Jack Beaver: Yacht Race

Travelling through the Solent during Cowes week, the traveller may see yachts racing during one of the United Kingdom’s oldest and most prestigious sailing events, dating back to 1826. Held annually in early August, it attracts elite sailors and enthusiasts worldwide. According to Wiki there are some forty daily sailing races, around five hundred boats, and 2500 competitors ranging from Olympic and world-class professionals to weekend sailors. Yacht Race celebrates this event and others like it in this evocative work.

Jack Beaver (1900–1963) was a British composer known for his prolific work in film music and contribution to “light music.” He studied at the Royal Academy of Music and later contributed to numerous film scores, often uncredited, during the 1930s and 1940s. His compositions include music for The 39 Steps (1935) and The Case of the Frightened Lady (1940), where he pioneered the "Denham Concerto" style. Beaver wrote much library music, with pieces like Holiday Camp March, Mannequin, and Cavalcade of Youth gaining recognition.

Yacht Race, is a brisk, nautical-themed orchestral piece composed for the Chappell Recorded Music Library. It captures the exhilarating energy of sailing. Characterized by its lively rhythms and tempo as well as a bright orchestration, the piece conveys movement and excitement, fitting its title perfectly. Sometimes described as “light, bright, and breezy,” it is included in compilations of light orchestral music and has featured in films and television, where its upbeat style complements scenes of racing, adventure, and outdoor activity. It remains a recognisable example of Beaver’s ability to craft evocative music that enhances visual storytelling. Its cinematic energy made it a popular choice for mid-century newsreels and documentaries, capturing motion and momentum with vivid musical flair which evokes the thrill of competitive sailing and the grandeur of open waters.

Jack Beaver’s Yacht Race can be heard on YouTube, here. It does not state who is performing it but may be the Queen's Hall Light Orchestra under Charles Williams. It would appear to be a part of the Chappell Music Library Collection.