A 264^th GARLAND OF BRITISH LIGHT MUSIC COMPOSERS

We begin with three similarly named composers, who were, so far as I am aware, not related to each other. George Crowe, worth a mention for his genre miniature Wild Goose Chase; A. Gwyllym Crowe, active early in the 20^th Century, apparently notable as a composer of waltzes whose titles included English Beauties, Fairie Voices and See Saw; and Thomas Crowe, also from the first half of the 20^th Century and mainly responsible for both sacred and secular popular songs. His titles included the four-piece song cycle The Elves and Fairies of Homeland, a setting of Psalm 23, Hark the Glad Sound and The Land Which No Mortal May Know.

Monte Crick, whose floreat was the 1930s and 1940s, was primarily a composer for the light musical stage in pieces such as the musical play She Shall Have Music, whose score he penned jointly with the theatre director Christopher Fry. This was produced at the Saville Theatre in 1934, and the revue, Beyond Compère. Crick also published a number of separate songs, among them A Cloud, March! March! and The Toy Train.

Finally, there is John F. Larchet (1885-1967), who drew inspiration from the Irish folk tradition with his orchestral numbers, mostly for strings, entitled Irish Airs (two sets), Macananty's Reel and the Two Characteristic Pieces, entitled Carlow Tune and Tinker’s Wedding.

Philip L Scowcroft

April 2002

Enquiries to Philip at

8 Rowan Mount

DONCASTER

S YORKS DN2 5PJ

Philip's book 'British Light Music Composers' (ISBN 0903413 88 4) is currently out of print.

E-mail enquiries (but NOT orders) can be directed to Rob Barnett at rob.barnett1@btinternet.com

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