Mag 31 Duplex

No.31

Billy & Bogey

Patrons:Patrons: EricEric Parkin, Parkin, Susan Susan Tomes Tomes PeterPeter Jacobs Jacobs Feb. 2014

2 3 Contents : Feb. 2014 Page number “Old ones, new ones, loved ones, neglected ones” Semprini ...... 3 Brian Willey takes a personal look at the life and times of pianist SEMPRINI Philip Martin CD review ...... 6 Christopher Duckett concert DVD ...... 7 Sir Malcolm Arnold CD review ...... 8 Frederick Hodges concert DVD ...... 9 Alex Hassan concert DVD ...... 12 Lionel Monckton ...... 14 BMS business ...... 15 BMS calendar of events ...... 16 Editorial

It seems the BBC's music channel, Radio 3, are planning an emphasis Semprini on British composers in the year ahead and inviting listeners to let them know which are their favourite works by natives of these shores. This Albert Semprini was a friend. I knew him to be an exceptionally gifted pupil. seems a good opportunity to remind them that they (shamefully) from the day he began his BBC The First World War was to have a broadcasting career and was responsible material effect upon the family's life. In neglect the lighter side, and so it might be a good idea to let them know for his final broadcast thirty-four years 1914 Italy had proclaimed neutrality but your favourite piece of Billy Mayerl, Eric Coates, or even Albert later. I will unravel that tale later, but first in August 1916 it declared war on Ketelbey. This country has an impressive portfolio of music meant let me tell his story from the start. Germany and Austria. Despite living in Christened Alberto Fernando Britain, Albert's father was still an Italian primarily to entertain, and we shouldn't let it be forgotten, so make your Riccardo Semprini, in later life he national and was called up to join the voice heard. They can be contacted via email, text, or snail mail. preferred to be known as Albert. He was 13th Infantry Regiment of the Italian born in Bath, Somerset, on March 27th Army. By early 1917 he was on active And a happy and prosperous New Year to you all from The Editor. 1908, the second son of an Italian father service at Trentino on the Austrian and an English mother. The family had frontier. moved to Bath in 1906 and settled at 6 In response to this blow to the Seymour Street. His father Fernando, family's income, Semprini's mother Editor Mike Harth, graphics and design Mike Lorenzini. originally from Rimini, a city and port in advertised for pupils to whom she could North Eastern Italy, was a musician give singing lessons at their new address Sunday Concerts & Meetings for 2014 at Shellwood 3-6pm employed playing the horn in Bath's of 22 Stanley Road, Oldfield Park. Shellwood, Saint Leonards Rd. Thames Ditton, Surrey KT7 0RN Pump Room Orchestra and the Bath Mercifully, Fernando survived the tel: 0208 2241521 Municipal Band. His mother Elizabeth war and, once peace was declared, he Concerts are £15 inc. refreshments (payment in advance please) came from Dudley, Worcestershire, and decided to remain in Italy and was a soprano and a former member of successfully applied for the post of Feb. 16th ...... AGM followed by a members’ meeting the Carl Rosa Opera Company. The librarian at Milan's La Scala opera house. April 6th ...... Members’ meeting youthful Albert attended Bathforum The result was that the whole Semprini School and was soon to be revealed as a family, by then including three sons, June 8th ...... Members’ meeting particularly bright and prize-winning moved to Italy in 1919 and young Albert Aug. 10th ...... Concert Ethan Uslan scholar. His piano lessons commenced soon won a scholarship to the Milan Oct. 26th ...... Concert Christopher Duckett when he was about eight years old and, Conservatoire. Arturo Toscanini, then Dec. 14th ...... Members’ Xmas Concert (£5 per person inc. Refreshments) steeped in music from birth, he proved musical director of La Scala asked him to 4 play the orchestral piano part of the RAF and had returned to the BBC as a From Sunday Sept. 29th 1957 his solo was posted to me to arrange for the 5 Stravinsky's ballet 'Petrushka'. It is a sound engineer. One of my duties was piano was accompanied by the BBC orchestral parts to be copied for particularly difficult score but Albert got working on a weekly piano recital, Revue Orchestra conducted by Harry performance. I chose concert pianist the job. He remained at the broadcast each Monday at 9.15 a.m. and Rabinowitz in a new show entitled Philip Martin as soloist and, with Conservatoire until 1928 and graduated played by Arthur Young who, a decade 'Semprini Serenade'. It became so Semprini conducting the BBC Concert with a doctorate in music. earlier had become well-known for popular it ran for