Tristram Cary
Encyclopedia
Tristram Ogilvie Cary, OAM
(14 May 192524 April 2008) was a pioneering English
-Australia
n composer
.
, England
, and educated at the Dragon School
in Oxford and Westminster School
in London
. He was the son of a pianist and the novelist, Joyce Cary
, author of Mister Johnson
. While working as a radar engineer for the Royal Navy
during World War II
, he independently developed his own conception of electronic and tape music, and is regarded as amongst the earliest pioneers of these musical forms.
Following WWII, he created one of the first electronic music studios, later travelling around Europe
to meet the small numbers of other early pioneers of electronic music and composition.
With Peter Zinovieff
and David Cockerell, he founded Electronic Music Studios (London) Ltd
, which created the first commercially available portable synthesiser, the EMS VCS 3
, and was then involved in production of such distinctive EMS products as the EMS Synthi 100
.
(1959), Continuum for tape
(1969), a cantata
Peccata Mundi (1972), Contours and Densities at First Hill for orchestra
(1972), a Nonet
(1979), String Quartet
No. 2 (1985) and The Dancing Girls for orchestra
(1991).
Cary is also particularly well known for his film and television music. He has written music for the science fiction television
series Doctor Who
(including the first Dalek
story), as well as the score for the Ealing comedy The Ladykillers
(1955). Later film scores included Quatermass and the Pit
(1967) and Blood from the Mummy's Tomb
(1971), both for Hammer. He also composed the score for the ABC TV animated version of A Christmas Carol
.
Cary was one of the first British composers to work in musique concrète
. In 1967 he created the first electronic music studio of the Royal College of Music
. He built another at his home in Suffolk
, which he transported to Australia when he emigrated there, and incorporated it into the University of Adelaide
where he worked as a lecturer until 1986.
He provided the visual design for the EMS VCS3 synthesizer.
. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
in 1991 in recognition of service to music. He also received the 2005 lifetime achievement award from the Adelaide Critics' Circle for his contribution to music in England and Australia.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(14 May 192524 April 2008) was a pioneering English
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...
-Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n 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...
.
Early life
Cary was born in OxfordOxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, 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...
, and educated at the Dragon School
Dragon School
The Dragon School is a British coeducational, preparatory school in the city of Oxford, founded in 1877 as the Oxford Preparatory School, or OPS. It is primarily known as a boarding school, although it also takes day pupils...
in Oxford and Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
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...
. He was the son of a pianist and the novelist, Joyce Cary
Joyce Cary
Joyce Cary was an Anglo-Irish novelist and artist.-Youth and education:...
, author of Mister Johnson
Mister Johnson
Mister Johnson is a 1990 American drama film based on the 1939 novel by Joyce Cary. The film was entered into the 41st Berlin International Film Festival, where Maynard Eziashi won the Silver Bear for Best Actor.The film was shot in Toro, Nigeria...
. While working as a radar engineer for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
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...
, he independently developed his own conception of electronic and tape music, and is regarded as amongst the earliest pioneers of these musical forms.
Following WWII, he created one of the first electronic music studios, later travelling around Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to meet the small numbers of other early pioneers of electronic music and composition.
With Peter Zinovieff
Peter Zinovieff
Peter Zinovieff is a British inventor of Russian ethnicity, most notable for his EMS company, which made the famous VCS3 synthesizer in the late 1960s...
and David Cockerell, he founded Electronic Music Studios (London) Ltd
Electronic Music Studios (London) Ltd
Electronic Music Studios Ltd. is a synthesizer company formed in 1969 by Dr. Peter Zinovieff, Tristram Cary and David Cockerell....
, which created the first commercially available portable synthesiser, the EMS VCS 3
EMS VCS 3
The VCS 3 is a portable analog synthesiser with a flexible semi-modular voice architecture, by Electronic Music Studios Limited in 1969....
, and was then involved in production of such distinctive EMS products as the EMS Synthi 100
EMS Synthi 100
The EMS Synthi 100 was a large analogue synthesizer made by Electronic Music Studios Ltd. It was released in 1971 and cost £6,500. It is estimated that fewer than 40 units were built....
.
Musical works
His concert works of note include a Sonata for guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1959), Continuum for tape
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
(1969), a cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
Peccata Mundi (1972), Contours and Densities at First Hill for orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
(1972), a Nonet
Nonet
A nonet refers to a group of nine.*In music, a nonet is a composition which requires nine musicians for a performance. Spohr and Martinu composed nonets....
(1979), String Quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
No. 2 (1985) and The Dancing Girls for orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
(1991).
Cary is also particularly well known for his film and television music. He has written music for the science fiction television
Science fiction on television
Science fiction first appeared on a television program during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium...
series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
(including the first Dalek
Dalek
The Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
story), as well as the score for the Ealing comedy The Ladykillers
The Ladykillers
The Ladykillers is a 1955 British black comedy film made by Ealing Studios. Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, it stars Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Danny Green, Jack Warner and Katie Johnson...
