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Charles Ancliffe

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Charles William Ancliffe (25 July 1880 – 20 December 1952) was an Irish-born composer of light music, chiefly remembered for his salon piano music, genre dance pieces, light character pieces and his "Nights of Gladness" waltz.

Early life and education

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Ancliffe was born on 25 July 1880[1] at Curragh Camp, Kildare, Ireland.[2][3] His father, John Benjamin Ancliffe (1854–1916), was bandmaster of the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment from 1884[4] and the 2nd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry from 1894 until he was discharged in 1908.[5]

When aged 11, he was organist at the military church in Secunderabad where his father was stationed.[6] At the age of 15 in 1896 he joined the 2nd Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry in Guernsey as a boy bandsman. He studied at the Royal Military School of Music in Kneller Hall (1899–1900), graduating at the age of 20 having been awarded the gold baton for composition for a suite called "Gipsy Pictures".[7]

Career

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Ancliffe followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a bandmaster himself; from 11 December 1900 he was bandmaster of the First Battalion, South Wales Borderers, seeing much service in India (1901–1910).[6][8] In 1902 he joined the Freemasons.[9] In 1903, when he was 23, he conducted the massed bands at King Edward VII's Delhi Durbar.[a] In August 1914 he joined the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion South Wales Borderers with the rank of Bandmaster, was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct medal in 1914, and was discharged on 10 December 1918.[2][11]

During this period he wrote many popular pieces of music including marches such as "The Liberators", and "Castles in Spain". He also composed dozens of short genre pieces, often styled 'intermezzo' or 'entr'acte', several songs and ingeniously titled suites such as Below Bridges which included titles "Wapping Old Stairs, Poplar" and "Stepney Church", all London bridges.

Around the time of the First World War Ancliffe composed many waltzes and light character solo pieces, and it is mainly for these that he is remembered. These included "Nights of Gladness Waltz", "Thrills Waltz", "Secrets Waltz", the titles reflecting the age in which they were written. These enjoyed renewed popularity with the fashion for ‘olde-tyme dancing’ after World War II. He also composed under the pseudonym Louis Severne.

"Nights of Gladness"

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"Nights of Gladness"
National Promenade Band
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It was for "Nights of Gladness", written in 1912, that Ancliffe became most famous. The waltz became so popular all over the world that in later years the BBC named a long-running series of light music programmes after it, using it as the signature tune[12][13] It was played at two State balls held at Buckingham Palace, and included in the programme at the Royal Command Performance at the Palace of Varieties.[14]

More than a hundred years after it was written it is still to be found included on many CD compilations of light music, played by notable orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.[15] It sold over two million copies but unfortunately he had sold it for £10 but continued to earn an income from the performing rights.[16][17]

Nights of Gladness

After leaving the services, Ancliffe was a regular conductor of the Scarborough Military Band from 1924 to 1927, and was also a frequent guest conductor of his own works on BBC Radio. He had been conductor of the Scarborough Municipal Band in the 1920s but admitted that he had "been unable to find employment except during three months of the season." "He had composed music, but latterly had sold very little because of the popularity of jazz."[18] and was living on his £85 army pension.[19]

His music was recorded including by the Palm Court Theatre orchestra, Victor Military Band, Prince's Orchestra, and the London Palladium Orchestra on labels including Victor, Columbia, and Edison. He conducted his own work with the BBC Wireless Orchestra and his work included film soundtracks.[20][21] He composed "Take Your Partners" especially for Sydney Thompson's old-time dance feature. He composed "Twickenham Fair" with words by Mr A W Woodward, for the borough fair in 1950.[a]

Personal life

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He married Eva Jessie Laver (1881–1963) in 1904 in St John's Church, Portland, Weymouth.[2][22][23] They had a daughter Kathleen Jessie born 1906 in Karachi, now in Pakistan,[24][25][26] and another daughter Joan Isobel born in 1911 at Chatham.[27] In 1911 the family were living in Chatham Barracks,[24] in 1921 at 23, Glebe Road, Barnes[27] and in 1939 in Guildford.[1] They moved to Twickenham in 1940.[a]