a quarter-century! Orchestra, his concerto was beautifully During the 1930s he married leading Hatchett's Swingtette, a band that In early 1982 Albert retired at the age played, well received by the audience Brunilde Regarbagnati and had three included Stephane Grappelli in its line- of 74, having been a major BBC and he was delighted with his unique sons by her while he toured Europe and up. All appeared to be well with Young farewell appearance. entertainer for 33 years. But his final Scandinavia for concerts and broadcasts until he unexpectedly announced he was Albert Semprini died on January with fellow Italian Enrico Bormioli as a making his final appearance. Apparently appearance was yet to come. 19th 1990 as a result of Alzheimer's popular piano duo. he was in immense difficulties with the The BBC reached its 60th anniversary disease. Cremated at Colchester, his Italy was very differently placed for income tax authorities and had decided to in that year and I had been commisioned ashes were scattered in the sea off the the Second World War and in 1940 its emigrate to Australia rather rapidly, thus to produce a show for the Royal Festival coast of West Mersea an area of which he then Fascist regime allied itself with leaving a sudden void. Hall to reflect musical highlights for BBC was particularly fond. Germany and Anglo-Italian Semprini The producer, Alastair Scott- radio's Diamond Jubilee. Semprini was a He had led a very full life, having also was forced to maintain a very low profile. Johnston, then told me he had recently major figure in its history, and someone entertained aboard transatlantic liners; In 1945, with the Allies advance into been approached by a chap named Mike to seriously consider as an ingredient for formed and conducted a dance band; Southern Italy, he got himself to Rome Brennan who was touting the services of a the concert. His signature tune- been appointed as an Officer of the and volunteered for work with ENSA musician he had heard in Italy during the Mediterranean Concerto - was a familiar Order of St John; awarded the OBE in the Entertainments National Service war, a pianist named Albert Semprini, theme, but only ever heard for a few bars 1983; been adulated by millions of radio Association and was soon happily who was now in London and eager to at the start of each programme. In full, its listeners; yet had remained a gentle and entertaining allied front-line troops by demonstrate his talent. Within days he duration would be some seven minutes charming personality and always a playing a piano perched on the back of an was invited to audition and immediately and my plan was a full-length pleasure to work with. army truck. In the audience, on one selected as the replacement performer for I feel very fortunate to have known performance with Semprini as the soloist. occasion, was an English soldier who had that Monday programme. him. I phoned him at his home in been an actor before the war. His name On the morning of May 2nd 1949 Brian Willey 2013 Wivenhoe, Essex, was Michael Brennan and, recognizing ”Semprini At The Piano” was met with Albert Semprini as an outstanding immediate approval by the radio and asked if the performer, offered to be his manager if audience and from then on he was seldom idea was possible, he ever came to Britain after the war. off the air. only to be told Although the invitation was not In 1952 he married Senorita that, now afflicted overlooked, Albert had other ideas. He Consuelo and, in the resulting enduring with arthritic was intent on working in Spain and in marriage, she was destined to bear him hands, he could 1947 he made the move and remained two sons. For a while his new home was a no longer play to there as a concert artist for the next two sailing ship named L'Esperance, refitted as his former years. a comfortable residence, and moored at immaculate While there he met and fell in love West Mersea on the Essex coast. standard and with a Spanish dancer with the almost Not only had he become popular on must decline the unbelievable name of Maria de la the radio, he was also in demand to tour invitation. For a Concepcion Consuelo Garcia Cardoso, the country to appear on stage in variety moment I was the daughter of a house painter and shows. During the tours he and his wife stunned and then decorator. His previous peripatetic life temporarily lived in a caravan naturally had proved fatal to his relationship with complete with a piano which was towed put a new thought his wife Brunilde and he set about by an old ambulance. to him: what if he divorce proceedings in order to It was then that his phrase, 'Old ones, were to conduct eventually wed his senorita. new ones, loved ones, neglected ones' the orchestra Albert decided to come to Britain in was coined, and would eventually while a fellow early 1949. At that same time, I had just become familiar to every radio listener pianist played the solo piano part? This Enrico Bormioli: composer, pianist been demobbed from National Service in throughout the land. was met with approval and the full score and Semprini’s 2 piano partner. 