Death of leading British TV composer, 88

Death of leading British TV composer, 88

RIP

norman lebrecht

July 31, 2023

The detah has been announced of Jim Parker, composer of Midsomer Murders since 1997. He enjoyed a long collaboration early on with the poet John Betjeman. Away from TV, he wrote copiously for brass bands.

His most memorable piece of scoring was the solo trumpet sequence in House of Cards.

Comments

  • Pete Parker says:

    The House of Cards theme was a triumph.

  • Donna Pasquale says:

    Ah Betjeman’s Banana Blush

  • Micaelo Cassetti says:

    RIP.

    I believe he also composed, in true ‘nobilmente’ style, the “Yes, Minister” theme.

    • Katie says:

      I thought that “Yes Minister” music was by Ronnie Hazlehurst. However, a four-time BAFTA Winner, he did write for “Foyle’s War”, “Midsomer Murders”, “House of Eliott”, Victoria Wood’s TV dramas, “Ground Force” and “Changing Rooms”. He also composed for The Nash Ensemble, and Philip Jones Brass. He was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, a town unfortunately often ridiculed for having supposedly hung a shipwrecked Monkey, mistakenly thinking it was a French Spy, during the Napoleonic Wars. It should be known for people like Jim Parker and other notables in entertainment and sport who have come from Hartlepool. RIP Jim Parker.

    • Yomp says:

      That was Ronnie Hazlehurst.

    • bebop1971 says:

      No, that was the late great Ronnie Hazelhurst.

  • Paul Terry says:

    No, that was Ronnie Hazlehurst, who also wrote “To the Manor Born”, both with their delightful twanging electric guitar. Jim Parker had a more original voice, perhaps.

  • Christopher Storey says:

    The Betjeman music was wonderfully creative , and somehow captured – and complemented – the wonderful quirkiness of Betjeman himself

  • Anthony Sayer says:

    Loved his Betjeman music. RIP and thank you.

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