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Light Music Society is 50 Years Old

 
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iwarburton



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 2133
Location: Northumberland

PostPosted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:45 pm    Post subject: Light Music Society is 50 Years Old Reply with quote

As promised on another board, I'd like to say just a little about the LMS 50th anniversary event, which was held at Longridge, Lancs, on 26 August.

The AGM in the morning was followed by some free time, during which we were free to explore the nearby countryside or observe a rehearsal for the evening concert.

The main event was the evening concert, held in the beautiful Anglican Church of St Paul, in Longridge Town Centre. This was given by the Light Music Society Celebration Orchestra, a full orchestra of musicians assembled especially for the event. Despite the fact that these musicians do not regularly play together, no apologies needed to be made for the standard of playing, which was excellent throughout.

It had been hoped that LMS Chairman Ernest Tomlinson would conduct the concert but he isn't in the best of health now and confined his activities to compering and the conducting of just one item, his own composition, Lakeside Idyll, in memory of his late wife Jean.

We were extremely fortunate that that prince amongst light music conductors, John Wilson, was free on the day and was able to be present to conduct the rest of the programme.

Familar pieces played included Eric Coates' Knightsbridge and Dam Busters Marches, and also his By the Sleepy Lagoon, together with the March from Trevor Duncan's Little Suite (Dr Finlay's Casebook), Ronald Binge's Elizabethan Serenade and Robert Farnon's Westminster Waltz and How Beautiful Is Night. Less well-known items included film music by Malcolm Arnold and Albert Ketelbey and an extended novelty by Thomas Bidgood, A Motor Ride. The audience were invited to join in with a selection from My Fair Lady.

I must congratulate all concerned in choosing such a varied and enjoyable prograamme and presenting it so vivaciously.

It was a good day for making new friends and putting faces to names. I shall treasure in particular two short conversations with Ernest Tomlinson--quite frail physically now (well, he is 83) but full of energy and still composing, with all sorts of future plans.

I had a 300 mile round trip to get to and from this event but it was truly worth every mile!

I think the concert was being recorded--watch this space!

Ian.
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RockitRon



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646

PostPosted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glad you had a good trip and a memorable day, Ian.

Though I'm by no means an expert or dedicated fan of the genre, I have always appreciated it, enough to invest in the series of compilation CDs of British, American and European light music, recorded for Hyperion by Ronald Corp and the New London Orchestra, which are a delight to dip into now and again, together with earlier LPs of Coates' and Ketelbey's works.

Since the demise of dedicated classical music record shops, or departments of the major retailers (outside London, anyway), you have to go hunting online for such treasures, though when you do it's good to see that there is still quite a lot available. I notice Hyperion have put the four British Light Music CDs into a box set, for the price of just two of them - a bargain, I'd say.
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Ron
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iwarburton



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 2133
Location: Northumberland

PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for your interest, Ron.

I collected the first three of the four New London Orchestra/Ronald Corp collections and passed on the fourth one only because most of it duplicated items that I already had. I somehow never got round to acquiring the European and American ones.

There's absolutely no issue with me about the amount of light music released on CD--indeed I've never known a time when so much has been available--but the Beeb seems determined to play as little of it as possible.

Should get the LMS' quarterly magazine again in the next couple of weeks.

Ian.
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John W



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 3367
Location: Warwickshire, UK

PostPosted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the reports Ian.

iwarburton wrote:
the Beeb seems determined to play as little of it as possible.


I've noticed Rob Cowan slipping in the odd Light piece on his Radio 3 'breakfast show' and some good discussions about it all at R3MB.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbradio3/F6643899?thread=4517156

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbradio3/F6643899?thread=4549697


John W
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