Stanley Myers (6 October 19309 November 1993) was an English composer and conductor, who scored over sixty films and television series, working closely with filmmakers Nicolas Roeg, Jerzy Skolimowski and Volker Schlöndorff. He is best known for his guitar piece "Cavatina", composed for the 1970 film The Walking Stick and later used as the theme for The Deer Hunter. He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Film Music for Wish You Were Here (1987), and was an early collaborator with and mentor of Hans Zimmer.
Biography Myers was born in Birmingham, England; as a teenager he went to King Edward's School in Edgbaston, a suburb of Birmingham. He married choreographer Eleanor Fazan.
Myers wrote incidental music for television: for example, "The Reign of Terror", a 1964 serial in the television series Doctor Who; the theme to All Gas and Gaiters; and the theme for the BBC's Question Time.
One night in 1966, Myers and Barry Fantoni had called into the Chi Chi club to discuss the music for the movie Kaleidoscope which was to star Warren Beatty and Susannah York. What they were after was a switched-on song they needed for a switched-on intense movie. The resident group called Romeo Z came on and caused the ceiling to shake. There they knew they had the band they wanted, and they got the band to record the song "Kaleidoscope", which appeared in the film and on the soundtrack album which was released on Warner Bros. W 1663 in October 1966Kaleidoscope THE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ALBUM (Amazon) - Back cover notes by Stanley MyersCash Box, 22 October 1966 - Page 38 ALBUM REVIEWS, POP BEST BETS
He is known for composing music for the cult horror films House of Whipcord, Frightmare, House of Mortal Sin and Schizo for filmmaker Pete Walker.
The Pink Floyd website credits the brass parts on their 1968 song "Corporal Clegg" to "The Stanley Myers Orchestra".
Myers is best known for "Cavatina" (1970), an evocative guitar piece, played by John Williams, 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, not performed by 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.
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. He also scored the film Wish You Were Here and several low budget features (Time Traveller, Blind Date, The Wind, Zero Boys) for director Nico Mastorakis, collaborating with Hans Zimmer. He won another Ivor Novello Award for his soundtrack to The Witches in 1991.
Myers died of cancer aged 63 in Kensington and Chelsea, London.
Filmography Film 1960s Year TitleDirectorNotes 1966 KaleidoscopeJack Smight 1967 UlyssesJoseph StrickSeparationJack Bond1968The Night of the Following DayHubert CornfieldNo Way to Treat a LadyJack SmightComposed with Andrew BellingOtleyDick Clement 1969 Man on HorsebackVolker SchlöndorffComposed with Peter SandloffTwo Gentlemen SharingTed KotcheffAge of ConsentMichael PowellComposed with Peter Sculthorpe
1970s Year TitleDirectorNotes 1970 Tropic of CancerJoseph StrickThe Walking StickEric TillUndergroundArthur H. NadelTake a Girl Like YouJonathan MillerTam LinRoddy McDowallA Severed HeadDick Clement1971The Raging MoonBryan Forbes1972X Y & ZeeBrian G. HuttonKing, Queen, KnaveJerzy SkolimowskiSitting TargetDouglas HickoxA Free Woman Volker Schlöndorff1973The Love BanRalph ThomasThe BlockhouseClive ReesRoad MovieJoseph Strick1974House of WhipcordPete WalkerFrightmareLittle MalcolmStuart CooperCaravan to VaccarèsGeoffrey ReeveThe Apprenticeship of Duddy KravitzTed KotcheffComposed with Andrew Powell1975The Wilby ConspiracyRalph NelsonConduct UnbecomingMichael Anderson1976SchizoPete WalkerHouse of Mortal SinCoup de GrâceVolker Schlöndorff1977A Portrait of the Artist as a Young ManJoseph Strick1978The Greek TycoonJ. Lee ThompsonThe ComebackPete WalkerThe Class of Miss MacMichaelSilvio NarizzanoThe Deer HunterMichael CiminoAbsolutionAnthony Page1979The Great Riviera Bank RobberyFrancis MegahyYesterday's HeroNeil LeiferA Nightingale Sang in Berkeley SquareRalph Thomas
