30:
436:
which he reportedly never played. He appeared to lose interest in music, and gave his records away to friends. Despite this, Torch and his wife were reportedly happy in retirement. She predeceased him, dying on 1 March 1990. Torch's health was worsening, and, according to one biographer, he became
302:
Following the end of the Second World War, Torch concluded that the heyday of the cinema organ was over. He thus made a new career in light orchestral music as a composer, conductor and arranger. It has been suggested that his wife
Elizabeth Tyson, whom he married in 1949, may have influenced this
353:
is an example of this. Torch also composed independently, mostly pieces of light music. The piece "On A Spring Note" is considered to be one of Torch's best works: it is still regularly played and recorded by modern cinema organists. "Concerto
Incognito" for piano and orchestra was written in the
411:
His personality was described by some of his choral singers and instrumentalists as "tyrannical"; in a 1983 he admitted to having been "cruel" when working with others. However, he also felt that the end results could have been positive, with those on the receiving end having benefited from this
402:
Torch had a reputation as a disciplinarian, according to the singers and musicians he conducted. One such performer described the "crackle" which came from starched shirt cuffs on his swift downbeats. It has been said that singers dreaded "the glare of the Torch" if they did not live up to his
310:
catalogue, using his own name and the pseudonym 'Denis Rycoth' (an anagram of Sidney Torch). He was enlisted by the publishers
Francis, Day & Hunter to conduct the New Century Orchestra in 1947, when their library was established, remaining with them until 1949, when a Musicians' Union ban
403:
expectations. Despite this, his private generosity was also recalled by musicians who were in need of temporary financial help. Torch insisted upon smart attire from his musicians: he always had an extra pair of black socks or gloves kept on standby if required. According to David Ades of the
407:
Society, Torch's music "was also often entertaining to watch as well as hear"; his "London
Transport Suite" and "Duel for Drummers" being "ideal examples requiring, as they do, such athletic participation from the percussion section."
248:
was installed in 1928, Torch became the
Assistant Organist to the Chief Organist, Quentin Maclean. Torch took over as Chief Organist at the Cinema in 1932. Maclean had left in 1930 to become Chief Organist of the Trocadero Cinema,
437:"increasingly depressed". On 16 July 1990, he took an overdose, "leaving warm, apologetic and explanatory notes to two good friends". One of these was his doctor, who was on holiday at the time. He died aged 82, with
286:. Torch would play and make recordings on the numerous cinema organs in the Blackpool area during his spare time. While in the RAF, he became the Conductor of the RAF Concert Orchestra, where he learned to
366:, depicting hansom cab, omnibus and steam train, was written for a BBC Light Music Festival commission in 1957. "The Trapeze Waltz" (1963) became the theme tune for a series of French-themed plays,
225:. He thus had no choice but to play from memory; he passed with distinction. Following his studies, his first professional job was as accompanist to the violinist Albert Sandler. He worked as an
734:
147:
420:
In 1949, Torch married Eva
Elizabeth Tyson (known as Elizabeth), a BBC producer. He retired from full-time conducting with the BBC in 1972 and was appointed an
915:
920:
905:
266:
Torch then played the organ in a number of London cinemas (amongst others, the Regal, Edmonton) and in 1937 he became the Chief
Organist of the new
221:. His gift for memory came to his rescue when he entered an examination room and realised that he had left the compulsory music back at his home in
930:
336:
show until his retirement in 1972. This came after a disagreement with the BBC: Torch snapped his baton in half at the end of his last concert.
