Simon Wallace
Encyclopedia
Simon Wallace is a British
composer and pianist.
Simon Wallace was born in Newport
, South Wales
. He studied music at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
and University College, Oxford
, where he ran the Oxford University Jazz Club and played with The Oxcentrics a Dixieland jazz band. He also studied with jazz pianists in London
and New York
.
He collaborated with the film and television composer Simon Brint from 1980 until Brint's death in 2011. They composed music for television series such as Absolutely Fabulous
, Coupling
, French and Saunders
, Murder Most Horrid
, All Rise For Julian Clary
, The Ruby Wax Show, Bosom Pals, The All New Alexie Sayle Show, The Clive James
Show and The Ben Elton
Show. In 1982 they scored A Shocking Accident
which won 1983 Oscar for 'best live action short their last broadcast work together was the music for The One Ronnie
in December 2010. Independently of Brint he scored the 1982 David Leland
television drama R.H.I.N.O., the 1998 series Duck Patrol
, and the documentary series Famous Authors. He worked on two series of The Armstrong and Miller
Show (2007-2009 BBC1) arranging and playing music for the Brabbins and Fyffe sketches.
In 1986, the Bangkok
Symphony Orchestra commissioned Wallace to compose a symphony consisting of five movements for Bhumibol Adulyadej
, the King of Thailand's 60th birthday. A further commission Fanfare and Rhapsody was performed in 2006 as part of the celebrations for His Majesty the King's 60th Jubilee.
From 1990 to 1993, Wallace toured internationally as a member of The Lindsay Kemp
Company devising and performing music with composer percussionist Joji Hirota for the show Onnagata and the film Travelling Light. In 1993, he was musical director for the West End
production and cast recording album of Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
.
In 1994, he met the American lyricist Fran Landesman
. with whom he collaborated until her death in 2011 writing some 300 songs. Theatre shows based on Landesman/Wallace songs include There's Something Irresistible in Down (1996) produced at the Young Vic by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company
, Forbidden Games (1997) at the Ustinov Theatre Bath, the Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh and the Gdansk Shakespeare Festival
and Queen of the Bohemian Dream (2007) produced at the Source Theatre in Washington, D.C.
From 2003-06, Wallace was musical director for jazz singer Clare Teal
. He arranged and directed her 2004 album Don't Talk
(SonyBMG) and wrote arrangements for her broadcasts with the BBC Big Band
, the BBC Concert Orchestra
and for television appearances including two on the Michael Parkinson
Show.
From 2009-11, he toured in the UK and US with singer Barb Jungr
and in 2010 worked with The Waterboys
on the premier of "An Appointment With Mr Yeats" at the Abbey Theatre
, Dublin, Ireland
. He arranged and co-produced Jungr's 2010 album The Men I Love (Naim Records) and has produced albums by singers Ian Shaw
(Jazzhouse), Sarah Moule (Linn Records
), Nicki Leighton-Thomas (Candid Records
), Pete Atkin
(Hillside Music) and Gill Manly (Linn Records
).
He is married to jazz singer Sarah Moule, lives in Southeast London and has a son born in 2000.
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...
composer and pianist.
Simon Wallace was born in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. He studied music at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is a conservatoire within the University of Glamorgan Group located in Cardiff, Wales....
and University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, where he ran the Oxford University Jazz Club and played with The Oxcentrics a Dixieland jazz band. He also studied with jazz pianists in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
He collaborated with the film and television composer Simon Brint from 1980 until Brint's death in 2011. They composed music for television series such as Absolutely Fabulous
Absolutely Fabulous
Absolutely Fabulous, also known as Ab Fab, is a British sitcom created by Jennifer Saunders, based on an original idea by her and Dawn French, and written by Saunders, who plays the leading character. It also stars Joanna Lumley and Julia Sawalha, along with June Whitfield and Jane Horrocks...
, Coupling
Coupling (UK TV series)
Coupling is a British television sitcom written by Steven Moffat that aired on BBC2 from May 2000 to June 2004. Produced by Hartswood Films for the BBC, the show centres on the dating and sexual adventures and mishaps of six friends in their thirties, often depicting the three women and the three...
