Nigel Brooks
Encyclopedia
Nigel Brooks is an English composer, arranger and conductor. He was born in Barnstaple
and spent most of his childhood in Ilfracombe
, North Devon
. He attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama
in London. For much of his career he was an orchestral arranger, particularly for the BBC and also conducted the BBC Concert Orchestra
. He formed his own musical ensemble "The Nigel Brooks Singers" which appeared on Friday Night is Music Night
and earned three gold discs, and two silver.
He has written three ballets for Sadler's Wells (Barnstaple Fair, Seven Cameos for Combe and The Water Babies
), and an opera based on Daphne du Maurier
's novel Jamaica Inn
. He was married to Jean, whose death was commemorated by his adagio for strings To My Love.
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
and spent most of his childhood in Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe is a seaside resort and civil parish on the North Devon coast, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs.The parish stretches along the coast from 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and 4 miles along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west...
, North Devon
North Devon
North Devon is the northern part of the English county of Devon. It is also the name of a local government district in Devon. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth...
. He attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
in London. For much of his career he was an orchestral arranger, particularly for the BBC and also conducted the BBC Concert Orchestra
BBC Concert Orchestra
The BBC Concert Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London, one of the British Broadcasting Corporation's five radio orchestras. With around fifty players, it is the only one of the five which is not a full-scale symphony orchestra....
. He formed his own musical ensemble "The Nigel Brooks Singers" which appeared on Friday Night is Music Night
Friday Night is Music Night
Friday Night is Music Night is a long running live BBC radio concert programme featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra, broadcast most Fridays on BBC Radio 2 at 8.00pm. It is the world's longest-running live music radio programme....
and earned three gold discs, and two silver.
He has written three ballets for Sadler's Wells (Barnstaple Fair, Seven Cameos for Combe and The Water Babies
The Water Babies
The Water Babies may refer to:* The Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby, a novel published in 1863* The Water Babies , a 1978 animated film based on the novel* Water Babies , a 1976 album by Miles Davis...
), and an opera based on Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier
Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning DBE was a British author and playwright.Many of her works have been adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca and Jamaica Inn and the short stories "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now". The first three were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.Her elder sister was...
's novel Jamaica Inn
Jamaica Inn
The Jamaica Inn, originally a public house and now an inn, is a Grade II listed building in the civil parish of Altarnun, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Located near the middle of Bodmin Moor near the hamlet of Bolventor, it was built as a coaching house in 1750 as a staging post for changing horses...
. He was married to Jean, whose death was commemorated by his adagio for strings To My Love.