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Light music

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For the form of bagpipe music, seeCeòl beag.

Light music
TheScarborough Spa Orchestra,the last surviving professional seaside orchestra, giving a concert of light music in August 2009.
Stylistic origins
Cultural origins18th century – 19th century
Derivative forms

Light musicis a less-serious form of Westernclassical music,which originated in the 18th and 19th centuries and continues today. Its heyday was in the mid‑20th century.[1][2]The style isthrough-composed,usually shorter orchestral pieces and suites designed to appeal to a wider context and audience than more sophisticated forms such as theconcerto,thesymphonyand theopera.

Light music was especially popular during the formative years ofradio broadcasting,with stations such as theBBC Light Programme(1945–1967) playing almost exclusively "light" compositions.

Occasionally also known asmood musicandconcert music,light music is often grouped with theeasy listeninggenre.[3]Light music was popular in the United Kingdom, the United States and incontinental Europe,and many compositions in the genre remain familiar through their use as themes in film, radio and television series.

Origins[edit]

BeforeLate Romanticorchestral trends of length and scope separated the trajectory of lighter orchestral works from theWestern Classicalcanon,classical composers such asMozartandHaydnwon as much fame for writing lighter pieces such asEine Kleine Nachtmusikas for their symphonies and operas. Later examples of early European light music include the operettas of composers such asFranz von Suppéor SirArthur Sullivan;theContinentalsalonandparlour musicgenres; and the waltzes and marches ofJohann Strauss IIand his family.[4]The Straussian waltz became a common light music composition (note for exampleCharles Ancliffe's "Nights of Gladness" orFelix Godin's "Valse Septembre" ). These influenced the foundation of a "lighter" tradition of classical music in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

In the UK, the light-music genre has its origin in the seaside and theatrical orchestras that flourished in Britain during the 19th and early 20th century.[5][6]These played a wide repertoire of music, fromclassical musicto arrangements ofpopular songsandballadsof the time. From this tradition came many specially written shorter orchestral pieces designed to appeal to a wider audience.

Composers such asSir Edward Elgarwrote a number of popular works in this medium, such as the "Salut d'Amour",theNursery Suite,andChanson de Matin.[5]The conductor SirThomas Beechambecame famous for concluding his otherwise serious orchestral concerts with what he termed"lollipops",meaning less serious, short or amusing works chosen as a crowd-pleasingencore.[7]Influenced by the earlier "promenade concerts"held in London pleasure gardens, a similar spirit embued many ofHenry Wood's earlyQueen's HallPromsconcerts, especially the "Last Night of the Proms".[8]

With the introduction of radio broadcasting by theBBCin the 1920s the style found an ideal outlet. This increased after the launch of theBBC Light Programmein 1945, featuring programmes such asFriday Night is Music NightandMusic While You Work.[9]

In theUnited States,"pops orchestra"such as the famousBoston Pops Orchestrabegan to emerge in the 19th century. The Boston Pops was founded in 1885 as a second, popular identity of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), founded four years earlier. They commissioned light pieces by composers such asLeroy Anderson,Ferde Grofé,andGeorge Gershwinto write original works, along with theatre music, film music and arrangements of popular music and show tunes.

Style[edit]

The cover ofEric Coates's autobiography, featuring a facsimile of a motif in hisKnightsbridge March.Coates is often considered the "King of Light Music"[10]

The British light music composerErnest Tomlinsonstated that the main distinction of light music is its emphasis onmelody.[11]This is certainly a major feature of the genre, although the creation of distinctive musical textures in scoring is another aim, for example the close harmony ofRobert FarnonorRonald Binge's "cascading string" effect, which later became associated with the "sustained hum ofMantovani'sreverberatedviolins ".[12]Lyndon Jenkins describes the genre as "original orchestral pieces, often descriptive but in many cases simply three or four minutes of music with an arresting main theme and a contrasting middle section."[5]

David Ades suggests that "it is generally agreed that it occupies a position between classical and popular music, yet its boundaries are often blurred".[13]He goes on to cite broadcasterDenis Nordenwho said that light music was "not just tuneful round the outside, but tuneful right through."[13]

Often, the pieces represent a mood, place, person or object, for example Farnon's "Portrait of a Flirt",Albert Ketèlbey'sIn a Monastery GardenorEdward White's "Runaway Rocking Horse".[14]The genre's other popular title "mood music" is a reference to pieces such asCharles Williams'A Quiet Stroll,which is written at anandantepace and has a jaunty, cheery feel.[15]Light music pieces are usually presented individually or as movements within a suite, and are often given individual descriptive titles. These titles can sometimes be unusual or idiosyncratic, such asFrederic Curzon's "Dance of the OstracisedImp".[16]

In keeping with this tradition of levity, pieces can also feature musical jokes at the expense of more "serious" works, such asEric Fenby's overtureRossini onIlkla Moor[17]orArthur Wilkinson'sBeatlecracker Suite,which arranges songs byThe Beatlesin the style of Tchaikovsky's balletThe Nutcracker.[18]

Associated genres[edit]

The genre is often associated with theeasy listeningorchestral arrangements of Mantovani,Percy FaithandHenry Mancini,although with the exception of Mancini these composers are better known for their arrangements rather thanthrough-composedoriginal compositions.[12]As a result of this association, the music is sometimes linked to the genres oflounge musicorExotica,but light music generally does not feature vocals, synthesisers or popular music instruments.[5][19]

It can also sometimes be grouped with thebackground musicandelevator musiccreated for commercial background music players such as theSeeburg 1000by Seeburg Corporation orCantata 700(3M) as well as the works of Muzak Orchestra (Muzakas a company): back in the 1950s, the 1960s and the 1970s, the background music were light orchestral arrangements of popular music played in shops, hotels and airlines.

