This
disc does not appeal to me as much as many of the others
in the “The Golden Age of Light Music” series. The
problem is that most of the tracks do not seem to belong
to the ‘light’ music tradition that I most enjoy. Composers
that I include in my Top Ten in this genre would be Eric
Coates, Robert Farnon, Trevor Duncan and perhaps Charles
Williams - and not forgetting Leroy Anderson and Victor Herbert
from the other side of the Pond.
There
are ‘numbers’ on this disc from some of these composers,
yet a fair proportion of the programme is made up of what
I would regard as arrangements of ‘standards.’ These include April
in Paris, Autumn Leaves and September Song.
Looking
at the ‘classic’ light music numbers, I always enjoy Eric
Coates’s evocative Summer Afternoon – Idyll. Yet it
is one of those pieces of music that needs to be given the
full ‘works’ from a symphony orchestra rather than that of
the pier-head or bandstand. It is in fact a fine tone poem
that demands our attention and respect.
I
cannot fault Leroy Anderson’s evergreen Sleigh Ride.
No doubt it will be heard in a hundred shopping malls and
department stores over the next few weeks. Yet, this does
not detract from its status as a masterpiece of ‘Seasonal’ evocation.
It defines the (secular) Christmas mood as much as Morecambe
and Wise, Fortnum and Mason and Snowmen. Charles Williams’s
lesser-known number Spring Flowers is certainly as
good as much of his better known pieces. Horace Shepherd’s
miniature Winter is one of the best things on this
CD. So there is a deal here to interest the ‘conservative’ light
music enthusiast.
But
most of the rest of this disc I find largely uninteresting
and uninspiring. It is what I call ‘Aunty Irene’ type
of music. Let me explain. When I was a little lad one of
the highlights of my life was visits to the above mentioned
lady and my Uncle John. The food was fantastic and my uncle
was a great comedian: it was a laugh a minute. Moreover,
he had a cine projector and used to show us films of family
and friends who were long dead and of myself as a toddler.
Yet the downside to me was the music. They had what in its
day was probably a fine stereogram – yet the music they played
was all of a kind. Much of it was of the Henry Mancini and
Frank Chacksfield variety – basically arrangements and second
rate ‘musical impressions.’ To my untutored ear it sounded
insipid, if not downright boring. And after an evening of
half-listening to this music and being bemused by adult conversation,
I felt it all sounded very much alike and I was fed up – unless
my uncle gave me one of his fine books about Glasgow and
the Clyde to peruse. I was delighted when, as a treat for
me, he would ‘spin’ Cliff or the Beatles.
These
impressions came back to me as I listened to this CD. Apart
from the handful of pieces alluded to above, much of it belongs
to the world of popular, even ‘Tin Pan Alley,’ music as opposed
to the largely timeless repertoire of genuine ‘light music’ that
I have come to love and cherish.
All
this is totally subjective. Many of these tunes are fine
arrangements and original compositions: they will no doubt
be someone’s favourites. And I concede a degree of imagination
in assembling the programme. It is certainly a good idea
to run chronologically through the year. However, I note
that there is little happening in January, February and March – it
is not until we consider April in Paris that the year
gets going!
The
last piece is probably typical of the disc as a whole – an
arrangement of Christmas favourites – it is hardly an original
concept and was probably unnecessary to revive.
The
sound quality is great and the programme notes are comprehensive.
If the reader casts his eye over the titles and sees a few
favourites it is well worthwhile buying this disc. It is
enjoyable. But from my point of view there is nothing here
to compare to Ellis’s Coronation Scot, White’s Runaway
Rocking Horse and Richardson’s Melody on the Move.
John France
Details
Vernon Duke (arr. Michel Legrand)
April in Paris
Michel Legrand & his Orchestra [3:39]
Don Raye, Gene de Paul & Pat Johnston
I’ll Remember April
Gordon Jenkins & his Orchestra [3:15]
Rebekah Harkness, Tom Glazer
Tulips in Springtime
Alfonso D’Artega & his Orchestra [3:13]
Walter Collins
Springtime
London Promenade Orchestra, conducted by the composer [2:31]
John Bradford, Tony Romano
Spring it Was
Sidney Torch & his Orchestra [2:29]
Charles Williams (1893-1978)
Spring Flowers
Queens Hall Light Orchestra conducted by the composer [1:35]
Victor Schertzinger arr. Robert Farnon (1917-2005)
One Morning in May
Robert Farnon & his Orchestra [3:19]
Charles Kentbury, real name Dennis Barry
June Bride
Dolf Van Der Linden & his Metropole Orchestra [3:05]
Irving Berlin (1888-1989)
Heat Wave
Kingsway Promenade Orchestra conducted by Stanley Black [2:08]
Eric Coates (1886-1957)
Summer Afternoon – Idyll
Eric Coates & the Symphony Orchestra [3:28]
Cecil Milner
Midsummer Gladness
Symphonia Orchestra conducted by Ludo Philipp [3:00]
Icini
Summer in Venice
Ron Goodwin & his Concert Orchestra [2:51]
Victor Herbert (1859-1924) arr. George Melachrino (1909-1965)
Indian Summer
The Melachrino Strings conducted by George Melachrino [2:28]
Peter de Rose arr. Laurie Johnson
Blue September,
The Ambrose Orchestra conducted by Laurie Johnson [3:07]
Joseph Kosma
Autumn Leaves
Richard Hayman & his Orchestra [3:01]
Peter de Rose
Autumn Serenade
Roberto Inglez & his Orchestra [2:48]
Charles Hathaway
Lonely September
David Carroll & his Orchestra [2:58]
Kurt Weill (1900-1950) arr. Richard Jones
September Song
The Pittsburgh Strings conducted by Richard Jones [3:12]
Victor Young
In a November Garden
Victor Young & his Orchestra [4:38]
Len Stevens
Snow Shadow
Danish State Radio Orchestra [3:01]
Claude Thornhill
Snowfall
Leroy Holmes & his Orchestra [2:49]
Leroy Anderson (1908-1975)
Sleigh Ride
Ethel Smith – organ, with orchestral accompaniment [3:13]
Horace Shepherd
Winter
New Concert Orchestra conducted by R. de Porten [4:08]
A Christmas Fantasy
The Melachrino Orchestra/George Melachrino [6:39]
GUILD LIGHT
MUSIC GLCD5138 [77:53]
