Royal honour for composer (From Malvern Gazette)

Royal honour for composer

11:10am Friday 2nd November 2012 in News

A MALVERN composer who penned popular gameshow theme tunes is now following in the footsteps of Sir Edward Elgar after being asked to compose the music for this year’s Royal Variety Performance.

Paul Farrer, of West Malvern, said it was a “magnificent honour” to be involved in the centenary year of the event and admitted becoming “more and more terrified” at the prospect of his latest compositions being performed for royal guests including The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The 39-year-old is one of the country’s leading media composers, having come up with music for the likes of Dancing on Ice, Gladiators and The Weakest Link. But his surprise commission was “a truly tremendous honour for me,” he said.

Malvern’s most famous musician, Sir Edward Elgar, composed the music for the show in 1919.

Mr Farrer shied away from comparisons, saying “it is embarrassing to even be mentioned in the same sentence.”

His music will comprise the show’s main theme, accompany the arrival of the Royal guests, and also the entrance and exit music for the performers.

He said he thought he had struck the right balance between entertainment and “pomp and circumstance”.

The show is due to take place on Monday, November 19.