He died at the Richmond Royal Hospital on 20 December 1952 after he collapsed in George Street, Richmond.[28] He was then living at 5 Poulett Gardens, Twickenham; he left £7 in his will.[29] His funeral was at Mortlake Crematorium.[a]

Selected compositions

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Waltzes

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  • April Clouds
  • Dream Princess
  • Festive Days
  • Irish Whispers
  • Red Leaves
  • Shy Glancess
  • Southern Nights
  • Temptation
  • Thrills
  • Twilight Time
  • Unforgotten Hours
  • Smiles, then kisses

Miscellaneous short pieces

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  • A Forest Wooing
  • April's Lady
  • Burma Intermezzo
  • Cinderella's Wedding
  • Down in Zanzibar
  • El Saludo
  • Fragrance
  • Hans the Stroller
  • Mariette-Coquette
  • Moon Maid
  • Peacock's Parade
  • Penelope's Garden
  • Secrets
  • Valley of Roses
  • The Flutter of the Fay

Suites

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  • Below Bridges
  • Southern Impressions
  • The Purple Vine (in three movements): The Vintagers, The Purple Vine and Evening at the Inn
  • Suite Poetique

Songs

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  • "Ask Daddy"
  • "Someday in Somebody's Eyes"
  • "I Cannot Live Without You"

