Eric Coates

Wednesday 21st December 2022 will see the 65th anniversary of the death of Eric Coates (1886-1957).

He is best known for his By The Sleepy Lagoon which has been used as the signature tune of BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs since the programme started 80 years ago in 1942, although Coates wrote it in 1930. Other compositions of his that were used by the BBC were Calling All Workers (for Music While You Work, 1940-67) and Knightsbridge March (for In Town Tonight, 1933-60).

November 2022

Bramwell Tovey & the BBC Concert Orchestra record Poulenc for Chandos

Recorded in April at the Watford Colosseum, the BBC Concert Orchestra play a programme of music by Francis Poulenc (1902-60), conducted by the late Bramwell Tovey who died in July.

Chandos CHSA 5260 [SACD] was released on November 4th 2022.
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%205260

September 2022

Scarborough Spa Orchestra Summer Season 2022
Sample Programme

Below is a sample of one of this year's summer season programmes:

(click to enlarge)

September 2022

Iain Sutherland updated Discography

Conductor Iain Sutherland has just sent revised his complete discography which you can now access from our Articles page.

September 2022

Real Bard of Brum

From The Daily Mail, Friday, 2nd September 2022

Click on the article to enlarge...

from Tony Foster

September 2022

Jenny Worsley

We are very saddened to learn that Jenny Worsley, wife of Peter Worsley, passed away on August 30th, at Gloucester Royal Infirmary, after a protracted illness borne with great dignity and fortitude.

Peter has been a very loyal and enthusiastic supporter of the LLMMG and was, for many years prior to the formation of the latter, a long-standing member of the Robert Farnon Society. Although he was not usually able to attend our London meetings, his constant input, comments and advice have been extremely valued.

Our sincere condolences are extended to Peter and his family.

Tony Clayden

July 2022

Bramwell Tovey
1953 - 2022

We regret to record the death of Bramwell Tovey, the principal conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra, after a protracted illness, on 12th July 2022.

An obituary by Roderick Elms can be found on our website here.

(Some may remember Roderick Elms as the speaker at our October 2019 meeting.)

June 2022

David Lloyd-Jones [1934-2022]

It is with regret that we record the death – after a short illness –
of the conductor David Lloyd-Jones, who passed-away on June 8th 2022.

The founder of Opera North, he was principally associated with the 'serious' end of the musical spectrum and showed a particular interest in British and Russian music.

Mr. Lloyd-Jones was a prolific recording artiste, whose name appeared on several labels, including Philips, Hyperion, MRF, Marco Polo, Dutton Epoch, Chandos, Melba and Oriel.

He conducted well over thirty CDs for the NAXOS company, including four volumes of English String Miniatures, featuring Light Music works by many celebrated composers, including Haydn Wood, John Rutter, George Melachrino, Frank Cordell, Cecil Armstrong Gibbs, Philip Lane, Peter Hope, Adam Carse, Ernest Tomlinson, Gustav Holst, Paul Lewis, Frederick Delius and Peter Warlock.

© Tony Clayden June 2022

June 2022

Aspidistra Drawing Room Orchestra
New CD

The Aspidistra Drawing Room Orchestra have now received the CDs of 'Café Bonheur’, their brand new recording.

More CD information on their website

May 2022

British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum
Afternoon of Music - May 14th 2022

A very warm and sunny Saturday saw the first musical gathering of 2022 at the Museum. Although the numbers were [rather disappointingly] lower than customary, those attending were treated to enjoyable presentations by Brian Reynolds [on orchestras which used to appear on BBC radio], Alex Gleason, [who played a selection of his favourite musical compositions written for films], Chris Money [on the American composer Leroy Anderson] and Tony Clayden [on the English composer and arranger George Melachrino]. Tony also organised and introduced the programme.

Visitors were able to view [at a distance] the progress of the site improvements – including the new cabin and groundworks – which were nearing completion in time for the forthcoming Garden Party at the beginning of June.

Brian Reynolds – whose grandfather and then father ran a very successful Radio and Television business in Bromley for many years – was delighted to see that the shop's signboard, which had languished for many years in Brian's garage, has now been awarded pride-of-place on the front of the TV room.

As always, a light lunch was provided by Eileen Laffey and the whole afternoon was 'overseen' by John Thompson.

© Tony Clayden 2022

May 2022

A new Hospital Radio fund raising CD
compiled by Steven Wills

Intermission Accomplished
European Sound Stage Orchestra

Featuring the music of Brian Bennett, Alan Hawkshaw, Keith Mansfield, Johnny Pearson and many others from the KPM music library.

Full CD details can be found on Amazon here or click on the CD cover above

March 2022

Ana Arnold

It is with great sadness that we have to record the tragic death of Ana [Anastasia] Arnold in a road accident in France on February 12th 2022. Ana was for some years the regular flautist with the Aspidistra Drawing Room Orchestra and over the last two years she was involved with organising and editing the 'lockdown' performances of the ADRO which were widely enjoyed via the internet, as were the two live concerts which were more recently staged at the Sands Theatre in London.

Ana became known to several LLMMG supporters when they met her at the Orchestra's regular Bank Holiday concerts in Highgate, North London

A full appreciation of her life and work may be found here.

January 2022

1952 - A Royal Year

Steven Wills celebrates The Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a programme of music from 1952

January 2022

The Music of Fred Hartley

RAF Salon Orchestra concert review

January 2022

Iain Sutherland Discography

Conductor Iain Sutherland has just sent us a copy of his complete discography which you can now access from our Articles page.