1980s Year TitleDirectorNotes1980Border CopChristopher LeitchThe Watcher in the WoodsJohn Hough1981Lady Chatterley's LoverJust JaeckinComposed with Richard Harvey1982The IncubusJohn HoughMoonlightingJerzy Skolimowski1983EurekaNicolas RoegThe Honorary ConsulJohn Mackenzie1984Success Is the Best RevengeJerzy SkolimowskiComposed with Hans ZimmerStory of O - Chapter 2Éric RochatBlind DateNico MastorakisThe Next OneThe ChainJack Gold1985The LightshipJerzy SkolimowskiInsignificanceNicolas RoegComposed with Hans ZimmerMy Beautiful LaundretteStephen FrearsDreamchildGavin Millar1986CastawayNicolas RoegThe Zero BoysNico MastorakisComposed with Hans ZimmerSeparate VacationsMichael AndersonThe WindNico Mastorakis1987The Second VictoryGerald ThomasNightmare at NoonNico MastorakisComposed with Hans ZimmerWish You Were HereDavid LelandNominated- BAFTA Award for Best Film MusicPrick Up Your EarsStephen FrearsThe Nature of the BeastFranco RossoComposed with Hans ZimmerSammy and Rosie Get LaidStephen Frears1988Stars and BarsPat O'ConnorTrack 29Nicolas RoegTaffinFrancis MegahyComposed with Hans ZimmerPaperhouseBernard RoseThe BoostHarold Becker1989Torrents of SpringJerzy SkolimowskiScenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly HillsPaul Bartel
1990s Year TitleDirectorNotes1990Ladder of SwordsNorman HullThe WitchesNicolas RoegNominated- Saturn Award for Best MusicRosencrantz & Guildenstern Are DeadTom Stoppard1991VoyagerVolker SchlöndorffCold HeavenNicolas Roeg1992ClaudeCindy Lou JohnsonSarafina!Darrell RoodtFinal film score
Television Year TitleNotes1961ITV Television PlayhouseEpisode: "A Resounding Tinkle"1964Doctor Who6 episodes"The Reign of Terror" serialDiary of a Young Man6 episodes1965–66The Wednesday Play1967Four Tall Tinkles4 episodesA Series of Bird's6 episodes1969World in Ferment1970Charley's Grants1967–71All Gas and Gaiters31 episodes1973Divorce His, Divorce HersTelevision film1973–84Play for Today4 episodes1974Shoulder to ShoulderMiniseries1975The Legend of Robin Hood1978Summer of My German SoldierTelevision film1980The Martian ChroniclesMiniseries1982Nancy Astor1982–83Take Hart35 episodes1983A Pattern of RosesTelevision film1983–85Widows7 episodes1984Diana10 episodesThe Zany Adventures of Robin HoodTelevision film1985My Brother Jonathan5 episodesBlack ArrowTelevision filmFlorence NightingaleMr. and Mrs. Edgehill1986Strong MedicineMonte CarloMiniseriesThe Singing DetectiveNatureEpisode: "Pantanal: Prairie of Great Waters"1986–93Screen Two6 episodes1987ScoopTelevision filmPack of LiesStrong MedicineHarry's KingdomA Wreath of Roses1988Stones for IbarraBaja OklahomaTidy EndingsChristabelMiniseries1989The Play on OneEpisode: "Heartland"Danny, the Champion of the WorldTelevision filmScreenplayEpisode: "A Small Mourning"Age-Old FriendsTelevision film1990Never Come Back3 episodes1991A Murder of QualityTelevision film1992My Friend WalterMrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris 1993 Head over Heels7 episodesStalag LuftTelevision filmHeart of Darkness1994MiddlemarchMiniseriesComposed with Christopher Gunning BAFTA TV Award for Best Original Music in a Dramatic Programme
References
External links
Stanley Myers at the British Film Institute