4 play the orchestral piano part of the RAF and had returned to the BBC as a From Sunday Sept. 29th 1957 his solo was posted to me to arrange for the 5 Stravinsky's ballet 'Petrushka'. It is a sound engineer. One of my duties was piano was accompanied by the BBC orchestral parts to be copied for particularly difficult score but Albert got working on a weekly piano recital, Revue Orchestra conducted by Harry performance. I chose concert pianist the job. He remained at the broadcast each Monday at 9.15 a.m. and Rabinowitz in a new show entitled Philip Martin as soloist and, with Conservatoire until 1928 and graduated played by Arthur Young who, a decade 'Semprini Serenade'. It became so Semprini conducting the BBC Concert with a doctorate in music. earlier had become well-known for popular it ran for a quarter-century! Orchestra, his concerto was beautifully During the 1930s he married leading Hatchett's Swingtette, a band that In early 1982 Albert retired at the age played, well received by the audience Brunilde Regarbagnati and had three included Stephane Grappelli in its line- of 74, having been a major BBC and he was delighted with his unique sons by her while he toured Europe and up. All appeared to be well with Young farewell appearance. entertainer for 33 years. But his final Scandinavia for concerts and broadcasts until he unexpectedly announced he was Albert Semprini died on January with fellow Italian Enrico Bormioli as a making his final appearance. Apparently appearance was yet to come. 19th 1990 as a result of Alzheimer's popular piano duo. he was in immense difficulties with the The BBC reached its 60th anniversary disease. Cremated at Colchester, his Italy was very differently placed for income tax authorities and had decided to in that year and I had been commisioned ashes were scattered in the sea off the the Second World War and in 1940 its emigrate to Australia rather rapidly, thus to produce a show for the Royal Festival coast of West Mersea an area of which he then Fascist regime allied itself with leaving a sudden void. Hall to reflect musical highlights for BBC was particularly fond. Germany and Anglo-Italian Semprini The producer, Alastair Scott- radio's Diamond Jubilee. Semprini was a He had led a very full life, having also was forced to maintain a very low profile. Johnston, then told me he had recently major figure in its history, and someone entertained aboard transatlantic liners; In 1945, with the Allies advance into been approached by a chap named Mike to seriously consider as an ingredient for formed and conducted a dance band; Southern Italy, he got himself to Rome Brennan who was touting the services of a the concert. His signature tune- been appointed as an Officer of the and volunteered for work with ENSA musician he had heard in Italy during the Mediterranean Concerto - was a familiar Order of St John; awarded the OBE in the Entertainments National Service war, a pianist named Albert Semprini, theme, but only ever heard for a few bars 1983; been adulated by millions of radio Association and was soon happily who was now in London and eager to at the start of each programme. In full, its listeners; yet had remained a gentle and entertaining allied front-line troops by demonstrate his talent. Within days he duration would be some seven minutes charming personality and always a playing a piano perched on the back of an was invited to audition and immediately and my plan was a full-length pleasure to work with. army truck. In the audience, on one selected as the replacement performer for I feel very fortunate to have known performance with Semprini as the soloist. occasion, was an English soldier who had that Monday programme. him. I phoned him at his home in been an actor before the war. His name On the morning of May 2nd 1949 Brian Willey 2013 Wivenhoe, Essex, was Michael Brennan and, recognizing ”Semprini At The Piano” was met with Albert Semprini as an outstanding immediate approval by the radio and asked if the performer, offered to be his manager if audience and from then on he was seldom idea was possible, he ever came to Britain after the war. off the air. only to be told Although the invitation was not In 1952 he married Senorita that, now afflicted overlooked, Albert had other ideas. He