  • The same goes to the association withbeautiful music,a format of broadcasting music in big time blocks without interruptions or ads thanks to subscriptions by local businesses.

As film, radio and television themes[edit]

In the 1950s and 1960s many light composers wroteProduction Library musicfor use in film, radio and television, and as a result, many light music compositions are familiar astheme music,an example beingTrevor Duncan'sMarch from a Little Suite,used by the BBC as the theme toDr. Finlay's Casebookin the 1960s, or Edward White's "Puffin' Billy" being the theme to both the BBC radio seriesChildren's Favouritesand the CBS children's programmeCaptain Kangaroo.

Eric Coates' marches in particular were popular choices as theme music. The "Dambusters March",possibly his most famous work, was used as the title theme tothe 1954 filmand has become synonymous with the film and the mission itself.[20]Other Coates works used as theme music include "Calling All Workers" forMusic While You Work,"Knightsbridge" forIn Town Tonightand "Halcyon Days" as the theme toThe Forsyte Saga.

Coates was also commissioned to write original marches for television stations including the "BBC TelevisionMarch ",ATV's "Sound and Vision March" andAssociated Rediffusion's "Music Everywhere". Other noteworthy television startup themes includeWilliam Walton'sGranada Preludes, Call Signs and End MusicforGranada Television,Robert Farnon'sDerby DayforRadiotelevisão Portuguesa,Richard Addinsell'sSouthern RhapsodyforSouthern Television,Ron Goodwin'sWestward Ho!forWestward TelevisionandJohn Dankworth'sWidespread WorldforRediffusion London.[21]

Several pieces of light music are used onBBC Radio 4to the present day, with Eric Coates's "By the Sleepy Lagoon"being the theme ofDesert Island Discs,Arthur Wood's "Barwick Green"the theme ofThe Archersand Ronald Binge's "Sailing By"preceding the late-nightshipping forecast.

Decline and resurgence[edit]

During the 1960s, the style began to fall out of fashion on radio and television, forcing many light composers to refocus their energy on writing more serious works or music for film. Robert Farnon completed several symphonies in the later part of his life, as well as composing for television, for exampleColditz.[22]The light composers' skills of classical orchestration and arrangement were appreciated by composers such asJohn Williams,with bothAngela MorleyandGordon Langfordasked to help orchestrate his film scores forStar Wars(1977) andE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial(1982) amongst others.[23][24]

Many orchestras specialising in playing light music were disbanded. Smallpalm courtorchestras, once common in hotels, seaside resorts and theatres were gradually lost in favour of recorded music. The BBC began to discard its archive of light music, much of which was saved by composer Ernest Tomlinson and is now kept at his Library of Light Orchestral Music.[25]However, the genre was kept in the public consciousness by its use in advertisements and television programmes, often used as a nostalgic evocation of the 1940s and 1950s.[9]

During the 1990s, the genre began to be re-discovered and original remastered recordings by orchestras such as the Queen's Hall Light Orchestra were issued oncompact discfor the first time.[26]This was followed by new recordings of light music by orchestras such as theRoyal Ballet Sinfonia,theNew London Orchestraand theBBC Concert Orchestra,as well as continued public concerts by orchestras such as the Cambridge Concert Orchestra, theScarborough Spa Orchestraand Vancouver Island's Palm Court Light Orchestra. The style also found a new home onBBC Radio 3onBrian Kay's Light Programme,although this programme was discontinued in February 2007.[27][28]In 2007,BBC Fourbroadcast an evening of light music as part of a themed evening celebrating British culture between 1945 and 1955, which included Brian Kay's documentaryMusic for Everybodyand a televised version ofFriday Night is Music Night.[29]

In the UK, US and Canada, light music can still be heard on some of the radio channels that specialise in classical music: for exampleClassic FMin the UK,[30]andXLNC1in Mexico.[31]A nationwide participatory festival of light music called "Light Fantastic" was organised byBBC Radio 3in June 2011 as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the 1951Festival of Britain.[32][33]This included events in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow, from both professional and amateur ensembles, including a live revival ofMusic While You Workfrom a factory in Irlam near Manchester, several light music concerts from theSouthbank Centreand a number of documentaries about the genre.[32]

Thematic use[edit]

Light music is also frequently used asincidental musicin radio and television programmes, for exampleCharles Williams' "Devil's Galop"(once famous as the theme toDick Barton: Special Agent) is now often used in spoofs of 1950s action programmes, such asMitchell and Webb'sThe Surprising Adventures of Sir Digby Chicken-Caesarsketches.[34]Mitchell and Webb also useAcker Bilk's "Stranger on the Shore"as the theme music of theirradio sketch show.[35]

