Walter Beckett (composer)

Walter Beckett (born Walter James Beckett in 1911, died January 29, 1969) was a Canadian composer, arranger, orchestrator, conductor, and pianist, primarily known for his work in film and television.

Beckett began his musical career in radio, working as a staff pianist and arranger for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). He gained prominence through his innovative and experimental approach to music production, utilizing techniques such as musique concrète and electronic manipulation of sound well before they were widely adopted. He was a pioneer in the use of electronic music in Canadian broadcasting.

Beckett's compositions span a wide range of genres, from orchestral scores to jazz-influenced pieces and electronic works. He is recognized for his contributions to the early development of electronic music in Canada and his experimental approach to scoring for visual media.

Notable works include his scores for CBC television dramas and documentaries. While comprehensive documentation of his complete works remains a challenge, music historians continue to uncover and catalogue his legacy. He is considered an important figure in the history of Canadian music and a significant contributor to the development of film and television scoring in the country. His experimentation with sound and his forward-thinking approach to musical composition set him apart from many of his contemporaries.