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“Light Music isn’t just tuneful round the outside – it’s tuneful right through”. Those are the words of veteran British broadcaster Denis Norden, attempting to sum up in one simple sentence exactly what Light Music is. His observations probably come close to solving a riddle which has exercised the minds of music lovers for generations, because “Light Music” can mean different things to different people. The plain fact is that Light Music covers many varied aspects of music-making. Possibly in its purest form it is an original work by a composer who has chosen to specialize in this particular musical niche – names such as Eric Coates, Albert Ketelbey and Haydn Wood immediately spring to mind, although the “newer boys” like Robert Farnon, David Rose, Leroy Anderson, Sidney Torch and Charles Williams have molded the traditional sounds of the early 20th century into a bright and tuneful style, thus ensuring that their work would be fully enjoyed as the century wore on. Often a convenient description is that Light Music is accessible, which is another way of saying that it can be enjoyed for what it is, although there is no denying the fact that much of the Light Music repertoire is expertly crafted and repays repeated listening. The fact is the term Light Music covers a lot of ground, but the two main requirements are that it should be tuneful and usually non-vocal. The collection of music on this CD is intended as an introduction to what many regard as the World of Light Music and yes, film music is often regarded as Light Music. (ADD MONO 78:23)
The Golden
Age of Light Music - An Introduction
Robert FARNON Gateway To The
West: Queen's Hall Light Orchestra/Robert Farnon, 1949
Sydney TORCH Going For A
Ride: Sidney Torch And His Orchestra, 1950;
RODGERS and HART With A Song
In My Heart: André Kostelanetz and His Orchestra, 1943
Jonny HEYKENS arr. Ron GOODWIN
Heykens' Serenade: Ron Goodwin and His Orchestra, 1953
WARREN Martinique: Ray
Martin and His Orchestra, 1951
Donald PHILLIPS Skyscraper
Fantasy: Charles Williams and His Concert Orchestra, 1947
David ROSE Dance Of The
Spanish Onion: David Rose and His Orchestra, 1944;
Harold ARLEN Johnny MERCER
Out Of This World - theme from the film: Mantovani and His Orchestra, 1949
Robert BUSBY Eddie HURRAN
Paris To Piccadilly: L'Orchestre Devereaux/Georges Devereaux, 1952
Charles ANCLIFFE Festive
Days: London Promenade Orchestra/Walter Collins, 1946
Philip GREEN Ha'penny
Breeze- theme from the film: Philip Green and His Orchestra, 1951
Morton GOULD Tropical:
Morton Gould and His Orchestra, 1948
Edward WHITE Puffin' Billy:
Danish State Radio Orchestra/Hubert Clifford, 1952
George MELACHRINO First
Rhapsody: Melachrino Orchestra/George Melachrino, 1947
Frederick CHOPIN arr. Robert FARNON
Fantasie Impromptu in C Sharp Minor: Kingsway SO/Camarata, 1948
Eric COATES London Bridge
March: New Light Symphony Orchestra/Joseph Lewis, 1935;
Angela MORLEY Mock Turtles:
Queen's Hall Light Orchestra/Robert Farnon, 1949
Edward MACDOWELL arr. Peter YORKE
To A Wild Rose: Peter Yorke and His Concert Orchestra, 1948
Leroy ANDERSON Plink Plank
Plunk!: Leroy Anderson and His 'Pops' Concert Orchestra, 1952
Arthur BENJAMIN arr. Percy FAITH
Jamaican Rumba: Percy Faith and His Orchestra, 1952
Trevor DUNCAN Vision in
Velvet: New Concert Orchestra/Jack Leon, 1950
Dolf VAN DER LINDEN Grand
Canyon: Dolf Van Der Linden and His Metropole Orchestra, 1952
HART LAYMAN arr. Leon YOUNG
Dancing Princess: Frank Chacksfield and His Orchestra, 1953
Leo PETER Dainty Lady:
Reginald King and His Light Orchestra, 1933
HAYDN WOOD Bandstand
'Frescoes' Suite New Concert Orchestra/Serge Krish, 1946; Recorded
1933-1953 The dates given refer to the release of the record and not the date of
composition.
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