Consuelo and, in the resulting enduring with arthritic was intent on working in Spain and in marriage, she was destined to bear him hands, he could 1947 he made the move and remained two sons. For a while his new home was a no longer play to there as a concert artist for the next two sailing ship named L'Esperance, refitted as his former years. a comfortable residence, and moored at immaculate While there he met and fell in love West Mersea on the Essex coast. standard and with a Spanish dancer with the almost Not only had he become popular on must decline the unbelievable name of Maria de la the radio, he was also in demand to tour invitation. For a Concepcion Consuelo Garcia Cardoso, the country to appear on stage in variety moment I was the daughter of a house painter and shows. During the tours he and his wife stunned and then decorator. His previous peripatetic life temporarily lived in a caravan naturally had proved fatal to his relationship with complete with a piano which was towed put a new thought his wife Brunilde and he set about by an old ambulance. to him: what if he divorce proceedings in order to It was then that his phrase, 'Old ones, were to conduct eventually wed his senorita. new ones, loved ones, neglected ones' the orchestra Albert decided to come to Britain in was coined, and would eventually while a fellow early 1949. At that same time, I had just become familiar to every radio listener pianist played the solo piano part? This Enrico Bormioli: composer, pianist been demobbed from National Service in throughout the land. was met with approval and the full score and Semprini’s 2 piano partner. 6 Christopher Duckett 7 concert 28th July 2013 Chris started off this recital with one of Billy's suites, Pastoral Sketches. The first two movements, A Legend and Lovers Lane, DVD now available are among Billy's most beautiful pieces, £10 UK £12 overseas and Chris played them most expressively, with plenty of rubato which always felt well-judged. The last movement, A Village Festival, started off at a cracking pace: this movement reveals its orchestral origins more clearly than the other two, but it was convincingly handled. Maids of Honour is one of Billy's later pieces in a neo-classical style, with a French feel to it: restrained but Christopher charming. Shy Ballerina, following, is in a Duckett lighter style but, as we have learnt to expect, there is nothing trite or puzzle. It was Billy's first published commonplace about it. Billy actually composition, but it isn't at all what one played this on television with a might have expected, being lacking in miniature ballerina dancing on the piano obvious popular appeal. The melody of lid. Elfinette is a pleasant trifle he arranged the middle movement, Song of the Desert, from the orchestral version, purely, one reappears briefly in the finale, Patrol of the imagines, for money, but Imaginary Foxtrot Camels, a device he had almost certainly is the real Billy, though I wonder why he picked up from his listening. chose such an odd title. Then the second half of Chris's recital Oriental is not, perhaps, as exotic as consisted of a selection from Billy's many one might expect from the title: certainly transcriptions. there are none of the obvious The Other Side Of Lovers Lane, though orientalisms one would have got from, pleasant enough, also gave us an idea say, Albert Ketelbey. But it makes its why as a composer Carroll Gibbons effect quietly, though Chopsticks is more Like most light composers and Billy Mayerl, played by Philip Martin, and issued never approached Billy's level. performers of his period, Billy had a sound characteristically Billy. The main section Masquerading In The Name Of Love is a on the Somm label. He is fully equal to the of this is all on the black notes, classical training, and he lapped it up technical demands of the music, which as we more attractive number in my book, and sufficiently well to be invited to join the staff interspersed with sections more in the the middle section was particularly know are considerable, while he has chosen to syncopated style, the whole making a at Trinity College, where he trained. But he approach them entirely from the classical sensitively played. Transatlantic Lullaby had already heard the siren call of ragtime, very enjoyable piece to which Chris gave was a famous piece in its day, but it isn't angle. This approach well suits Autumn Crocus full weight. Green Tulips can seem a bit of a and from his subsequent career it is obvious and Evening Primrose, in his first set, as well as suited to up-tempo treatment, and Billy he made the right choice. rag-bag, comprising unrelated sections, doesn't change the original