Freddie Phillips
Encyclopedia
Freddie Phillips was a British
musician
and composer
, best known for his work on television theme music
, particularly the children's programmes, Camberwick Green
, Trumpton
and Chigley
.
Mainly a classical guitar
ist, Phillips worked and performed in the fields of opera
and ballet
, including with The Royal Ballet, and with the BBC Symphony Orchestra
. His television career began with providing musical scores for a pair of short films by Lotte Reiniger
, and composing short pieces for use in television continuity
. Around this time he began his involvement with the animator Gordon Murray
, firstly with A Rubovian Legend
, and later the Trumptonshire
trilogy of children's TV programmes. Phillips wrote individual songs for the characters in the latter programmes, as well as the theme music. The songs were sung by Brian Cant
.
Phillips also provided many of the sound effects for the programmes, and was noted for his experimental attitude towards creating the sounds he wanted, including use of an early multitrack recording
system, reverb, and adjustment of tape speed to create different effects.
Many of Phillips' recordings were made available as vinyl records, particularly the Trumptonshire and Rubovia series.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, best known for his work on television theme music
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
, particularly the children's programmes, Camberwick Green
Camberwick Green
Camberwick Green is a British children's television series, originally seen on BBC One, featuring stop-motion puppets. It was one of the first British television series to be filmed in colour.-Background:...
, Trumpton
Trumpton
Trumpton is a stop-motion children's television show from the producers of Camberwick Green first shown on the BBC in the 1960s. The third and final series in the sequence was Chigley....
and Chigley
Chigley
Chigley is the third and final stop-motion children's television series in Gordon Murray's Trumptonshire sequence. Production details are identical to Camberwick Green....
.
Mainly a classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
ist, Phillips worked and performed in the fields of opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
, including with The Royal Ballet, and with the BBC Symphony Orchestra
BBC Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
. His television career began with providing musical scores for a pair of short films by Lotte Reiniger
Lotte Reiniger
Charlotte "Lotte" Reiniger was a German silhouette animator and film director.- Early life :Lotte Reiniger was born in Berlin-Charlottenburg, German Empire, on June 2, 1899...
, and composing short pieces for use in television continuity
Continuity (broadcasting)
'Continuity' or 'presentation' is a term used in broadcasting, especially in the United Kingdom , to refer to announcements, messages and graphics played by the broadcaster between specific programmes...
. Around this time he began his involvement with the animator Gordon Murray
Gordon Murray (puppeteer)
Gordon Murray is a British television producer and puppeteer.He is the creator and writer of some of the most popular children's television programmes ever seen in Britain, Trumpton, Camberwick Green and Chigley, the Trumptonshire Trilogy were all made by the company he set up.-Early life and...
, firstly with A Rubovian Legend
A Rubovian Legend
A Rubovian Legend is a British children's television series created by Gordon Murray,-Background:It began as a black and white children's puppet play for the BBC in the mid 1950s, presented by The BBC Puppet Theatre...
, and later the Trumptonshire
Trumptonshire
Trumptonshire is a fictional county, created by Gordon Murray, in which Camberwick Green, Trumpton and Chigley are located. According to Murray, the three communities are based on real locations that are one and a half miles from each other at the corners of an equilateral triangle...
trilogy of children's TV programmes. Phillips wrote individual songs for the characters in the latter programmes, as well as the theme music. The songs were sung by Brian Cant
Brian Cant
Brian Cant is an English actor, television presenter and writer.-Personal life:Born in Ipswich, he currently lives in Buckinghamshire and is married to writer and director Cherry Britton, sister of TV presenter Fern Britton and actor Jasper Britton. They have three children, daughter Rose, and...
.
Phillips also provided many of the sound effects for the programmes, and was noted for his experimental attitude towards creating the sounds he wanted, including use of an early multitrack recording
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
system, reverb, and adjustment of tape speed to create different effects.
Many of Phillips' recordings were made available as vinyl records, particularly the Trumptonshire and Rubovia series.
Filmography
- "Prince AchmedThe Adventures of Prince AchmedThe Adventures of Prince Achmed is a 1926 German animated fairytale film by Lotte Reiniger. It is the oldest surviving animated feature film; two earlier ones were made in Argentina by Quirino Cristiani, but they are considered lost...
" (1954 – revision of the original 1926 film by Lotte ReinigerLotte ReinigerCharlotte "Lotte" Reiniger was a German silhouette animator and film director.- Early life :Lotte Reiniger was born in Berlin-Charlottenburg, German Empire, on June 2, 1899...
) - "The Gallant Little Tailor" (1957)
- "Peeping TomPeeping Tom (film)Peeping Tom is a 1960 British psychological thriller directed by Michael Powell and written by the World War II cryptographer and polymath Leo Marks. The title derives from the slang expression 'peeping Tom' describing a voyeur...
" (1960) - "A Rubovian LegendA Rubovian LegendA Rubovian Legend is a British children's television series created by Gordon Murray,-Background:It began as a black and white children's puppet play for the BBC in the mid 1950s, presented by The BBC Puppet Theatre...
" or "Rubovia" (1955–60) - "Camberwick GreenCamberwick GreenCamberwick Green is a British children's television series, originally seen on BBC One, featuring stop-motion puppets. It was one of the first British television series to be filmed in colour.-Background:...
" (1966) - "Man in a SuitcaseMan in a SuitcaseMan in a Suitcase is a 1967 television series produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment.-Origins and overview:Man in a Suitcase was effectively a replacement for Danger Man, whose production had been curtailed when its star Patrick McGoohan had decided to create his own series, The Prisoner...
" (1967 – one episode "The Man Who Stood Still") - "TrumptonTrumptonTrumpton is a stop-motion children's television show from the producers of Camberwick Green first shown on the BBC in the 1960s. The third and final series in the sequence was Chigley....
" (1967) - "ChigleyChigleyChigley is the third and final stop-motion children's television series in Gordon Murray's Trumptonshire sequence. Production details are identical to Camberwick Green....
" (1969) - "The Gublins" (1977)