673:
955:
925:
328:, which began in 1953, and continues to be broadcast to this day (currently as 'Sunday Night is Music Night'). Torch also conducted the
802:
960:
940:
875:
890:
965:
935:
202:. He learned the rudiments of music quickly from his father, an orchestral trombonist, who used to sit next to fellow trombonist
880:
870:
257:. Torch's tenure at the Regal lasted until 1934. His signature tune became "I've Got To Sing a Torch Song" (from the film
885:
393:
as the theme for the fictitious BBC news programme "The World
Tonight", seen aboard the spaceship Discovery in the film
29:
482:
468:
306:
Starting in 1946, Torch composed and conducted a number of instrumentals with the Queen's Hall Light
Orchestra for the
195:
57:
900:
597:
945:
895:
950:
584:
187:
395:
125:
421:
324:
633:
389:
and can, therefore, still be bought today. A recording of Torch's "Off Beat Moods Part 1" was chosen by
910:
521:
349:
763:
214:
579:
362:" and other "Denham Concertos" popular at the time in many British films. The three movement
329:
865:
860:
267:
259:
191:
121:
8:
319:
250:
371:
701:
190:
origin to a
Ukrainian father, Morris Torchinsky, and an Estonian mother, Annie, at 27
837:
593:
478:
464:
378:
355:
218:
706:
390:
359:
271:
307:
254:
207:
65:
842:
339:
Torch also composed many pieces for the BBC, particularly the theme tunes for
854:
638:
525:
511:
404:
382:
245:
226:
159:
129:
589:
386:
203:
777:
433:
287:
234:
175:
167:
95:
758:
David W. Patterson, "Music, Structure and Metaphor in Stanley Kubrick's
833:
532:
All Strings and Fancy Free: The Music of Sidney Torch and his Orchestra
425:
344:
291:
222:
163:
133:
81:
807:
439:
314:
Torch conducted many orchestras and bands, particularly those of the
283:
275:
443:
commenting in their obituary that "he leaves a legacy to treasure".
385:. Many of Torch's cinema organ recordings have been re-released on
171:
454:
The Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. Composers and their Music
155:
429:
238:
199:
85:
61:
340:
230:
674:"'Mr Friday Night' – Sidney Torch, a legend in light music"
541:
315:
279:
735:"TORCH: London Transport Suite / Petit Valse / Barbecue"
303:
decision, as she reportedly did not like the organ.
811:. No. 63762. London. 19 July 1990. p. 14
278:there up until 1940, when he was drafted into the
852:
381:during his lifetime, some of them produced by
766:, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Autumn, 2004), pp. 460-461
667:
665:
663:
661:
659:
657:
424:in 1985. He and his wife lived in a flat in
253:and was followed at the Regal until 1932 by
154:; 5 June 1908 – 16 July 1990) was a British
916:Musicians from the London Borough of Camden
263:), which had his own special lyrics added.
921:English people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent
906:Members of the Order of the British Empire
475:British Dance Bands on Record 1911 to 1945
415:
311:stopped all work of this kind in Britain.
28:
654:
502:Sidney Torch at the Theatre Organ 1932-39
477:, General Gramophone Publications, 1987,
585:The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music
574:
572:
570:
568:
566:
564:
562:
560:
558:
528:8.223443 in 2006 (original compositions)
233:with the Orchestra of the Regal Cinema,
931:20th-century British conductors (music)
728:
726:
724:
495:
853:
578:
627:
625:
623:
621:
619:
617:
615:
613:
611:
609:
555:
452:Bierley, Paul E.; Rehrig, William H.
297:
732:
721:
491:, Vintage Light Music, Winter, 1991.
318:. Torch was the man who created the
956:20th-century English male musicians
769:
671:
347:shows. The theme of the radio show
13:
926:English people of Estonian descent
775:
606:
14:
977:
827:
461:The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
229:before getting a job playing the
961:Drug-related suicides in England
941:English male classical composers
876:20th-century classical composers
681:Eastbourne Local History Society
631:
538:Sidney Torch Historic Recordings
463:, 5th edition, Macmillan, 1998,
891:English male conductors (music)
446:
966:People from St Pancras, London
936:20th-century English composers
846:, Queen's Hall Light Orchestra
795:
752:
694:
534:, Living Era compilation, 2004
1:
881:English light music composers
548:
518:Sidney Torch Orchestral Works
181:
473:Rust, Brian; Forbes, Sandy.