Notable composers[edit]

See also:Category:Light music composers

There are hundreds of composers who can be considered to have written "light music", although composers who overall focussed primarily on lighter works includeCharles Ancliffe,Ronald Binge,Eric Coates,Frederic Curzon,Trevor Duncan,Robert Farnon,Adalgiso Ferraris,Ron Goodwin,Heinz Kiessling,Albert Ketèlbey,Billy Mayerl,Angela Morley,Ernest Tomlinson,Sidney Torch,Edward White,Charles Williams,Alberto SempriniandHaydn Wood.Each of these composers worked during the "golden age" of light music from roughly 1920–1960.[36][37]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Geoffrey Self,Light Music in Britain Since 1870: A Survey(Ashgate, 2001)
  2. ^Lamb, Andrew (2002).British light music: sound good, feel good,GramophoneNovember 2002, pp.34–38, accessed 12 September 2011.
  3. ^Scott, Derek B. (2004),"Other mainstreams: light music and easy listening, 1920–70",in Cook, Nicholas; Pople, Anthony (eds.),The Cambridge History of Twentieth-Century Music,Cambridge University Press, pp. 307–335,doi:10.1017/chol9780521662567.014,ISBN9781139054003,retrieved17 April2019
  4. ^H. E. Jacob,Johann Strauss - Father and Son - A Century of Light Music,1977,ISBN978-0-8369-5701-3
  5. ^abcdJenkins, Lyndon. Notes toBritish Light Music(EMI compilation CD, 1997)
  6. ^Tomlinson, Ernest.Foreword to Philip L Scowcroft,British Light Music(2013), p.5
  7. ^EMI CD CDM 7 63412 2, published in 1991.
  8. ^Proms 2010: Last Night of the Proms 1910 Style,accessed 18 November 2010
  9. ^abBrian Kay: "Music Everywhere" (2005 BBC Television programme)
  10. ^Eric Coates: The King of Light Music,BBC Radio 4,23 February 2008
  11. ^"Brian Kay in conversation with Ernest Tomlinson",onBrian Kay's Light Programme,17 February 2005
  12. ^abLanza, Joseph (2004).Elevator Music: A Surreal History of Muzak, Easy-listening, and Other Moodsong.University of Michigan Press. p. 80.ISBN0-472-08942-0.
  13. ^abDavid Ades, notes toThe Great British Light Experience,EMI, 1997 (724356667624), p.4
  14. ^"Edward White: The Runaway Rocking Horse",Land of Lost Content,accessed 15 November 2010
  15. ^Charles WilliamsArchived18 June 2011 at theWayback Machine,Robert Farnon Society, accessed 15 November 2010
  16. ^Dance of the Ostracized ImpArchived6 February 2004 at theWayback Machine,Classical Midi, accessed 15 November 2010
  17. ^Fenby: Rossini on Ilkla Moor,http://thompsonian.info/fenby.html,accessed 15 November 2010
  18. ^Beatlecracker Suite,Music Makes Me, accessed 15 November 2010
  19. ^What is Light Music?,Classic Themes, accessed 15 November 2010
  20. ^Jonathan Glancey (6 May 2003)."Bombs away".The Guardian.
  21. ^Roddy Buxton, "Tiptoe through the StartupsArchived8 June 2011 at theWayback Machine",Transdiffusion
  22. ^"Robert Farnon Society".rfsoc.org.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2009.
  23. ^Angela Morley obituary,Independent.co.uk
  24. ^"musical-theatre.net".Archived fromthe originalon 20 December 2005.
  25. ^"Library of Light–Orchestral Music".The Light Music Society.Archivedfrom the original on 13 July 2011.
  26. ^"The Queen's Hall Light Orchestra".Robert Farnon Society.Archived fromthe originalon 16 July 2011.Retrieved16 November2010.
  27. ^"Brian Kay's Light Programme" website,a former light music programme on BBC Radio 3.
  28. ^Ades, David (March 2007)."Journal Into Melody".Robert Farnon Society.Archived fromthe originalon 10 March 2008.
  29. ^"The Lost Decade Programme Guide 2".BBC Four.Archived fromthe originalon 17 August 2007.
  30. ^"Full Works Concert June".Classic FM.Archived fromthe originalon 11 March 2012.Retrieved20 November2010.
  31. ^"About Us".XLNC1.Archived fromthe originalon 16 July 2011.
  32. ^ab"Radio 3 - Light Fantastic".BBC.Retrieved17 April2019.
  33. ^"Light Fantastic – a nationwide festival of light music"(Press Release).BBC.19 January 2011.
  34. ^Sir Digby Chicken Caesar Tune,accessed 20 November 2010
  35. ^British Comedy Guide,URL accessed 9 January 2014
  36. ^"The Robert Farnon Society".Archived fromthe originalon 13 July 2013.Retrieved16 November2010,biographies of notable light music composers and arrangers.
  37. ^Philip Scowcroft's "Garland" collection,accessed 16 November 2010

External links[edit]

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