Archibald Joyce
Encyclopedia
Archibald Joyce was a light music composer known for his early waltzes.
He first came to prominence with the publication of his Song d'Automne Waltz (1908) which fast became a hit. The style of this piece was unusual from its contemporaries in that the principal melody was in a minor key played in a relatively low tenor register.
The following year he repeated this success with his Visions of Salome Waltz (1909) also in the same low-pitched minor-key style. He was billed by his publishers Ascherberg Hopwood and Crew as the "English Waltz King".
His music was immensely popular with dance orchestras of the period together with amateur pianists. The piano solo sheet music for his waltzes sold in very large quantities in the UK. He continued primarily with his distinctive waltzes until the start of the WW1 period. His other principal hits during this period were Dreaming waltz (1911), Charming and The Passing of Salome waltzes (1912), 1000 Kisses and Always Gay waltzes (1913) and Remembrance waltz (1914).
He co-wrote the musical Toto with Merlin Morgan (musical director of Daly's Theatre
in London). After a try-out in Plymouth it opened at London's Duke of York's Theatre
on April 19th 1916. Despite good initial reviews it did not take off and was withdrawn after only 77 performances.
He continued conducting his own orchestra for a number of years until the early 1920s. During the early 20s his orchestras recorded material for the Aeolian Company's Vocalion Records
label in London. He had recorded for the Gramophone Company
HMV-label in London as early as 1912 previously.
His music was familiar worldwide during its period. He was credited as conducting "the first modern dance band in Britain" His waltz
"Dreaming" was provided with lyrics by Earl Carroll
and introduced in the US by Miss Kitty Gordon
in Oliver Morosco
's comedy with music, Pretty Mrs Smith (1913). ("The Sensation Waltz Song of Two Continents: Dreaming" (sheet music)). "Song d'Automne" ("Autumn Dream") and "1000 Kisses" were incorporated into Charlie Chaplin
's latter-daysound track added to his The Gold Rush
. In the US a conventional method of gaining public exposure for a song was to arrange to have it included a revue
: in this way Joyce's "Vision of Salome" (1909) was included in Florenz Ziegfeld Jr's Follies of 1910.
Harold Bride's recollection that the orchestra was playing "Autumn" as the Titanic foundered in 1912 has led to speculation by Walter Lord that he was in fact referring to Song d'Automne, which was part of the repertory of the White Star Line
orchestras and with which he would undoubtedly been familiar.
After the early 1920s there was a small trickle of material for many years. His last composition of any note is his Bohemia - concert waltz for piano (1942) which finishes off his career with a hefty hat-tip to both the waltz and to the piano which effectively made him.
He first came to prominence with the publication of his Song d'Automne Waltz (1908) which fast became a hit. The style of this piece was unusual from its contemporaries in that the principal melody was in a minor key played in a relatively low tenor register.
The following year he repeated this success with his Visions of Salome Waltz (1909) also in the same low-pitched minor-key style. He was billed by his publishers Ascherberg Hopwood and Crew as the "English Waltz King".
His music was immensely popular with dance orchestras of the period together with amateur pianists. The piano solo sheet music for his waltzes sold in very large quantities in the UK. He continued primarily with his distinctive waltzes until the start of the WW1 period. His other principal hits during this period were Dreaming waltz (1911), Charming and The Passing of Salome waltzes (1912), 1000 Kisses and Always Gay waltzes (1913) and Remembrance waltz (1914).
He co-wrote the musical Toto with Merlin Morgan (musical director of Daly's Theatre
Daly's Theatre
Daly's Theatre was a theatre in the City of Westminster. It was located at 2 Cranbourn Street, just off Leicester Square. It opened on 27 June 1893, and was demolished in 1937.-Early years:...
in London). After a try-out in Plymouth it opened at London's Duke of York's Theatre
Duke of York's Theatre
The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End Theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre, until her death in 1935. It opened on 10 September 1892 as the Trafalgar Square Theatre, with Wedding...
on April 19th 1916. Despite good initial reviews it did not take off and was withdrawn after only 77 performances.
He continued conducting his own orchestra for a number of years until the early 1920s. During the early 20s his orchestras recorded material for the Aeolian Company's Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records is a record label active for many years in the United States and in the United Kingdom.-History:Vocalion was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Piano Company of New York City, which introduced a retail line of phonographs at the same time. The name was derived from one of their...
label in London. He had recorded for the Gramophone Company
Gramophone Company
The Gramophone Company, based in the United Kingdom, was one of the early recording companies, and was the parent organization for the famous "His Master's Voice" label...
HMV-label in London as early as 1912 previously.
His music was familiar worldwide during its period. He was credited as conducting "the first modern dance band in Britain" His waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
"Dreaming" was provided with lyrics by Earl Carroll
Earl Carroll
Earl Carroll was an American theatrical producer, director, songwriter and composer born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Career:...
and introduced in the US by Miss Kitty Gordon
Kitty Gordon
Kitty Gordon was an actress both on stage and in silent film.Her first professional stage appearance was at the Princes Theatre in Bristol in 1901 in the touring production of San Toy....
in Oliver Morosco
Oliver Morosco
Oliver Morosco was an American theatrical producer, director, writerand theater owner.-Biography:Born Oliver Mitchell in Logan, Utah, Morosco was raised in San Francisco, California...
's comedy with music, Pretty Mrs Smith (1913). ("The Sensation Waltz Song of Two Continents: Dreaming" (sheet music)). "Song d'Automne" ("Autumn Dream") and "1000 Kisses" were incorporated into Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
's latter-daysound track added to his The Gold Rush
The Gold Rush
The Gold Rush is a 1925 silent film comedy written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin in his Little Tramp role. The film also stars Georgia Hale, Mack Swain, Tom Murray, Henry Bergman, Malcolm Waite....
. In the US a conventional method of gaining public exposure for a song was to arrange to have it included a revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
: in this way Joyce's "Vision of Salome" (1909) was included in Florenz Ziegfeld Jr's Follies of 1910.
Harold Bride's recollection that the orchestra was playing "Autumn" as the Titanic foundered in 1912 has led to speculation by Walter Lord that he was in fact referring to Song d'Automne, which was part of the repertory of the White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
orchestras and with which he would undoubtedly been familiar.
After the early 1920s there was a small trickle of material for many years. His last composition of any note is his Bohemia - concert waltz for piano (1942) which finishes off his career with a hefty hat-tip to both the waltz and to the piano which effectively made him.