Trumpet -World.com

The death has been announced on the 28th of October of Maurice Murphy, who was for 30 years the principal trumpeter of the London Symphony Orchestra.

Murphy's early musical training was in the brass band world, and his first major appointment was as solo cornet with the Black Dyke Mills Band when still in his early 20s.

Early orchestral experience came via brief stints with the Hallé and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. From 1961 he held the position of principal trumpet with the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra, now the BBC Philharmonic.

His move to the London Symphony in 1977 coincided with the earliest John Williams soundtracks to be recorded by the orchestra. For many, his greatest moment came with the recording of the soundtrack for Star Wars, and in particular the fanfares that accompany the opening sequence of the film.

Murphy officially retired from the LSO in 2000, but he was persuaded to continue on an annually renewed contract until 2007. He was appointed MBE in the 2010 New Years Honours list.