Herman Darewski
Encyclopedia
Herman Darewski was a British composer and conductor of light music. His most successful work was perhaps The Better 'Ole
, which ran for over 800 performances in its original London production in 1917. Some of his songs became very successful in musical revue
s.
Born in Minsk
, and musically trained in Vienna, he worked in London, for the first 15 years of the new century, as a composer of light songs, some of which were written for the new theatre form, revue. After the First World War, Darewski had a long career as a conductor of light music, both in London and at English coastal resorts.
, then part of the Russian empire, where his father Eduard Darewski, a Polish singing professor, was working. The family moved to London, where Herman was educated. His younger brother Max (1894–1929) followed him into the musical profession. Herman went to Vienna to study music, between 1897 and 1900. He was engaged by the London music publishers Francis, Day and Hunter
as one of their composing staff. He remained with them for 15 years.
In 1914 he visited Australia with his wife, the musical comedy actress Madge Temple, who was playing leading roles there. After his return to Britain during the First World War, Darewski combined administrative work for charities and prolific composition. He was one of the first British composers to compose for the new theatrical form, revue
, writing, among others, Business as Usual and Push and Go for Albert de Courville, and The Better 'Ole
and Carminetta for Charles B. Cochran
. Among Darewski's songs are "Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts for Soldiers", "The Big Brass Band", "K-K-K-Katy", and "Ours is a Nice 'Ouse Ours Is." He also wrote songs for the London production of Phi-Phi
.
After the war, a brief and unsuccessful attempt to strike out on his own as a publisher was followed by a new career as the conductor of light music orchestras. The Times
wrote, "When British light orchestras were being ousted wholesale by foreign competition, he gave them new life, and was the precursor of men like Mr. Jack Hylton
and Mr. Debroy Somers." Between 1924 and 1937 he was in charge of the music at the resorts of Bridlington
and Blackpool
, with an interval in 1930 to 1932 when he conducted at one of London's largest cinemas.
Darewski died in London at the age of 67.
The Better 'Ole
The Better 'Ole, also called The Romance of Old Bill, is an Edwardian musical comedy with a book by Bruce Bairnsfather and Arthur Elliott, music by Herman Darewski, and lyrics by Percival Knight and James Heard, based on the cartoon character Old Bill, an infantryman, drawn by Bairnsfather...
, which ran for over 800 performances in its original London production in 1917. Some of his songs became very successful in musical 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...
s.
Born in Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, and musically trained in Vienna, he worked in London, for the first 15 years of the new century, as a composer of light songs, some of which were written for the new theatre form, revue. After the First World War, Darewski had a long career as a conductor of light music, both in London and at English coastal resorts.
Life and career
Darewski was born in MinskMinsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, then part of the Russian empire, where his father Eduard Darewski, a Polish singing professor, was working. The family moved to London, where Herman was educated. His younger brother Max (1894–1929) followed him into the musical profession. Herman went to Vienna to study music, between 1897 and 1900. He was engaged by the London music publishers Francis, Day and Hunter
T.B. Harms & Francis, Day & Hunter, Inc.
T.B. Harms & Francis, Day, & Hunter, Inc., based in the Tin Pan Alley area of New York City, was, in 1920, one of the seven largest publishers of popular music in the world. As evidence of size of the firm, T.B. Harms & Frances, Day & Hunter, Inc...
as one of their composing staff. He remained with them for 15 years.
In 1914 he visited Australia with his wife, the musical comedy actress Madge Temple, who was playing leading roles there. After his return to Britain during the First World War, Darewski combined administrative work for charities and prolific composition. He was one of the first British composers to compose for the new theatrical form, 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...
, writing, among others, Business as Usual and Push and Go for Albert de Courville, and The Better 'Ole
The Better 'Ole
The Better 'Ole, also called The Romance of Old Bill, is an Edwardian musical comedy with a book by Bruce Bairnsfather and Arthur Elliott, music by Herman Darewski, and lyrics by Percival Knight and James Heard, based on the cartoon character Old Bill, an infantryman, drawn by Bairnsfather...
and Carminetta for Charles B. Cochran
Charles B. Cochran
Sir Charles Blake Cochran , generally known as C. B. Cochran, was an English theatrical manager. He produced some of the most successful musical revues, musicals and plays of the 1920s and 1930s, becoming associated with Noel Coward and his works.-Biography:Cochran was born in Sussex and educated...
. Among Darewski's songs are "Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts for Soldiers", "The Big Brass Band", "K-K-K-Katy", and "Ours is a Nice 'Ouse Ours Is." He also wrote songs for the London production of Phi-Phi
Phi-Phi
Phi-Phi is an opérette légère in three acts with music by Henri Christiné and a French libretto by Albert Willemetz and Fabien Solar. The piece was one which founded the new style of French comédie musicale, the first to really use the latest rhythms of jazz along with a plot which emphasised...
.
After the war, a brief and unsuccessful attempt to strike out on his own as a publisher was followed by a new career as the conductor of light music orchestras. The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
wrote, "When British light orchestras were being ousted wholesale by foreign competition, he gave them new life, and was the precursor of men like Mr. Jack Hylton
Jack Hylton
Jack Hylton was a British band leader and impresario.He was born John Greenhalgh Hilton in the Great Lever area of Bolton, Lancashire, the son of George Hilton, a cotton yarn twister. His father was an amateur singer at the local Labour Club and Jack learned piano to accompany him on the stage...
and Mr. Debroy Somers." Between 1924 and 1937 he was in charge of the music at the resorts of Bridlington
Bridlington
Bridlington is a seaside resort, minor sea fishing port and civil parish on the Holderness Coast of the North Sea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season...
and Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, with an interval in 1930 to 1932 when he conducted at one of London's largest cinemas.
Darewski died in London at the age of 67.