Dave Hewson (composer) explained

Dave Hewson
Birth Name:David Graham Hewson
Birth Date:1953 11, df=y
Birth Place:Wandsworth, London, England
Nationality:British
Occupation:Television composer
Years Active:1972–present

David Graham Hewson (born 25 November 1953 in Wandsworth, London, England) is a British composer of scores for television and films. His work includes a collaboration to develop scores for ITV News.[1] Hewson works from his composing studio in East Sussex. At Trinity College of Music, Hewson was a pupil of Richard Arnell. They worked together on films including Dilemma (1981), Doctor in the Sky (1984), Toulouse-Lautrec (1986), and The Light of the World (1989).[2] Hewson has written several works with Brian Sibley.[3]

Background and education

Hewson began composing at the age of 11, influenced by his primary school music education, which had been based entirely on the Schulwerk. This influence stayed with David and shaped a lot of his much later music. During his time in primary school, he also started to receive piano lessons from the renowned classical concert pianist and teacher Christine Gough.

In his late teens he studied composition with Professor Richard Arnell, a former pupil of John Ireland at Trinity College of Music, London, and enrolled in a part-time courses on electronic music with Tristram Cary at the Royal College of Music. After gaining his BEd (Hon) he taught music for six years, and during this time built up a large repertoire of compositions, for chamber solo and instrumental combinations including vocal music.

Compositions

His television commissions have covered a wide spectrum. He is mostly called upon to score Drama-Documentary, particularly covering human aspects and emotional content. He is a very prolific writer. His KPM Library music CDs are used all over the world to score an enormous variety of productions. He is also well known for his arrangements and versions of the music for the ITV News at Ten, and all of the regional news broadcast by ITV in England, Southern Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands.He was commissioned to create the title theme music for the coverage of the wedding of Prince Harry for ITV, and recently was commissioned to provide the title theme music for the ITV coverage of the Funerals of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, and most recently the title music for the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Awards and nominations

David was awarded the Mark Award in 2020 and the Music Production Award in 2019.He was also nominated for the Music and Sound Award in 2021.

Overview of works

Theme tunes and film scores

John Halas animated films

Some of Dave Hewson's production music albums

Concerts

Works with author and broadcaster Brian Sibley

Producer

Dave Hewson has worked extensively as a music producer and performer notably for:

Poeme Electronique

In the 1980s, Dave Hewson created an electronic trio with Sharon Abbott and Julie Ruler called Poeme Electronique."The Echoes Fade", the one and only single they released, is widely considered to be the "holy grail" of minimal electronic music, with rare copies often selling for hundreds of pounds.[4] [5]

Twins Natalia

Twins Natalia are an electro-pop group combining an early '80s musical approach (analogue drum machine sounds, way of sequencing, etc.) with the latest recording technology. Poeme Electronique are involved with the group, with additional compositions, arrangements and performances by Dave Hewson in his recording studio in East Sussex, and with lyrics added by Sharon Abbott, performed by both Sharon and Julie Ruler.

Techno Twins

Hewson was a key contributor to the musical output of the Techno Twins in the 1980s, writing and creating most of their material for several albums. He performed on many of their other recordings and was integral in the creation of the only hit they had, "Falling in Love Again". He invented their unique sound concept and arrangements, all created in his four track studio in south London.

References

[6] [7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Themes set tone for election night. 6 May 2010. 26 July 2020. News.bbc.co.uk.
  2. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/richard-arnell-unjustly-neglected-composer-who-has-found-a-new-audience-through-recent-recordings-1681850.html Richard Arnell obituary
  3. Web site: BRIAN SIBLEY : his blog: A DAY AT THE DARK CARNIVAL. Brian. Sibley. Briansibleyblog.blogspot.com. 10 June 2012. 26 July 2020.
  4. Web site: Poeme Electronique - The Echoes Fade / V.O.I.C.E.. Discogs.com. 3 September 1982 . 26 July 2020.
  5. Web site: Poeme Electronique - The Echoes Fade / V.O.I.C.E. (Vinyl, UK, 1982) For Sale | Discogs. Discogs.com. 26 July 2020.
  6. Web site: In Conversation: David Hewson (Poeme Electronique). 26 July 2020.
  7. Web site: Introducing TWINS NATALIA | The Electricity Club. 21 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131121232131/http://www.electricity-club.co.uk/introducing-twins-natalia/. 26 July 2020. 21 November 2013.