(1955). Later film scores included Quatermass and the Pit
Quatermass and the Pit (film)
Quatermass and the Pit is a 1967 British science fiction horror film. Made by Hammer Film Productions it is a sequel to the earlier Hammer films The Quatermass Xperiment and Quatermass 2. Like its predecessors it is based on a BBC Television serial – Quatermass and the Pit – written by Nigel Kneale...
(1967) and Blood from the Mummy's Tomb
Blood from the Mummy's Tomb
Blood from the Mummy's Tomb is a 1971 British film starring Andrew Keir, Valerie Leon, and James Villiers. This was director Seth Holt's final film, and was adapted from Bram Stoker's novel The Jewel of Seven Stars. The film was released as the support feature to Dr...
(1971), both for Hammer. He also composed the score for the ABC TV animated version of A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol (1971 film)
A Christmas Carol is an Academy Award-winning animated cartoon adaptation of Charles Dickens' venerable 1843 novella which was a made-for-television production originally broadcast on ABC in the United States.-Cast and characters:...
.
Cary was one of the first British composers to work in musique concrète
Musique concrète
Musique concrète is a form of electroacoustic music that utilises acousmatic sound as a compositional resource. The compositional material is not restricted to the inclusion of sounds derived from musical instruments or voices, nor to elements traditionally thought of as "musical"...
. In 1967 he created the first electronic music studio of the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
. He built another at his home in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, which he transported to Australia when he emigrated there, and incorporated it into the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
where he worked as a lecturer until 1986.
He provided the visual design for the EMS VCS3 synthesizer.
Honours
Cary won the 1977 Albert H. Maggs Composition AwardAlbert H. Maggs Composition Award
The Albert H. Maggs Composition Award is a commission-based Australian classical composition award given in order to "encourage and assist composers who might otherwise abandon their efforts for want of means"....
. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1991 in recognition of service to music. He also received the 2005 lifetime achievement award from the Adelaide Critics' Circle for his contribution to music in England and Australia.
Orchestral/Choral
- Peccata Mundi for Chorus, Orchestra, Speaking voice, Four tracks of tape (1972/76),
- Contours & Densities at First Hill - Fifteen Landscapes for Orchestra (1976)
- The Dancing Girls Four Mobiles for Orchestra (1991)
- Sevens Concertino for Yamaha Disklavier and Strings (1991)
- Inside Stories for chamber orchestra and prerecorded CD (1993)
- The Ladykillers Suite for Orchestra (1955/96)
Chamber/Solo
- Sonata for Guitar Alone (1959)
- Three Threes and One Make Ten Mixed decet (1961)
- Narcissus for Flute and two tape recorders (1968)
- Romantic Interiors for violin, cello and tape (1973)
- Family Conference for four clarinets (1981)
- Seeds Mixed Quintet (1982)
- String Quartet No.2 (1985)
- Rivers Four percussionists and two tape recorders (1986)
- Black, White & Rose Marimba and tape (1991)
- Strange Places Piano solo (1992)
- Messages Cello solo (1993)
- Through Glass Piano and electronics (1998)
Vocal
- Divertimento (1973) - for Olivetti machines, 16 singers and jazz drummer (1973) (10') Commissioned by Olivetti for the opening of a new training centre at Haslemere, England (designed by the world-famous architect James Stirling) as (a) part of a 'Venetian' concert conducted by Cary himself, and (b) the sound track of a film. Described by Cary as "friendly, undemanding music" which nevertheless he was nervous about performing, since the audience was composed of VIPs and included Yehudi Menuhin. The text of the piece consists of cardinal numbers in four languages. The performance: Premiered 21/6/1973 at Haslemere HQ of Olivetti, though the film version had already been previously recorded. Performed again in Adelaide 1974. Cary also extracted a piece from it without vocals - "Tracks from Divertimento" - in 1978. It is published on a disc - "Full Spectrum" (MOVE Records MS3027). The original Haslemere personnel were the Ambrosian Singers and Chris Karan (drums).