377:Torch made a huge number of
7:
871:English classical composers
325:Friday Night is Music Night
274:. He continued to play the
213:Torch studied piano at the
10:
982:
886:English conductors (music)
636:. Legends of Light Music.
206:in such places as the old
508:Music From Across The Sea
504:, Doric compilation, 1973
350:Much Binding In The Marsh
117:
109:
101:
91:
71:
51:
41:
36:
27:
20:
901:Jewish English musicians
489:Sidney Torch (1908-1990)
456:, Integrity Press, 1991.
215:Blackheath Conservatoire
946:English music arrangers
896:British music arrangers
416:Personal life and death
354:1940s, in the style of
951:20th-century organists
364:London Transport Suite
246:Christie Theatre Organ
37:Background information
760:2001: A Space Odyssey
396:2001: A Space Odyssey
330:BBC Concert Orchestra
733:Ades, David (1996).
588:(Concise ed.).
524:, 1997, reissued as
496:Selected discography
268:Gaumont State Cinema
260:Gold Diggers of 1933
192:Tottenham Court Road
113:Piano, theatre organ
592:. pp. 1183–4.
320:BBC Light Programme
282:and stationed near
251:Elephant and Castle
168:orchestral arranger
372:Granada Television
298:Light music career
244:When the cinema's
186:Torch was born of
911:Theatre organists
819:– via Gale.
544:compilation, 2009
356:Richard Addinsell
332:for nearly every
219:south east London
152:Sidney Torchinsky
139:
138:
47:Sidney Torchinsky
973:
844:On a Spring Note
821:
820:
818:
816:
799:
793:
792:
790:
788:
773:
767:
756:
750:
749:
747:
745:
730:
719:
718:
716:
714:
698:
692:
691:
689:
687:
678:
669:
652:
651:
649:
647:
629:
604:
603:
576:
78:
44:
32:
18:
17:
981:
980:
976:
975:
974:
972:
971:
970:
851:
850:
830:
825:
824:
814:
812:
801:
800:
796:
786:
784:
776:Rugani, Louis.
774:
770:
757:
753:
743:
741:
731:
722:
712:
710:
700:
699:
695:
685:
683:
676:
670:
655:
645:
643:
630:
607:
600:
577:
556:
551:
498:
487:Upton, Stuart.
459:Larkin, Colin.
449:
418:
391:Stanley Kubrick
360:Warsaw Concerto
300:
184:
160:cinema organist
142:
80:
76:
56:
42:
23:
12:
11:
5:
979:
969:
968:
963:
958:
953:
948:
943:
938:
933:
928:
923:
918:
913:
908:
903:
898:
893:
888:
883:
878:
873:
868:
863:
849:
848:
840:
829:
828:External links
826:
823:
822:
803:"Sidney Torch"
794:
778:"Sidney Torch"
768:
764:American Music
751:
720:
702:"Sidney Torch"
693:
672:Moloney, Liz.
653:
634:"Sidney Torch"
605:
598:
582:, ed. (1997).
553:
552:
550:
547:
546:
545:
535:
529:
515:
505:
497:
494:
493:
492:
485:
483:978-0902470156
471:
469:978-1846098567
457:
448:
445:
417:
414:
370:, produced by
299:
296:
255:Reginald Foort
208:Holborn Empire
188:Russian Jewish
183:
180:
141:Musical artist
140:
137:
136:
119:
115:
114:
111:
107:
106:
103:
99:
98:
93:
89:
88:
79:(aged 82)
73:
69:
68:
66:United Kingdom
53:
49:
48:
45:
39:
38:
34:
33:
25:
24:
21:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
978:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
937:
934:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
917:
914:
912:
909:
907:
904:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
887:
884:
882:
879:
877:
874:
872:
869:
867:
864:
862:
859:
858:
856:
847:
845:
841:
839:
835:
832:
831:
810:
809:
804:
798:
783:
779:
772:
765:
761:
755:
740:
736:
729:
727:
725:
709:
708:
703:
697:
682:
675:
668:
666:
664:
662:
660:
658:
642:
640:
639:Robert Farnon
635:
632:Ades, David.
