James Blades
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Blades OBE (9 September 190119 May 1999) was an English
percussionist.
He was one of the most distinguished percussionists in Western music, with long and varied career. His book Percussion Instruments and their History (1971) is a standard reference work on the subject
Blades was born in Peterborough
, England
in 1901. He was a long-time associate of Benjamin Britten
, with whom he conceived many of the composer's unusual percussion effects. In 1954, Blades was appointed Professor of Percussion in the Royal Academy of Music
.
As a chamber musician he played with the Melos Ensemble and with the English Chamber Orchestra
.
Blades' pupils included the rock drummer
s Carl Palmer
and Richard James Burgess
as well as the percussionist Evelyn Glennie
.
His most famous and widely heard performances were the sound of the African drum playing "V-for-Victory" in Morse code
- the introduction to the BBC
broadcasts made to the European Resistance during World War II
, and providing the sound of the gong seen at the start of films produced by the Rank Organisation
. Blades played this sound on a tam-tam. On screen Blades's sound was mimed to by the "Gongman
",
His autobiography Drum Roll: A Professional Adventure from the Circus to the Concert Hall was published by Faber & Faber in 1977.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
percussionist.
He was one of the most distinguished percussionists in Western music, with long and varied career. His book Percussion Instruments and their History (1971) is a standard reference work on the subject
Blades was born in Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1901. He was a long-time associate of Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
, with whom he conceived many of the composer's unusual percussion effects. In 1954, Blades was appointed Professor of Percussion in the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
.
As a chamber musician he played with the Melos Ensemble and with the English Chamber Orchestra
English Chamber Orchestra
The English Chamber Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and the ECO Ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall...
.
Blades' pupils included the rock drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
s Carl Palmer
Carl Palmer
Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer is an English drummer and percussionist. He is credited as one of the most respected rock drummers to emerge from the 1960s...
and Richard James Burgess
Richard James Burgess
Richard James Burgess is a studio drummer, music-computer programmer, recording artist, record producer, composer, author, manager, marketer and inventor. He was the producer for Spandau Ballet's first two albums.-Education:...
as well as the percussionist Evelyn Glennie
Evelyn Glennie
Dame Evelyn Elizabeth Ann Glennie, DBE is a Scottish virtuoso percussionist. She was the first full-time solo percussionist in 20th-century western society.-Early life:Glennie was born and raised in Aberdeenshire...
.
His most famous and widely heard performances were the sound of the African drum playing "V-for-Victory" in Morse code
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
- the introduction to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
broadcasts made to the European Resistance during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and providing the sound of the gong seen at the start of films produced by the Rank Organisation
Rank Organisation
The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. It was the largest and most vertically-integrated film company in Britain, owning production, distribution and exhibition facilities....
. Blades played this sound on a tam-tam. On screen Blades's sound was mimed to by the "Gongman
Gongman
The Gongman is a company trademark for the Rank Organisation. It was used as the introduction to all Rank films, many of which were created at their Pinewood Studios)....
",
His autobiography Drum Roll: A Professional Adventure from the Circus to the Concert Hall was published by Faber & Faber in 1977.
Obituary
- David Corkhill Obituary "James Blades: His skills as a percussionist enthused a generation" The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, 29 May 1999