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d Mr Charles Ancliffe, composer of 400 or more gay tunes, who collapsed and died after alighting from a 'bus in George-street, Richmond, on Saturday, had suffered from heart trouble for many years. He had lived at 5, Poulett-gardens, Twickenham, since 1940. His greatest success was the waltz, "Nights of Gladness," of which over two million copies have been sold. It is now being broadcast every Tuesday evening as the signature tune of the Light Programme feature of that title in tribute to musical comedy and operetta composers of the past twenty-five years. Another waltz of his to rival "night of Gladness" in popularity is "Thrills." He composed "Take Your Partners" specially for Sydney Thompson's old-time dance feature, also broadcast in the Light Programme. He used to say that not a day passed without one of his compositions being broadcast.
    He will always be remembered in Twickenham as the composer of "Twickenham Fair." Mr A W Woodward, who wrote the words, told the "Richmond and Twickenham Times" that within eight days of Mr Ancliffe offering to write a tune for the fair it was being sung at a children's matinee at the Odeon Cinema. That was in the second year of the borough fair.
    Mr. Ancliffe was 72 when he died. A graduate of Kneller Hall, he passed out at the age of 20 and was the youngest man ever to be appointed bandmaster in the British Army. He was band-master of the 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers, and in 1903, when he was 23, he conducted the massed bands at King Edward VII's Delhi Durbar. While at Kneller Hall he was awarded a gold baton the best composts by a student of his year. It was a suite called "Gipsy Pictures," and is often played today.
    In the summer of last year, at the, request of Sydney Thompson, he composed five new tunes for old-time dances, the results being published, with "Take Your Partners," in "Sydney Thompson's Old-Time Dance Album." His last appointment was as director of the Scarborough municipal orchestra, which he held from 1924 to 1927. Since then he had concentrated on composing. His last composition was "Dream of the Danube," which he dedicated to his grandson, Simon Harding, who is just six and was very fond of his grandfather. Mr. Ancliffe leaves a widow and two daughters, Mrs. Joan Harding, Simon’s mother and Mrs. Kathleen Norris. The funeral was on Tuesday at Mortlake crematorium.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "1939 Register". Findmypast. 1939. Retrieved 16 February 2026. Charles W Ancliffe, 1939 Register, 43 Briar Way, Guildford, Guildford M.B., Surrey
  2. ^ a b c "WO 363 - First World War Service Records 'Burnt Documents'". FindMyPast. 1896. Retrieved 16 February 2026. British Army WW1 Service Record -Charles William Ancliffe in 1896
  3. ^ "William Charles Ancliffe, Ireland, Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881". Family Search. 25 July 1880. William Charles Ancliffe, Father's Name John Ancliffe, Mother's Name Mary Wisenden Ancliffe, 25 Jul 1880,Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland
  4. ^ "Regimental Memoranda". Naval & Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle of the United Service. 17 September 1884. p. 10. Retrieved 16 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive. Sergeant John Ancliffe, 1st Battalion South staffordshire Regiment, has been appointed bandmaster of the 2nd Battalion [Suffolk Regiment].
  5. ^ "The Collection of Medals to Musicians formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord". Noonans Mayfair. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2026. LOT № 407 Army L.S.& G.C. [Medal], E.VII.R. (4048 Bandmaster J. Ancliffe. Somerset: L.I.)
  6. ^ a b "Bandmaster and composer. Sketch of the career of Mr C Ancliffe". Chatham, Rochester and Brompton Observer. 12 April 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 16 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Mr. Charles Ancliffe". The Times. 22 December 1952. p. 8 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  8. ^ "24th [Foot] Regimental band". Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  9. ^ "England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921". Ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2026. Charles William Ancliffe, Initiation Date: 27 May 1902. Lodge Location: Murree, Panjab. Lodge: Lodge Light in the Himalayas.
  10. ^ "'Twickenham Fair' Composer Dies In Main Street. Mr C Ancliffe collapses alighting from 'bus. Youngest ever bandmaster". Richmond & Twickenham Times. 27 December 1952. Richmond Local History cuttings L92.
  11. ^ Charles William Ancliffe on Lives of the First World War
  12. ^ "Musicweb international". Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  13. ^ Briggs, Asa (1979). The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom: Vol. 4 – Sound and Vision. Oxford University Press.
  14. ^ "Bandmaster Chas. Ancliffe". Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle. 14 September 1912. p. 2. Retrieved 16 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ^ "Presto Classical". Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  16. ^ "Its Two Concerts". Auckland Star. Vol. LXXV, no. 108. 9 May 1944. p. 4 – via Papers Past. As I had not assigned performing rights these still belong to me, and if I had not composed another line between the last war and now, I should have had a very comfortable income.
  17. ^ "Hit waltz composer dies in street". Evening News (London). 20 December 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 16 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. ^ "Former Conductor. Bankruptcy Examination at Scarborough". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 16 January 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 16 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. ^ "Bankrupt through jazz". Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser. 19 January 1929. p. 4. Retrieved 16 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. ^ "British Composers' Chance. Pictures' Musical Talkies". Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Herald. 30 November 1929. p. 9. Retrieved 16 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive. wrote the theme song for 'The Romance of Seville,' and compiled with H. Baynton Power the score for this picture and 'The Informer'.
  21. ^ "Composer's latest". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 24 August 1949. p. 2. Retrieved 16 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ^ "England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005". FindMyPast. Retrieved 16 February 2026. Charles William Ancliffe in 1904. Weymouth, Dorset, England
  23. ^ "Charles William Ancliffe. Marriage England and Wales, Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005". Family Search.
  24. ^ a b "1911 Census For England & Wales". FindMyPast. Retrieved 13 May 2026. SEARCH where surname:Ancliffe AND County:Kent AND Institution name:Chatham Barracks
  25. ^ "British India Office Births & Baptisms". FindMyPast. 4 April 1906. Retrieved 16 February 2026. Kathleen Jesse Ancliffe in 1906. Karachi, Bombay. Birth date 4 Apr 1906, Baptism date 24 Apr 1906
  26. ^ "Devon Baptisms". FindMyPast. 22 April 1906. Retrieved 16 February 2026. Kathleen Jessie Ancliffe. Stoke Damerel, Devon, England. Birth date 4 Apr 1906, Baptism date 22 Apr 1906
  27. ^ a b "1921 Census Of England & Wales". FindMyPast. 1921. Retrieved 16 February 2026. Joan J Ancliffe. 23, Glebe Road, Barnes, Surrey, England
  28. ^ "Composer dies in street". Bradford Observer. 22 December 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 16 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  29. ^ "England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019". FindMyPast. Retrieved 16 February 2026. Charles William Ancliffe in 1953
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