David Bedford (b.1937 – d. 2011) was a British composer and musician, who wrote and performed both popular and classical music. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and later in Venice, before becoming firstly a music teacher and then composer in residence at Queen’s College in London.
Initially part of Kevin Ayers and The Whole World, followed by the formation of the Coxhill-Bedford Duo with Lol Coxhill, Bedford is well known for his work with Whole World band-mate Mike Oldfield, with whom he collaborated for his debut Tubular Bells (1973), lending instruments to the young Oldfield for its recording and then playing on live performances of the opus. He collaborated directly for the orchestral arrangements of Oldfield's follow-up album Hergest Ridge (1974), going on to arrange and record The Orchestral Tubular Bells, released in 1975. Bedford also made substantial contributions to Oldfield's Collaborations LP, issued with the Boxed compendium box set in 1976.
Bedford's own orchestral long-form compositions include the albums Star's End (1974), The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1975), The Odyssey (1976) and Instructions for Angels (1977).
He died of lung cancer in October 2011.
Links to Peel[]
The Coxhill-Bedford Duo released a single in 1972 on Peel's Dandelion label, featuring two cover versions under the name of Will Dandy & The Dandylettes, plus an original composition under their own name. Bedford later released a full-length solo album on Dandelion entitled Nurses Song With Elephants (1972), tracks from which were featured by Peel, who had also contributed as "pipe twirler" for the track Some Bright Stars For Queens College. Bedford also played piano for the one-off Carol Concert recorded and broadcast for Christmas 1970.
An excerpt from his 1977 album Instructions For Angels was also played by Peel that year, bizarrely after a repeat of the Status Quo concert from 1973. The track featured, "Variation 6", which was also a live recording.
Sessions[]
- None as solo artist. Bedford plays piano with Kevin Ayers for his first three sessions (1970-1972).
Other Shows Played[]
- 22 February 1972 - Sad And Lonely Places (LP – Nurses Song With Elephants) Dandelion 2310 165
- 04 April 1972 - Trona (LP – Nurses Song With Elephants) Dandelion
- 11 April 1972 - Some Bright Stars For Queen’s College (LP – Nurses Song With Elephants) Dandelion
- 24 February 1975: Don Alfonso (7") Virgin VS 117 - with Mike Oldfield, vocals by Bedford.
- DE Tape 7 Peel 1976 (& Mike Oldfield): ? possibly Phaeacian Games again - tracklisting says Odyssey - so could be from (Box Set - Boxed) Virgin VBOX1
- DE Tape 7 Peel 1976: Phaeacian Games (Box Set - Boxed) Virgin VBOX1
- 03 November 1976: First Excursion (Box Set - Boxed) Virgin VBOX1 - with Mike Oldfield, co-written and arranged by Bedford
- 12 September 1977 - Variation 6: "Instructions For Angels" (LP - Instructions For Angels) Virgin V2090
See also[]
- An Item By Kevin Ayers And the Whole World
- Coxhill-Bedford_Duo - tracks played under the name of Will Dandy & The Dandylettes
- D022
- Peel On Record
- Peel And Walters Links - features repeat of the 1970 Carol Concert on 26 December 1974, ".. with Mr David Bedford on the pianoforte.."