Born: August 7, 1933;

Died: January 31, 2020.

DAVID Dorward, who has died aged 86, was a successful composer, and a much-respected music producer for BBC Radio Scotland between 1962 and 1991. He combined the demands in both positions with a wide commitment and love of music, both classical and traditional Scottish.

David Campbell Dorward was born in Dundee, where both his parents were teachers. He attended Morgan Academy in Dundee and studied the piano with a local tutor. He was an enthusiastic member of the school choir and his love of music encouraged him to apply for a place at the General Music Course at St Andrews run by the Glasgow-educated composer, Cedric Thorpe Davie.

He was accepted and in 1951 Dorward read English and Philosophy at St Andrews and sang in the choir. He played violin in the orchestra and learnt much under Thorpe Davie. He graduated with honours and did his national service with the Royal Artillery.

Dorward got a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music and began composing. One of his first scores was his charming arrangement of the folk song The Cooper o’Fife – a work that was often played as an encore by orchestras throughout his career.

It was performed publicly by the Halle Orchestra in 1958 and the following year the young Colin Davis conducted its first broadcast with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Another notable early work, the Concerto for wind and percussion, was given by the Scottish National Orchestra under Sir Alexander Gibson in 1961.

In 1962 he joined the BBC in the studios in Edinburgh’s Queen Street as a music producer. He was involved in producing chamber concerts in the excellent concert hall at the back of the principal building. The hall, which was a comfortable size and had good acoustics, allowed Dorward to programme known and new works: he once said, "My budget was small but I was my own boss".

With his enthusiasm he was able to produce first performances by many young Scottish composers and musicians. He also travelled to smaller venues to review music groups throughout Scotland

He was keen to introduce radio listeners to the new musical talent that was emerging in his early years at the BBC and then encourage them to make their career in music. He invariably featured young Scottish performers – from all types of the musical profession - and the programmes were recorded in front of an audience.

Dorward was in the control room, ensuring the sound balance was just right, although he occasionally emerged to make the continuity announcements.

He continued to compose and many of his works were performed by the BBC SSO notably his two symphonies (the first under Stanford Robinson and the second under Alun Francis). His 1968 opera, Tonight Mrs Morrison, was composed for the Bridge of Allan Music Club and based on the Faust legend.

In 1989 the Scottish Youth Orchestra commissioned Dorward to compose a piece, Golden City, to open their concerts on a tour of the United States. The orchestra scored a considerable success, especially when the strings of the orchestra whistled a Scottish playground tune to clarinet and timpani accompaniment.

In 1968 Dorward married Janet Offord. They retired to Prestonpans and she and their three children survive him.