much. Weeping Willow, Siberian Lament and Shallow Waters , but here it was held together nicely. Nevertheless he wrote a fair number of Learn To Syncopate was the subject of a even the Three Contrasts, and he plays them Billy thought very highly of The pieces squarely in the traditional style, and it is beautifully. competition in the Billy Mayerl Club clearly no travesty to play his works in that Forgotten Forest, writing in a letter to the magazine, which was won by one of Among the other pieces, I am not so sure conductor Stanford Robinson that he style: whether one chooses that approach or a about Marigold, Robots, or the Puppets Suite in Billy's many students, Wilf Headley. more 'raggy' style is a matter of personal taste. thought it was the best thing he had Billy published his own version after the particular. I can't fault the playing, Mr Martin produced so far. The original is for piano Similarly, performers vary considerably in has them completely under his fingers, but I winning version had appeared, and both their choice, but as I say both ways are valid: and orchestra, and it definitely sounds at are attractive. personally would have liked some intimation its best in that format, but I fear we are what is not is jazzing them up, especially as of their ragtime roots. But at 76 minutes the In Fools Rush In the intro and middle Billy expressed himself with complete clarity very unlikely to hear it performed in that disc is good value, and as I say if you like a version, and Chris gave us a convincing section were much more dramatic than on the subject in the Billy Mayerl Club classical approach you're unlikely to do better. the main melody, Rube Bloom's most magazine. CD available from www.somm-recordings.com rendering of the solo piano arrangement. famous. I particularly enjoyed the second These reflections have been prompted by Also on Ebay section, with the melody in the tenor the disc under consideration, Piano Music by Mike Harth 2013 The Egyptian Suite is something of a register much of the time. 6 Christopher Duckett 7 concert 28th July 2013 Chris started off this recital with one of Billy's suites, Pastoral Sketches. The first two movements, A Legend and Lovers Lane, DVD now available are among Billy's most beautiful pieces, £10 UK £12 overseas and Chris played them most expressively, with plenty of rubato which always felt well-judged. The last movement, A Village Festival, started off at a cracking pace: this movement reveals its orchestral origins more clearly than the other two, but it was convincingly handled. Maids of Honour is one of Billy's later pieces in a neo-classical style, with a French feel to it: restrained but Christopher charming. Shy Ballerina, following, is in a Duckett lighter style but, as we have learnt to expect, there is nothing trite or puzzle. It was Billy's first published commonplace about it. Billy actually composition, but it isn't at all what one played this on television with a might have expected, being lacking in miniature ballerina dancing on the piano obvious popular appeal. The melody of lid. Elfinette is a pleasant trifle he arranged the middle movement, Song of the Desert, from the orchestral version, purely, one reappears briefly in the finale, Patrol of the imagines, for money, but Imaginary Foxtrot Camels, a device he had almost certainly is the real Billy, though I wonder why he picked up from his listening. chose such an odd title. Then the second half of Chris's recital Oriental is not, perhaps, as exotic as consisted of a selection from Billy's many one might expect from the title: certainly transcriptions. there are none of the obvious The Other Side Of Lovers Lane, though orientalisms one would have got from, pleasant enough, also gave us an idea say, Albert Ketelbey. But it makes its why as a composer Carroll Gibbons effect quietly, though Chopsticks is more Like most light composers and Billy Mayerl, played by Philip Martin, and issued never approached Billy's level. performers of his period, Billy had a sound characteristically Billy. The main section Masquerading In The Name Of Love is a on the Somm label. He is fully equal to the of this is all on the black notes, classical training, and he lapped it up technical demands of the music, which as we more attractive number in my book, and sufficiently well to be invited to join the staff interspersed with sections more in the the middle section was particularly know are considerable, while he has chosen to syncopated style, the whole making a at Trinity College, where he trained. But he approach them entirely from the classical sensitively played. Transatlantic Lullaby had already heard the siren call of ragtime, very