, French and Saunders
French and Saunders
French and Saunders is a British sketch comedy television show written by and starring comic duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. It is also the name by which the performers are known on the occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act....
, Murder Most Horrid
Murder Most Horrid
Murder Most Horrid is a BBC dark comedy anthology series starring comedian Dawn French. It ran for four series runs, in 1991, 1994, 1996 and 1999....
, All Rise For Julian Clary
Julian Clary
Julian Peter McDonald Clary is an English comedian and novelist, known for his deliberately stereotypical camp style, with a heavy reliance on innuendo and double entendre.-Early life and education:...
, The Ruby Wax Show, Bosom Pals, The All New Alexie Sayle Show, The Clive James
Clive James
Clive James, AM is an Australian author, critic, broadcaster, poet and memoirist, best known for his autobiographical series Unreliable Memoirs, for his chat shows and documentaries on British television and for his prolific journalism...
Show and The Ben Elton
Ben Elton
Benjamin Charles "Ben" Elton is an English comedian, author, playwright and director. He was a leading figure in the British alternative comedy movement of the 1980s, as a writer on such cult series as The Young Ones and Blackadder, as well as also a successful stand-up comedian on stage and TV....
Show. In 1982 they scored A Shocking Accident
A Shocking Accident
A Shocking Accident is a 1982 short comedy film directed by James Scott, based on Graham Greene's short story by the same name. It won an Academy Award in 1983 for Best Short Subject.-Cast:* Rupert Everett - Jerome and Mr...
which won 1983 Oscar for 'best live action short their last broadcast work together was the music for The One Ronnie
The One Ronnie
The One Ronnie was a one-off comedy television sketch show that aired on BBC One on Christmas Day 2010 to celebrate the 80th birthday of Ronnie Corbett. It featured sketches between Corbett and Lionel Blair, Rob Brydon, James Corden, Jon Culshaw, Harry Enfield, Jocelyn Jee Esien, Miranda Hart,...
in December 2010. Independently of Brint he scored the 1982 David Leland
David Leland
David Leland is a director, screenwriter and actor who came to international fame with his directorial debut Wish You Were Here in 1987.-Life:...
television drama R.H.I.N.O., the 1998 series Duck Patrol
Duck Patrol
Duck Patrol is a British television comedy series that originally aired in 1998. Produced by LWT for the ITV network, it centered around a river police station by the River Thames....
, and the documentary series Famous Authors. He worked on two series of The Armstrong and Miller
Armstrong and Miller
Armstrong and Miller is a comedy sketch television show that aired between 1997 and 2001 featuring Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller, known together as Armstrong and Miller...
Show (2007-2009 BBC1) arranging and playing music for the Brabbins and Fyffe sketches.
In 1986, the Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
Symphony Orchestra commissioned Wallace to compose a symphony consisting of five movements for Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...
, the King of Thailand's 60th birthday. A further commission Fanfare and Rhapsody was performed in 2006 as part of the celebrations for His Majesty the King's 60th Jubilee.
From 1990 to 1993, Wallace toured internationally as a member of The Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp
Lindsay Kemp is a British dancer, actor, teacher, mime artist and choreographer.Born in South Shields on May 3, 1938, Kemp's father, a seaman, was lost at sea in 1940. According to Kemp, he danced from early childhood: "I'd dance on the kitchen table to entertain the neighbours. I mean, it was a...
Company devising and performing music with composer percussionist Joji Hirota for the show Onnagata and the film Travelling Light. In 1993, he was musical director for the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production and cast recording album of Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens is a song cycle with music by Janet Hood and lyrics and additional text by Bill Russell. The work features songs and monologues inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology...
.
In 1994, he met the American lyricist Fran Landesman
Fran Landesman
Fran Landesman was an American lyricist and poet.-Early life:Born Frances Deitsch in New York City, her father was a dress manufacturer, her mother was a journalist...
