Ellis was born in Hampstead, London in 1903, not 1904 as is usually stated.… Read Full Bio ↴Ellis was born in Hampstead, London in 1903, not 1904 as is usually stated.[1] He studied the piano with Myra Hess and began a musical career as a concert pianist, but became a composer and lyricist. Initially he contributed pieces for several revues in the 1920s. He became well known in the London West End Theatres for providing the music and collaborating in the production of a large number of musical shows, spanning from 1925 to 1958. In fact he was to dominate the theatre of the 1930s having one to three shows run most years of this decade. However, in spite of his music being both pleasant and catchy, few of his compositions were recorded (with the exception of "I'm On A See-Saw" by Fats Waller and "This is my lovely day" by Lizbeth Webb and Georges Guetary, so his name became less well known after his last London production. He wrote some songs used in British films of the 1930s.
By the 1950s, musical comedy had begin to fall out of fashion, and his last full-length musical, Half in Earnest, appeared in 1958. He contributed to revues for a few more years and then turned his hand to writing a series of amusing books such as How To Enjoy Your Operation. Ellis became the President of the Performing Right Society and in 1984 the society instituted an annual event - the Vivian Ellis Prize - to encourage young composers and lyricists to write for the musical stage. Ellis gave all the writers the same advice: "Try and put at least one hit song in every musical you write." Several of the promising writers featured in the competition went on to success, including Charles Hart who wrote lyrics for Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical of The Phantom of the Opera, and Philip Glassborow whose comedy musical The Great Big Radio Show! was a personal favourite.
Ellis as a composer was "rediscovered" in the 1980s when his 1929 musical Mr. Cinders (featuring the hit song, "Spread A Little Happiness") was revived at the King's Head Theatre in London. The song also charted again in a version by Sting, following its ironic use in the film Brimstone and Treacle. His song This is My Lovely Day also appeared in the John Cleese comedy Clockwise in 1987.
Ellis's composition "Alpine Pastures" was used as the theme song for the long-running BBC radio series My Word and another light music composition of his, "Coronation Scot," was the signature tune for the Paul Temple series.
His grandmother was the composer Julia Woolf. His autobiography, published in 1953, is entitled I'm on a See-Saw, named after the hit song from his musical Jill Darling.
In December 2008, the King's Head Theatre in London will present the world premiere of Godiva, a previously unproduced musical (book by Guy Bolton) written in the 1950s.
By the 1950s, musical comedy had begin to fall out of fashion, and his last full-length musical, Half in Earnest, appeared in 1958. He contributed to revues for a few more years and then turned his hand to writing a series of amusing books such as How To Enjoy Your Operation. Ellis became the President of the Performing Right Society and in 1984 the society instituted an annual event - the Vivian Ellis Prize - to encourage young composers and lyricists to write for the musical stage. Ellis gave all the writers the same advice: "Try and put at least one hit song in every musical you write." Several of the promising writers featured in the competition went on to success, including Charles Hart who wrote lyrics for Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical of The Phantom of the Opera, and Philip Glassborow whose comedy musical The Great Big Radio Show! was a personal favourite.
Ellis as a composer was "rediscovered" in the 1980s when his 1929 musical Mr. Cinders (featuring the hit song, "Spread A Little Happiness") was revived at the King's Head Theatre in London. The song also charted again in a version by Sting, following its ironic use in the film Brimstone and Treacle. His song This is My Lovely Day also appeared in the John Cleese comedy Clockwise in 1987.
Ellis's composition "Alpine Pastures" was used as the theme song for the long-running BBC radio series My Word and another light music composition of his, "Coronation Scot," was the signature tune for the Paul Temple series.
His grandmother was the composer Julia Woolf. His autobiography, published in 1953, is entitled I'm on a See-Saw, named after the hit song from his musical Jill Darling.
In December 2008, the King's Head Theatre in London will present the world premiere of Godiva, a previously unproduced musical (book by Guy Bolton) written in the 1950s.
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Coronation Scot
Vivian Ellis Lyrics
No lyrics text found for this track.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
@divvy1400yam600
I think this is a superb piece of orchestral music which it is unfair to call 'light'. Some of the chord arrangements must be quite tricky especially when the train is starting up.
Wagner did such things for example with the Tristan Isolde chord and then when on to introduce 1.5 hours of dissonent boredom. Ellis kept the pace exciting throughout.
John Wilson shows represent the best of popular music entertainment.
re Paul Temple : I like the shows though I could never understand the plots. and Temple was always fortuitous it geting evidence at just he right time. egJust as someone got shot Temple was there to hear a mysterious statement made by the dying man.
The programme was full of discreet class consciousness but along the the 'posh' voices I do like the shows. Early this AM (30th Nov 2019) Temple solved the Jonathon mystery. How he did it and who was the protaganist I dont know hehehehehe
@davecarter4015
As a very young child I loved this piece of music. I had been known to shed a tear or two whilst listening to it. Such was the beauty of the piece.
@kohedunn
.Me too..
@Sprangleweed
Perfection in light music. Wonderful orchestration, peerless performance, gorgeous melody.
What more could anyone want?
@seftonwallet
One of the first pieces of music I remember hearing on the wireless when I was three or four years old.
@seftonwallet
Many thanks for the info.
@ianoliver3879
I want the aspect ration corrected.
@lectocom
Wonderful! Brings back so many memories from decades ago. Including Paul Temple seriaqls on the radio...Thanks!!!
@2HB2HB
Memories of my childhood, love it.
@Retroscoop
For those who didn't know, the Coronation Scot was one of the most beautiful steamtrains ever build, hence the "trainish" sounds...
@williamwoolhouse3702
Coronation was the locomotive.The Coronation Scot was the name of the train that Ran From London Euston To Glasgow.