# Robert Docker

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{{short description|English composer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
'''Robert Docker''' (5 June 1918 – 9 May 1992) was an English composer, arranger and pianist, especially noted for his orchestral arrangements and original [light music](/source/light_music) compositions.<ref name=bio>Philip Scowcroft, [http://www.musicweb-international.com/garlands/7th.htm 7th Garland], Retrieved 17 November 2010</ref> The son of a [Paddington](/source/Paddington) gas worker, he was educated at North Paddington Central School, and with the aid of a London County Council Scholarship was able to study viola, piano and composition at the [Royal Academy of Music](/source/Royal_Academy_of_Music). His viola professor at the RAM was [James Lockyer](/source/James_Lockyer_(musician)). During World War II, he was a sergeant in the [King's Royal Rifle Corps](/source/King's_Royal_Rifle_Corps) stationed in Northumberland.<ref>Mary Johnson, [http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/12/a5188412.shtml Accompanying Robert Docker, with song], ''WWII: People's War'' website, bbc.co.uk, Retrieved 17 November 2010</ref> He was later married to the viola player Meryl Unsworth and in later life resided in Suffolk.<ref name=bio/><ref name=naxos>[http://www.naxos.com/person/Robert_Docker_27163/27163.htm Biography], Naxos Music, Retrieved 17 November 2010</ref>

He was particularly noted for his orchestral arrangements. His first was broadcast in 1936 and his arrangements of popular tunes were regularly heard on BBC radio programmes such as ''[Friday Night is Music Night](/source/Friday_Night_is_Music_Night)'' (where for many years he orchestrated music for [Sidney Torch](/source/Sidney_Torch)) and ''Melodies For You''. He was widely associated with the [BBC Concert Orchestra](/source/BBC_Concert_Orchestra)<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/concertorchestra/about/history/ BBC Concert Orchestra history], bbc.co.uk, Retrieved 17 November 2010</ref> and in 1990, the BBC broadcast two one-hour programmes entitled ''The Musical World of Robert Docker''.<ref name=bio/><ref name=naxos/>

His lighter original compositions include the "Air and Jig" for violin, cello and piano, "Cornet Cascade" and "Jolly Roger" for [brass band](/source/brass_band) and "Fairy Dance Reel", "Penny Whistle Tune", "Pizzicato Minuet", "West Indian Dance", "Tabarinage" and "Scène du Bal". He also composed a number of more serious works for orchestra including ''Legend'' and ''Pastiche Variations'' for piano and orchestra, the ''London Rhapsody'' for piano and orchestra and completed another larger work, ''Opus 40'', for the 40th Anniversary tour of the [BBC Concert Orchestra](/source/BBC_Concert_Orchestra) just before his death in May 1992. This was premiered (posthumously) in Ipswich in August 1992.<ref name=bio/>

==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Docker, Robert}}
Category:1918 births
Category:1992 deaths
Category:20th-century English classical musicians
Category:20th-century English composers
Category:20th-century English male composers
Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music
Category:Brass band composers
Category:British Army personnel of World War II
Category:English light music composers
Category:King's Royal Rifle Corps soldiers

{{UK-composer-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robert Docker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Docker) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Docker?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.