My friend Edward Williams, who has died aged 92, was a composer of music for film and television and a pioneer of electronic music. One of the films he wrote the music for, the documentary Dylan Thomas (1961), directed by Jack Howells and narrated by Richard Burton, won an Oscar in 1963.
His innovative combination of electronic and instrumental music led to his being commissioned for David Attenborough's 1979 natural history series Life on Earth and he provided the thrilling soundtrack for a number of dramas and documentaries that I directed in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. The BBC series Excalibur – the Search for Arthur won him the best music award at Bafta Cymru's award event in 1996.
Edward was born in Hindhead, Surrey, son of the writer Iolo Aneurin Williams and his wife Elinor (nee Dixon), and a direct descendant of the influential poet and stonemason Edward Williams (better known by his bardic name Iolo Morgannwg). Edward was educated at Rugby school and briefly at Trinity College, Cambridge, before becoming a naval officer during the second world war. By working as an assistant to the composer and conductor Muir Matheson, he became involved in writing music for film and television.
In 1971 Williams initiated the Music Workshop at Hotwells school, Bristol, which still involves amateur musicians from all over the city today. In the 80s he invented the Soundbeam, a device for converting physical movements into sound. Originally conceived as a means by which dancers could create their own music, it has subsequently proved an invaluable way of enabling disabled people to express themselves musically.
Edward had an unwavering willingness to invest time and funding in aspiring young musicians and other artists (many of whom have subsequently developed careers with Soundbeam) in the various performance and educational projects which he undertook in order to evolve a musical language for this radical technology.
In all his enterprises he worked in partnership with his beloved wife, Judy, who cared for him in his latter years when he used a wheelchair.
He is survived by Judy and his children, Simon, Bella, Nye and Caroline, his eight grandchildren and great-grandchild.
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