. with whom he collaborated until her death in 2011 writing some 300 songs. Theatre shows based on Landesman/Wallace songs include There's Something Irresistible in Down (1996) produced at the Young Vic by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
, Forbidden Games (1997) at the Ustinov Theatre Bath, the Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh and the Gdansk Shakespeare Festival
Gdańsk Shakespeare Festival
Gdańsk Shakespeare Festival is an international theatre festival devoted to the idea of the Elizabethan theatre, and especially to the works of William Shakespeare. The event was first organized in 1993, on the initiative of Theatrum Gedanense Foundation, which had been created by prof. Jerzy Limon...
and Queen of the Bohemian Dream (2007) produced at the Source Theatre in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
From 2003-06, Wallace was musical director for jazz singer Clare Teal
Clare Teal
Clare Teal is an English jazz singer who has become famous not only for her singing, but also for having signed the biggest ever recording contract by a British jazz singer.-Biography:...
. He arranged and directed her 2004 album Don't Talk
Don't Talk (album)
Don't Talk is jazz vocalist Clare Teal's sixth album, released in 2004.-Track listing:# "Messin' With Fire" - 3:17# "When in Rome " - 2:58# "Stoned Soul Picnic" - 3:49# "Everything Is You" - 3:44...
(SonyBMG) and wrote arrangements for her broadcasts with the BBC Big Band
BBC Big Band
The BBC Big Band, originally known as the BBC Radio Big Band is a British big band run under the auspices of the BBC. Widely regarded as the UK’s leading and most versatile jazz orchestra, the band broadcasts exclusivley on BBC Radio, particularly on BBC Radio 2's long running series Big Band Special...
, the BBC Concert Orchestra
BBC Concert Orchestra
The BBC Concert Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London, one of the British Broadcasting Corporation's five radio orchestras. With around fifty players, it is the only one of the five which is not a full-scale symphony orchestra....
and for television appearances including two on the Michael Parkinson
Michael Parkinson
Sir Michael Parkinson, CBE is an English broadcaster, journalist and author. He presented his interview programme, Parkinson, from 1971 to 1982 and from 1998 to 2007.- Early life :...
Show.
From 2009-11, he toured in the UK and US with singer Barb Jungr
Barb Jungr
Barb Jungr is an English singer-songwriter, composer and writer, of Czech and German parentage. She is perhaps best known as a chansonnière, or singer of chansons—in the sense of classic, lyric-driven French songs; in the broader sense of European songs in the cabaret style; and in the even...
and in 2010 worked with The Waterboys
The Waterboys
The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a...
on the premier of "An Appointment With Mr Yeats" at the Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
, Dublin, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. He arranged and co-produced Jungr's 2010 album The Men I Love (Naim Records) and has produced albums by singers Ian Shaw
Ian Shaw
Dr. Ian Shaw is an Egyptologist and senior lecturer in Egyptian archaeology at the University of Liverpool.-Life:His field work was largely focused in el-Amarna, but in recent times, he has done extensive excavations of mining and quarrying sites from many different Ancient Egyptian periods...
(Jazzhouse), Sarah Moule (Linn Records
Linn Records
Linn Records is a Glasgow-based record label which specialises in classical, jazz and Scottish music. It is part of Linn Products.-History:While Linn engineers were testing their flagship product, the Sondek LP12 turntable, they became frustrated with some of the specialist test LPs they were using...
), Nicki Leighton-Thomas (Candid Records
Candid Records
Candid Records was founded as a subsidiary of Archie Bleyer's Cadence label in New York City in 1960. The jazz writer and civil rights activist, Nat Hentoff, worked as the label's A&R director, aiming to create a representative catalog of the jazz of the day...
), Pete Atkin
Pete Atkin
Pete Atkin is a British singer-songwriter and radio producer notable for his 1970s musical collaborations with Clive James and for producing the BBC Radio 4 series This Sceptred Isle.-Early life:...
(Hillside Music) and Gill Manly (Linn Records
Linn Records
Linn Records is a Glasgow-based record label which specialises in classical, jazz and Scottish music. It is part of Linn Products.-History:While Linn engineers were testing their flagship product, the Sondek LP12 turntable, they became frustrated with some of the specialist test LPs they were using...
).
He is married to jazz singer Sarah Moule, lives in Southeast London and has a son born in 2000.
External links
- Simon Wallace on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....