958) * '' Serious Charge'' (1959)

References

External links

* * Lucas, Tom (2011).
The Lucas Family
' * MusicWeb International (2012)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucas, Leighton 1903 births 1982 deaths 20th-century classical musicians 20th-century English composers 20th-century British male musicians Brass band composers English film score composers English male film score composers Light music composers