This article written by Jackie Rickenberg was published in the Parish Magazine in January 2021
Malcolm Henry Arnold, composer, 1921 – 2006
We continue on the theme of past Thursley residents who have made their mark in the field of the Arts. In late October, our attention was brought to bear to a very illustrious composer who lived here, albeit briefly, between 1962 and 1965. Sir Malcolm Arnold’s biographer is in the throes of
a follow up to his original biography of this widely acclaimed composer of symphonies, ballet’s and film scores, to name but three musical genres he excelled in. As I made some enquiries into this great man, I was struck, not only by his obvious brilliance at his trade, but also by the streak of fun and sense of mischief he brought to life in a quiet Surrey village!
The composer Sir Malcolm Arnold, who died at the age of 84, held a remarkable position in British musical life. The longevity of his reputation for more than half a century and the enduring affection of his extensive audience were both achieved without compromise. As a figure in wider national life he never attained the great eminence he undoubtedly deserved, perhaps down to his unconventional approach. However, from his first published works in 1943 to his retirement from composition in 1990, his independence of mind and individual voice won him respect from all sides of the musical world and he was awarded the CBE in 1970 and was knighted in 1993.
Arnold began his musical career as a trumpet player and after incomplete studies at the Royal College of Music, London, he joined the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1940. He remained an orchestral trumpeter until 1948, apart from a period in the army, which he loathed. The bullet wound in his foot which led to his discharge was apparently not from enemy action, nor seemingly from a third party of any sort!
His music was full of tunes, technically brilliant, extravert, unselfconscious and fun. His output was huge: nine symphonies, concertos, ballets, chamber music, orchestral suites, choral music, solo songs, and works for wind and brass bands - as well as more than 100 film scores. Some of the more memorable were the David Lean film, Bridge on the River Kwai (for which, in 1958, he was one of the first British composers ever to win an Oscar), Whistle Down the Wind and the St Trinian’s series. Arnold was also known as an enterprising conductor of Jon Lord's Concerto for Group and Orchestra, in which he directed the rock band Deep Purple and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1969.
His obituary in 2006 read: With Arnold's death, we lose another of the great individualists who helped make 20th-century British music so gloriously untidy.
His time in Thursley is remembered by a few current villagers and it appears he made quite an impression in his short time here. He could be described as a “bit of a character” and we all know one of those! Around this time, he married his second wife, Isabel, and they had a son, Edward, born in Thursley in 1964. He also had a son and daughter from his first marriage to Sheila, Robert and Katherine. He bought the house now called Sawyers, next to the recreation ground. At this time, it was called Canbury Cottage and he extended it to build a studio on the back. Like a lot of brilliant minds, he would lock himself away for weeks at a time whilst he penned his compositions (this room had a bed and washing facilities) and his food would be handed in by a Mrs Winter, who lived in Highfield, and presumably was his cook/housekeeper. After completing a piece or score he would appear, sometimes at two or three in the morning, put on some trick spectacles and climb the nearby lamppost, playing fanfares on his trumpet, to summon everyone to join in the revelry!
Notoriously, he once had a summer party at the time when paper clothes were a thing (really?) and he bought all the ladies paper swimsuits, before turning on a sprinkler and waiting for the ensuing panic when the paper started to disintegrate. He was not wholly popular with the neighbours, it would appear! He was a regular at The Three Horseshoes and was often seen theatrically dressed in a flamboyant blazer, whilst marching up and down playing his trumpet. What joys! Sadly, he moved to Cornwall shortly afterwards, in 1965 and eventually passed away in 2006 in Norfolk. An outstanding British composer of our times.
If anyone has any subject they would like to hear more about or any particular interest explored in this column, please do contact me at jackierickenberg@gmail.com.