Introducing Doreen Carwithen, the groundbreaking, first-ever female film composer working in a professional capacity on a global scale
Celebrating the Centenary of Pioneering Composer Doreen Carwithen
Doreen Carwithen, a British composer who broke barriers as the first woman to work full-time as a film composer in 1946, is being celebrated this year, marking what would have been her 100th birthday. The Carwithen Music Festival held in 2022 featured her music, including her film scores specially arranged for string quartet, her Violin Sonata, and a new commission from Christopher Gunning, who once lived in the old school building where Carwithen studied.
Born in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire in 1925, Carwithen studied at the Royal Academy of Music under William Alwyn, who later became her husband. Her debut orchestral work, ODTAA (One Damn Thing After Another), had its premiere at the Royal Opera House in 1947. She went on to write more than 30 films in the late 1940s and 1950s, including the score for the official film of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, a significant achievement in her career and the film music industry.
Carwithen's work encompassed both classical compositions and film scores, helping set a precedent for women in a male-dominated field. Her classical pieces, such as her Sonata and Concerto for Piano and Strings, continue to be performed and celebrated, as evidenced by recent concerts including performances by the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra.
Despite her contributions, Carwithen's music and career were relatively under-recognized for many years. However, recent efforts, including books and concert series, have revived interest in her work alongside other notable women composers of the 20th century.
Debbie Wiseman, Composer in Residence and president of the Carwithen Music Festival, discovered Carwithen's music through her film scores. Wiseman will be unveiling a blue plaque in Carwithen's birthplace over the weekend, marking a fitting tribute to the pioneering composer.
Wiseman, one of today's leading film and TV composers, emphasizes that women now have no limits or restrictions in their film composing careers. This is evident in the fact that Rachel Portman was the first female composer to win an Oscar in the category of Best Musical or Comedy Score in 1997, followed by Anne Dudley in 1998, and Hildur Guðnadóttir in 2020.
Carwithen's trailblazing role as a full-time female film composer and her lasting classical compositions stand out as significant accomplishments in her career. Her centenary is indeed a landmark in music history that should be celebrated.
- Various modern-day lifestyle outlets, delving into music and pop-culture, have honored Doreen Carwithen this centenary year, highlighting her groundbreaking role as the first female full-time film composer in 1946.
- As fashion-and-beauty blogs update their social media platforms, they have spotlighted the fashion sense of renowned celebrities joining the Carwithen Music Festival, paying tribute to the pioneering composer.
- One may find articles on entertainment news websites discussing Doreen Carwithen's work breakthrough in scoring the official film of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, a remarkable accomplishment for a female composer.
- Women contesting for a leading position in the music industry can look up to Doreen Carwithen, whose centenary marks a significant milestone in education-and-self-development, inspiring the next generation of female composers.
- Bookstores specializing in education-and-self-development, as well as personal-growth and sci-fi-and-fantasy genres, are filling their shelves with titles celebrating Doreen Carwithen's life and contributions, a clear indication of her enduring influence beyond the world of film music.