enjoyable piece to which Chris gave was a famous piece in its day, but it isn't angle. This approach well suits Autumn Crocus full weight. Green Tulips can seem a bit of a and from his subsequent career it is obvious and Evening Primrose, in his first set, as well as suited to up-tempo treatment, and Billy he made the right choice. rag-bag, comprising unrelated sections, doesn't change the original much. Weeping Willow, Siberian Lament and Shallow Waters , but here it was held together nicely. Nevertheless he wrote a fair number of Learn To Syncopate was the subject of a even the Three Contrasts, and he plays them Billy thought very highly of The pieces squarely in the traditional style, and it is beautifully. competition in the Billy Mayerl Club clearly no travesty to play his works in that Forgotten Forest, writing in a letter to the magazine, which was won by one of Among the other pieces, I am not so sure conductor Stanford Robinson that he style: whether one chooses that approach or a about Marigold, Robots, or the Puppets Suite in Billy's many students, Wilf Headley. more 'raggy' style is a matter of personal taste. thought it was the best thing he had Billy published his own version after the particular. I can't fault the playing, Mr Martin produced so far. The original is for piano Similarly, performers vary considerably in has them completely under his fingers, but I winning version had appeared, and both their choice, but as I say both ways are valid: and orchestra, and it definitely sounds at are attractive. personally would have liked some intimation its best in that format, but I fear we are what is not is jazzing them up, especially as of their ragtime roots. But at 76 minutes the In Fools Rush In the intro and middle Billy expressed himself with complete clarity very unlikely to hear it performed in that disc is good value, and as I say if you like a version, and Chris gave us a convincing section were much more dramatic than on the subject in the Billy Mayerl Club classical approach you're unlikely to do better. the main melody, Rube Bloom's most magazine. CD available from www.somm-recordings.com rendering of the solo piano arrangement. famous. I particularly enjoyed the second These reflections have been prompted by Also on Ebay section, with the melody in the tenor the disc under consideration, Piano Music by Mike Harth 2013 The Egyptian Suite is something of a register much of the time. 8 Fatal Fascination is less obviously There is an honourable tradition of attractive, albeit in a quieter way, and Frederick Hodges 9 appealing and for me the fascination 'serious'composers also turning their again with a lively final movement. stopped well short of being fatal, but hand to lighter music. We can The first set of English Dances, like all concert 15th Sept. 2013 Cheer Up, one of Noel Gay's bright and immediately think of Beethoven's Fur the other sets, sounds as if it uses folk- breezy songs, was much more fun. Elise or Minuet in G, for instance, tunes, though in fact all the melodies are As a result of getting my dates wrong, The Bells Of St Marys is one of my whilesuch composers as Mozart and Arnold originals, while The Larch Tree, I missed this recital, very annoying. favourites among the transcriptions, and Haydn moved effortlessly from one to which follows, is in pastoral vein. Then Thank goodness the DVD is available so I doubt if I'm alone in feeling that way; the other. In more modern times even a in 1965 Arnold went to live in Cornwall, that I can get an idea of how it went, and somehow everything combines to make a predominantly symphonic composer like and the following year conducted the truly enjoyable experience. Billy from the version of Putting on the Ritz with Sibelius produced plenty in the style, first performance of his 4 Cornish Dances. which it opens I get the feeling that certainly pulled out the stops to produce No 3, hymn-like in style, sounds most famously his Valse Triste. Frederick had decided to start off by one of his most delightful essays, while particularly fine in the brass band Chris did him justice with a sensitive Today, however, the idea of writing wowing his audience. If that was the case, music designed purely to give pleasure, sonorities of this arrangement. performance that was also fun. Two years later the new lifeboat he certainly succeeded: I am not much of Weep No More, My Baby maintained the to tickle the ears, as one might say, seems an Irving Berlin fan, but if his pieces to be regrettably foreign to contemporary station in Padstow was inaugurated with standard, while Sing You Sinners provided a his piece The Padstow Lifeboat, in which the always sounded like this