Instruments, awards, manuscripts and other items belonging to Oscar-winning composer Sir Malcolm Arnold will go under the hammer next month.

Eastern Daily Press: Instruments, awards, manuscripts and other items belonging to composer Sir Malcolm Arnold will go under the hammer at the Assembly House in Norwich on April 6. Pictured is Sir Malcolm Arnold's second Ivor Novello Award, which he received for outstanding services to British music, Photo: supplied by Keys Fine Art Auctioneers.Instruments, awards, manuscripts and other items belonging to composer Sir Malcolm Arnold will go under the hammer at the Assembly House in Norwich on April 6. Pictured is Sir Malcolm Arnold's second Ivor Novello Award, which he received for outstanding services to British music, Photo: supplied by Keys Fine Art Auctioneers. (Image: supplied by Keys Fine Art Auctioneers)

Sir Malcolm, who is regarded as one of the most prominent British composers of the 20th century, died in 2006 after spending the last 22 years of his life in Norfolk.

More than 120 lots from the estate of the celebrated musician - who won an Oscar for composing the music to the film Bridge Over The River Kwai and in total wrote 132 movie scores – are set to be auctioned by Keys Fine Art Auctioneers.

Kevin Lines, director and general manager at Keys, said: 'For anyone interested in music, this is a sale of world importance, a unique opportunity to acquire significant items from the personal collection of one of Britain's greatest composers.

'We are expecting considerable interest from musicologists, museums and institutions, as well as ordinary musicians from around the world.'

Eastern Daily Press: Instruments, awards, manuscripts and other items belonging to composer Sir Malcolm Arnold will go under the hammer at the Assembly House in Norwich on April 6. Pictured is Sir Malcolm Arnold's trumpet. Photo: supplied by Keys Fine Art Auctioneers.Instruments, awards, manuscripts and other items belonging to composer Sir Malcolm Arnold will go under the hammer at the Assembly House in Norwich on April 6. Pictured is Sir Malcolm Arnold's trumpet. Photo: supplied by Keys Fine Art Auctioneers. (Image: supplied by Keys Fine Art Auctioneers)

Auction highlights include original manuscripts for many of Sir Malcolm's works including Symphony No 1 Opus 22 and Grand Fantasia Opus 973, and film scores including Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1964) and David Copperfield.

The trumpet Sir Malcolm played when he was principal trumpet with the London Philharmonic Orchestra is in the sale and people will also be able to bid for Sir Malcolm's two Ivor Novello Awards which were presented to him for the film score for The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness and for outstanding services to British music.

The knighthood he received in the 1993 New Years Honours list also features in the auction and there are a number of artworks.

Alongside composing the scores for films ranging from Hobson's Choice to Whistle Down the Wind, Sir Malcolm composed nine symphonies as well as numerous concertos, concert works, chamber music, choral music and music for brass band and wind band.

Eastern Daily Press: Composer Sir Malcolm Arnold. Photo: EDP library.Composer Sir Malcolm Arnold. Photo: EDP library.

He was commissioned to write five ballets by the Royal Ballet, and composed two operas and a musical.

The Sir Malcolm Arnold Collection Sale will take place on April 6 at the Assembly House in Norwich.

For more information about the sale, visit www.keysauctions.co.uk