Heading 5
The Hellier Brothers
Welcome to The Hellier Brothers Page!
This page is exclusively dedicated to my Grandfather Cyril Hellier and Great Uncle Clifford Hellier who were both successful British composers and performers of the 2oth Century.
The page documents highlights from almost 50 years of professional music making and includes examples of their independent pursuits as well as evidence of their commitment to each other, first and foremost as brothers, but also as a collaborative violin & piano duo.
Enjoy!
Composers of the West
Described as "those two bright sparks of the musical world" brothers Clifford (far left) and Cyril Hellier (right) originally from Bristol, performed together throughout their lives as a piano and violin playing duo.
Working at the very heart of the British Dance Hall scene, they played alongside the leading lights of their era, including Jack Hylton, Henry Hall, Frank Sinatra, Ambrose, Mantovani and Teddy Brown.
Their travels around the globe inspired many original compositions, a number of which were published and even arranged for dance orchestra to be performed and broadcast by the BBC Dance Orchestra with Cyril Hellier as soloist.
The brothers had a long standing contract with Keith Prowse & Co Music Publishing from 1933 and their collaborative swing solos for violin and piano were very well received.
Many of Clifford Hellier's unpublished manuscripts survive, ranging from duo and chamber music repertoire, all the way up to a full scale symphony.
Cyril Hellier
Violinist
1907-1997
Cyril left The Royal Academy of Music to give recitals with his brother Clifford in Bristol before moving back to the capital in 1926:
“I was 19 and joined the Savoy Orpheans at the Savoy Hotel. Carrol
Gibbons, a famous pianist, took the Orpheans on a European tour.
This included six weeks at the Europa House in Berlin, Paris, Budapest. There were 14 in the orchestra.”
“Came back (from the tour) and played in all the top London night clubs – where at that time, royalty dined."
Cyril joined the Jack Hylton Band aged 23, and remained for only a short stint – commencing work in September 1930 and leaving in November 1931.
“In 1931 I went on a European tour with Jack Hylton. Went everywhere by train in those days – Paris, Budapest, Venice, Berlin, Hamburg, Prague. Performed concerts 2 - 3 times a week at the Opera House. Our salary was £25 per week. I sent money home to be banked for me, as I could live like a millionaire in Paris at that time on £3 a week. Great concert halls. Loved Budapest – lovely wide streets and beautiful shops.”
In 1932, The BBC Dance Orchestra – directed by Henry Hall – was formed, and Cyril was one of its founding members. Ranked, along with Hylton, as “the best in the business”.
“Then I became leader for Henry Hall. 2 years radio with the
BBC at Broadcasting House. Played with Jack Payne and Geraldo. Then, so many classical musicians left to play jazz
because that was where the big money was.”
“Other names I played with: Dietrich tour, Shirley Bassey tour, Frank Sinatra on his recording in London, The Goons ... for a while had my own fan club ... Bing Crosby, Charlie Chaplin, Buckingham Palace, many record recordings at Decca, a Churchill dinner, for Lady Docker (wealthy celebrity), BBC Concerts, Mantovani, etc, etc ...”
— Name, Title
Clifford Hellier
Pianist
1905- 1982
Clifford was described by Radio Pictorial as rarely spending “four weeks in one place”.
“Who’s Who” documents many of Clifford’s original compositions, inspired by his travels East, which he broadcast over the years alongside his busy life accompanying variety star Mae Bacon, as well as Maurice Chevalier and Teddy Brown.
The World Premier of Clifford’s Symphony was performed by the Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra and was reported in The Observer on Friday 21st of May 1976 as “obviously and immediately English in character, and very much rooted in the sympathetic tradition established by Elgar and Vaughan Williams.”
The article goes on to say “The first impression was of considerable imagination and invention... very highly coloured ... undoubted inspiration”
One excerpt from a Radio Pictorial cutting, 1938, outlines some of the most popular compositions that Clifford wrote in collaboration with his brother, Cyril:
“He is Clifford Hellier, accompanist to the famous variety artist, Teddy Brown. In collaboration with his brother, Cyril the well-known violinist who broadcast with Henry Hall regularly for two-and-a-half years, he has written innumerable descriptive pieces – ‘Chinese Rhythm’, ‘Blue Strings’, ‘Red Resin’ and ‘Singapore Serenade’ are but a few – which are broadcast from London and the continent at the rate of at least two a week.”
And another describes Clifford’s compositional process: “Cliff Hellier spends every morning searching the vicinity in which he is appearing for inspirations. He composes during the intervals between his stage performances with Teddy Brown.”
Gallery
Music
Published Music
Violin & Piano
Cyril Hellier:
“Valse Caprice” – Published by London: Keith Prowse & Co Ltd, 1936
“Pastorale” – Published by London: Keith Prowse & Co Ltd, 1937
“Phil the Fluter’s Ball” – Transcription for violin and piano of a piece by Percy French.
Published by London: Keith Prowse & Co Ltd, 1938
“Get Cracking” – Published by Peter Maurice Music Co Ltd, 1945
“Mannequin Parade” – Published by London: Era Music Co. Ltd, 1954
Clifford & Cyril Hellier:
“Blue Strings” – Published by London: Keith Prowse & Co Ltd, 1933
“Chinese Rhythm” – Published by London: Keith Prowse & Co Ltd, 1933
“Red Resin” – Published by London: Keith Prowse & Co Ltd, 1933
“Singapore Serenade” – Published by London: Keith Prowse & Co Ltd, 1934
“La Malquerida” – Published by London: Keith Prowse & Co Ltd, 1938
Solo Violin & Dance Orchestra
All five of the pieces above were made into "Special Novelty Arrangements" for solo violin and dance orchestra. These were performed by Cyril Hellier and the BBC Dance Orchestra, conducted by Henry Hall:
Len Manning (Arranger)
Special Novelty Arrangement - “Blue Strings” – Published by London: Keith Prowse & Co Ltd
Special Novelty Arrangement - “Chinese Rhythm” – Published by London: Keith Prowse & Co Ltd
Special Novelty Arrangement - “Singapore Serenade” – Published by London: Keith Prowse & Co Ltd
Special Novelty Arrangement - “La Malquerida” – Published by London: Keith Prowse & Co Ltd
Eddy Noordyk (Arranger)
Special Novelty Arrangement - “Red Resin” – Published by London: Keith Prowse & Co Ltd
Unpublished Music
Violin & Piano
Cyril Hellier:
“Promenade With Vivien”
“Newmarket”
"Autumn Sunrise"
"Peace and Ease"
Songs
“Why Has a Tiger Got Whiskers?”
Clifford Hellier:
"The Land, The Sea, and The Dream”
Sonata for violin and piano
Chamber Music
"Arenal"
"Quartet for Strings"
-Romance
-Scherzo
-Finale
"Cloud Cuckoo Land"
"Hong Kong Shore Leave"
Orchestral
"Rhythm of the East"
"The Harbour Tavern" Overture - broadcast
Symphony (Untitled) - premiered by the Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra 1976.
*Please note that this list is still being updated*