I could see me lively finale, played with such ease and composers, with the result being that I tend to switch off when any of their jolly main melody is constantly changing my mind. panache one wasn't aware of the interrupted by the mournful sound of After that we were treated to three of technical problems. works are being played. A notable the foghorn, while before the reprise Billy's pieces. Chopsticks is one of this The audience of course wouldn't let exception to this is Sir Malcolm Arnold, who as well as - I had almost written in there is a suggestion of the threatening performer's favourites, played here in him go without an encore, and Shallow conditions the lifeboatmen have to face. Waters, beautifully rendered, provided a spite of - having nine symphonies to his style, while he gave us his own quiet and reflective conclusion. credit did not neglect the lighter side, and The second disc opens with the arrangement of Marigold, cobbled This is the third all-Billy recital that so today I thought I'd take a look at a 2- Anniversary Overture, short and lively, and together from the original solo, the piano Chris has given us: at this rate in a few disc collection of some of his lighter it is followed by the second set of English duet version, and the orchestral more years he'll have covered Billy's pieces. Dances, as entertaining as its predecessor. arrangement, the whole making a very entire opus, and I don't know of anyone Disc No 1 starts off with the Grand The Guitar Concerto was written for Julian interesting and enjoyable change. who would or could make a better job of Grand Overture written for the first concert Bream: its first movement contains a Railroad Rhythm, another favourite, particularly delightful melody, while the it. Though those of us who have tried to organised by the sadly missed cartoonist completed the set, all thrown off with play these pieces are painfully aware of Gerard Hoffnung. The orchestra slow movement is distinctly atmospheric. brio. their technical demands, Chris is able to included three vacuum-cleaners, a floor Then we heard a total novelty, the make light of them: listening to him polisher, and 4 rifles, but of greater The highlight of the Little Suite for Brass playing one can relax in the sure interest is that as well as being great fun it band No 1 is undoubtedly the second Mansell Concerto, written for a film by a knowledge that he will do the works features one of Arnold's best tunes. movement, a wistful Siciliano. The composer whose name and compositions justice, This DVD, like the others of his The next item is even more enjoyable. Overture Beckus the Dandipratt which follows are too little heard nowadays, Kenneth performances, will get regular playing When concert pianist Cyril Smith lost the is one of Arnold's earliest works, Leslie-Smith. It was just as good as others from me. Mike Harth 2013 use of his left arm after a stroke, he characteristically lively and entertaining. in the same genre, and why it fell into formed a 2-piano, 3 hands team with his The Fantasy for Brass Band, one of a obscurity is a mystery to me. pianist wife Phyllis Sellick, and they number of works originally written for Frederick followed with five pieces performed a number of specially made this combination, passes through various by Arthur Schutt, who didn't publish arrangements. However, for the 1969 moods, and it's followed by another, the many compositions and even those were Proms season Arnold composed a Concerto Little Suite for Brass band No 2, whose final rarely played. When we had heard them, for them, and the result is my favourite of movement is a Galop that evokes a circus we could appreciate at least one of the all his works. The whole work is atmosphere. main reasons for this: they are extremely delightful: an opening Allegro followed Finally, Arnold turns his attention to virtuosic, and I would imagine very few some of the creatures that Saint-Saens by a beautiful slow movement and amateur pianists would be bold enough rounded off with a hilarious finale. neglected in his Carnival of the Animals to tackle them. Bluin' The Black Keys, the Arnold wrote several sets of dances with his own set, including giraffes, during his long career, and next we get sheep, cows, mice, Jumbo and first of them, and the only one I'd ever the Four Scottish Dances, played in an Chiroptera, though you really have to heard before, was one of the few actually Sir Malcolm Arnold arrangement for brass band. The slow 3rd strain to detect this last while, in the style published: the rest Frederick had to is particularly beautiful, and the set ends of Saint-Saens' tortoise, Jumbo sounds transcribe from recordings, though