Stanley Myers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (November 2006)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Stanley Myers (October 6, 1930 – November 9, 1993), was a prolific British film composer who scored over sixty films. Born in Birmingham, as a teenager Myers went to the prestigious King Edward's High School in Edgbaston, a suburb of Birmingham.

He is best known for Cavatina (1970), an evocative guitar piece that served as the signature theme for Michael Cimino's 1978 film The Deer Hunter, and for which Myers won the Ivor Novello Award. A somewhat different version of this work, performed by John Williams, had appeared in The Walking Stick. And yet another version had lyrics added. Cleo Laine and Iris Williams, in separate recordings as He Was Beautiful, helped to make Cavatina become even more popular. The piece is far more difficult to play than it looks or sounds. A notable cover of this song was recorded by John Mayer and can be found on seeqpod.

Myers also wrote incidental music for a 1964 serial in the television series Doctor Who, and the theme for the BBC's Question Time.

During the 1980s, Myers worked frequently with director Stephen Frears. His score for Prick Up Your Ears (1987) won him a "Best Artistic Contribution" award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Myers died of cancer in 1993.