Joseph Engleman

{{short description|English light music composer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}

Joseph Engleman (1881 – 1949), born Josef, was an English light music composer and viola player. He was born in Birmingham, the son of the trombonist at the old Grand Theatre, Birmingham, and was largely self-taught.[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/e390f5a8c0fa47aabeadd9b810b443f9 'Midland Composers: VII, Joseph Engleman'], Radio Times, 27 October 1933, p. 38 Engleman played viola in the City of Birmingham Orchestra, and played in cinemas as an accompanist for silent films.

As a composer he produced many light orchestral suites, and a ballet conducted by Adrian Boult in 1928.[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8953728/bio/?ref_=nm_ql_1 Joseph Engleman biography, IMDb] The piece Spectre was used as the signature tune to the 1940s weekly BBC Radio series The Armchair Detective with Ernest Dudley.[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/f200fa0fb3934554b845f4715864eced Radio Times, Issue 1001, 6th Dec 1942, p. 14] He also wrote library music, sometimes using the name John Harbury, and helped to found Bosworth’s mood music library in 1937. His film scores include Olympia St. Moritz (1948) and Kuckelikaka (1949). His entry in Who's Who in Music also lists a Symphony in E.Sir Landon Ronald (ed.), Who's Who in Music (1935), p. 100

Joseph Engleman married Gertrude Owen, and there were two children, a son and a daughter. They lived at 43 Harbury Road, Cannon Hill, Birmingham.

His son Harry Engleman (1912 – 2002) was a pianist, bandleader and composer whose syncopated piano style was greatly influenced by Billy Mayerl.[https://www.robertfarnonsociety.org.uk/index.php/legends/joseph-engleman 'Joseph Engleman', Robert Farnon Society] From the age of 14 Harry played piano in his father's orchestra, and at various Birmingham cinemas. He was pianist with the Aston Hippodrome Orchestra and at other theatres, and from 1931 was a frequent broadcaster with his own Quintet and other groups.[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/9d4c3fb233e04c308ffe8fc42915e86c Radio Times, Issue 901, 5 January 1941, p. 6]

Harry Engleman composed mostly songs and syncopated piano solos such as Cannon off the Cushion (1936), Chase the Ace (1936), Finger Prints (1936, a piece popularised by Billy Mayerl and the American Zez Confrey), Golden Chain, Snakes and Ladders, Skittles, and Summer Rain.Philip Scowcroft. [https://www.musicweb-international.com/garlands/16th.htm A Sixteenth Garland of British Light Music Composers] Paul Guinery has recorded several of his pieces.[https://musicwebinternational.com/2024/08/fingerprints-recital-em-records/ Finger Prints, Paul Guinery (piano), EM Records EMRCD088 (2024)]