Composer and Conductor Carl Davis has Died, Aged 86

The American composer wrote a number of prominent film scores, including the music for the 1981 film "The French Lieutenant's Woman"

Carl Davis, the American conductor and composer particularly known for his film scores, recently passed away at the age of 86. Among his most beloved work was the score for the 1995 BBC small-screen adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, as well as his BAFTA-winning score for the 1981 film The French Lieutenant's Woman.

Born in New York in 1936, Davis studied composition with Paul Nordoff and Hugo Kauder, later relocating to Copenhagen to pursue study with Per Nørgård. He first found success as co-author of the 1959 revue Diversions, which won an Off-Broadway Emmy.

Following a successful showing of the revue at the Edinburgh Festival, Davis moved to the United Kingdom, where he was to remain for the rest of his life.

One of Davis's most prominent projects was the score he wrote for "The World at War", a television series of the 1970s that was narrated by Laurence Olivier.

Davis also wrote or reconstructed scores for more than 50 silent films, especially those starring Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd.

"We are so proud that Carl’s legacy will be his astonishing impact on music," wrote Davis's family in a statement. "A consummate all-round musician, he was the driving force behind the reinvention of the silent movie for this generation and he wrote scores for some of the most-loved and remembered British television dramas."

"Carl was a central figure in our roster since his arrival in 1990, over half of the company’s existence," added Richard King, the CEO of Faber Music. "We are honored and proud to have worked alongside such a compositional giant, and our thoughts are with Carl’s family at this time."

Our condolences to Davis's family, friends, and colleagues.