- Two Nativity Songs from the Piae Cantiones (arr.) (1979)
- I Am Here Soprano and Tape (1980)
- Earth Hold Songs Soprano and Piano (1993)
- Songs for Maid Marian Soprano, Piano (1959/98)
For analogue tape
- Suite - the Japanese Fishermen (1955)
- 4 5 - A Study in Limited Resources (1967)
- Birth is Life is Power is Death is God is....(1967)
- Continuum (1969)
- Suite - Leviathan '99 (1972)
- Steam Music (1978)
Films
- The Ladykillers, Ealing Studios (1955)
- Time Without Pity, Harlequin (1956)
- The Little Island, Richard Williams (1958) (best experimental film, Venice 1958; best experimental film, British Film Academy 1959)
- The Boy Who Stole A Million (dir. Charles Crichton) (1960)
- Sammy Going South, Michael Balcon (1963) (Royal Command Film Performance 1963)
- EXPO 67 Montréal - All film soundtracks for Industrial Section, British Pavilion (1967)
- A la Mesure de l'Homme, Canadian Government (1967)
- Quatermass and The Pit, Hammer Films (1967)
- Sebastian - Sputik Code (1968)
- A Christmas Carol, ABC Films (1972) Academy Award
- The Fourth Wish, SA Film Corporation (1976)
- Katya and the Nutcracker: special arrangement of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet for a 30' children's animated film (John Cary Films / Minotaur International)
Radio
- The Children of Lir (Craig) (1959)
- La Machine Infernale (Cocteau) (1960)
- The End of Fear (Saurat) (1960)
- King Lear (Shakespeare) (1960)
- The Flight of the Wild Geese (Dillon) (1961)
- The Ballad of Peckham Rye (Spark) (1962) Italia Prize
- The Ha-Ha (Dawson) (1963)
- The Rhyme of the Flying BombThe Rhyme of the Flying BombThe Rhyme of the Flying Bomb is a narrative poem written by Mervyn Peake in 1947, and published with his felt-pen illustrations in 1962.A sailor wandering in London during a World War II air-raid finds a new-born baby in the debris. He takes refuge with the child in an empty church, where it...
(PeakeMervyn PeakeMervyn Laurence Peake was an English writer, artist, poet and illustrator. He is best known for what are usually referred to as the Gormenghast books. They are sometimes compared to the work of his older contemporary J. R. R...
) (1964)
Television
- Jane Eyre (Brontë) (1963)
- The DaleksThe DaleksThe Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in seven weekly parts from 21 December 1963 to 1 February 1964...
(Doctor Who serial) (1963) (also reused in The Rescue (1965), The Daleks' Master PlanThe Daleks' Master PlanThe Daleks' Master Plan is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The twelve episodes were aired from 13 November 1965 to 29 January 1966...
(1966), The Ark (1966) & The Power of the DaleksThe Power of the DaleksThe Power of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 5 November to 10 December 1966. It is Patrick Troughton's first full story as the Doctor.-Plot:...
(1967)) - Madame Bovary (Flaubert) (1964)
- Marco PoloMarco PoloMarco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
(Doctor Who serial) (1964) - Mill on the Floss (Eliot) (1964)
- The Head Waiter (Mortimer) (1966)
- The Daleks' Master Plan (Doctor Who serial) (1966)
- The GunfightersThe GunfightersThe Gunfighters is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, set in 19th Century America on the days leading up to the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral...
(Doctor Who serial) (1966) - The Paradise Makers (Winch) (1967)
- The Million Pound Banknote (Twain) (1968)
- Sinister Street (Mackenzie) (1969)
- The MutantsThe MutantsThe Mutants is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 8 April to 13 May 1972....
(Doctor Who serial) (1972)
Theatre and miscellaneous
- Macbeth Old Vic Theatre (1960)
- Henry IV, Pt.I Old Vic Theatre (1961)
- La Contessa (Druon, dir: Helpmann) (1965)
- Die Ballade von Peckham Rye Salzburg FestivalSalzburg FestivalThe Salzburg Festival is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer within the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...
(1965) - Escalator Music and Centre Music EXPO 67, Montreal
- Hamlet Theatre Roundabout, (1968)
- Music for Light Olympia London (1968)
- "H" (Wood) National Theatre (1969)
- Echoes till Sunset - 3 hour open air entertainment, Adelaide Festival (1984)
Books
- Dictionary of Musical Technology (1992) (also known as the Illustrated Compendium of Musical Technology)
Published references
- Oliver, Michael. "Miscellany: Justin Connolly - Jonathan Harvey - Roger Smalley - Anthony Payne - Tristram Cary - Anthony Milner - Christopher Headington - Robin Holloway - David Ellis" in British Music Now: A Guide to the Work of Younger Composers, ed. Lewis Foreman, 1975. London: Paul Elek. ISBN 0 236 30933 1
- The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians MacmillanMacmillan PublishersMacmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
1980 - The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music MacmillanMacmillan PublishersMacmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
1988 - New Oxford Companion to Music Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
1983 - The Oxford Companion to Australian Music Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
1997 - Dictionary of 20th Century Music Thames & HudsonThames & HudsonThames & Hudson is a publisher of illustrated books on art, architecture, design, and visual culture. With its headquarters in London, England it has a sister company in New York and subsidiaries in Melbourne, Singapore and Hong Kong...
1974 - Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies Harper Collins (freq. reprinted)