628:
626:
624:
622:
620:
618:
616:
614:
612:
610:
601:
599:1-85227-745-9
595:
591:
587:
586:
581:
580:Larkin, Colin
575:
573:
571:
569:
567:
565:
563:
561:
559:
554:
543:
539:
536:
533:
530:
527:
523:
519:
516:
513:
509:
506:
503:
500:
499:
490:
486:
484:
480:
476:
472:
470:
466:
462:
458:
455:
451:
450:
444:
442:
441:
435:
431:
427:
423:
413:
409:
406:
405:Robert Farnon
400:
398:
397:
392:
388:
384:
383:George Martin
380:
375:
373:
369:
365:
361:
357:
352:
351:
346:
342:
337:
335:
331:
327:
326:
321:
317:
312:
309:
304:
295:
293:
289:
288:arrange music
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
264:
262:
261:
256:
252:
247:
242:
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
220:
216:
211:
209:
205:
201:
197:
193:
189:
179:
177:
173:
169:
165:
161:
157:
153:
149:
146:
135:
131:
127:
123:
120:
116:
112:
110:Instrument(s)
108:
104:
100:
97:
94:
90:
87:
83:
75:July 16, 1990
74:
70:
67:
63:
59:
54:
50:
46:
40:
35:
31:
26:
19:
16:
843:
834:Sidney Torch
813:. Retrieved
806:
805:. Obituary.
797:
785:. Retrieved
781:
771:
759:
754:
742:. Retrieved
738:
711:. Retrieved
705:
696:
684:. Retrieved
680:
644:. Retrieved
637:
590:Virgin Books
583:
537:
531:
517:
507:
501:
488:
474:
460:
453:
447:Bibliography
438:
419:
410:
401:
394:
376:
367:
363:
348:
338:
334:Friday Night
333:
323:
313:
305:
301:
265:
258:
243:
212:
204:Gustav Holst
185:
151:
145:Sidney Torch
144:
143:
77:(1990-07-16)
22:Sidney Torch
15:
866:1990 deaths
861:1908 births
434:grand piano
412:treatment.
235:Marble Arch
227:accompanist
176:light music
96:Light music
55:5 June 1908
855:Categories
549:References
522:Marco Polo
426:Eastbourne
379:recordings
368:Maupassant
345:television
223:Maida Vale
196:St Pancras
182:Early life
134:Parlophone
102:Occupation
82:Eastbourne
58:St Pancras
43:Birth name
808:The Times
440:The Times
432:, with a
284:Blackpool
276:Wurlitzer
164:conductor
105:Conductor
514:LP, 1955
308:Chappell
172:composer
126:Columbia
815:27 June
744:27 June
713:27 June
646:27 June
641:Society
292:conduct
290:and to
272:Kilburn
156:pianist
596:
481:
467:
430:Sussex
239:London
200:London
170:and a
150:(born
118:Labels
92:Genres
86:Sussex
62:London
787:2 May
739:Naxos
707:Naxos
686:2 May
677:(PDF)
526:Naxos
512:Coral
341:radio
322:show
231:piano
130:Decca
122:Regal
838:IMDb
817:2021
789:2021
782:IMDb
746:2021
715:2021
688:2021
648:2021
594:ISBN
479:ISBN
465:ISBN
358:'s "
343:and
72:Died
52:Born
836:at
762:."
542:EMI
422:MBE
316:BBC
280:RAF
217:in
194:in
174:of
148:MBE
857::
780:.
737:.
723:^
704:.
679:.
656:^
608:^
557:^
540:,
520:,
510:,
428:,
399:.
387:CD
374:.
294:.
270:,
241:.
237:,
210:.
198:,
178:.
166:,
162:,
158:,
132:,
128:,
124:,
84:,
64:,
60:,
791:.
748:.
717:.
690:.
650:.
602:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