he CDs of Sir Malcolm Arnold with a rumbustious con brio. The Serenade suspiciously like a certain piece by informed us that a recent visit to the “The Collection” 74321/883922 for Small Orchestra which follows is also Delibes. Mike Harth 2013 British Library had turned up a rare copy 8 Fatal Fascination is less obviously There is an honourable tradition of attractive, albeit in a quieter way, and Frederick Hodges 9 appealing and for me the fascination 'serious'composers also turning their again with a lively final movement. stopped well short of being fatal, but hand to lighter music. We can The first set of English Dances, like all concert 15th Sept. 2013 Cheer Up, one of Noel Gay's bright and immediately think of Beethoven's Fur the other sets, sounds as if it uses folk- breezy songs, was much more fun. Elise or Minuet in G, for instance, tunes, though in fact all the melodies are As a result of getting my dates wrong, The Bells Of St Marys is one of my whilesuch composers as Mozart and Arnold originals, while The Larch Tree, I missed this recital, very annoying. favourites among the transcriptions, and Haydn moved effortlessly from one to which follows, is in pastoral vein. Then Thank goodness the DVD is available so I doubt if I'm alone in feeling that way; the other. In more modern times even a in 1965 Arnold went to live in Cornwall, that I can get an idea of how it went, and somehow everything combines to make a predominantly symphonic composer like and the following year conducted the truly enjoyable experience. Billy from the version of Putting on the Ritz with Sibelius produced plenty in the style, first performance of his 4 Cornish Dances. which it opens I get the feeling that certainly pulled out the stops to produce No 3, hymn-like in style, sounds most famously his Valse Triste. Frederick had decided to start off by one of his most delightful essays, while particularly fine in the brass band Chris did him justice with a sensitive Today, however, the idea of writing wowing his audience. If that was the case, music designed purely to give pleasure, sonorities of this arrangement. performance that was also fun. Two years later the new lifeboat he certainly succeeded: I am not much of Weep No More, My Baby maintained the to tickle the ears, as one might say, seems an Irving Berlin fan, but if his pieces to be regrettably foreign to contemporary station in Padstow was inaugurated with standard, while Sing You Sinners provided a his piece The Padstow Lifeboat, in which the always sounded like this I could see me lively finale, played with such ease and composers, with the result being that I tend to switch off when any of their jolly main melody is constantly changing my mind. panache one wasn't aware of the interrupted by the mournful sound of After that we were treated to three of technical problems. works are being played. A notable the foghorn, while before the reprise Billy's pieces. Chopsticks is one of this The audience of course wouldn't let exception to this is Sir Malcolm Arnold, who as well as - I had almost written in there is a suggestion of the threatening performer's favourites, played here in him go without an encore, and Shallow conditions the lifeboatmen have to face. Waters, beautifully rendered, provided a spite of - having nine symphonies to his style, while he gave us his own quiet and reflective conclusion. credit did not neglect the lighter side, and The second disc opens with the arrangement of Marigold, cobbled This is the third all-Billy recital that so today I thought I'd take a look at a 2- Anniversary Overture, short and lively, and together from the original solo, the piano Chris has given us: at this rate in a few disc collection of some of his lighter it is followed by the second set of English duet version, and the orchestral more years he'll have covered Billy's pieces. Dances, as entertaining as its predecessor. arrangement, the whole making a very entire opus, and I don't know of anyone Disc No 1 starts off with the Grand The Guitar Concerto was written for Julian interesting and enjoyable change. who would or could make a better job of Grand Overture written for the first concert Bream: its first movement contains a Railroad Rhythm, another favourite, particularly delightful melody, while the it. Though those of us who have tried to organised by the sadly missed cartoonist completed the set, all thrown off with play these pieces are painfully aware of Gerard Hoffnung. The orchestra slow movement is distinctly atmospheric. brio. their technical demands, Chris is able to included three vacuum-cleaners, a floor Then we heard a total novelty, the make light of them: listening to him polisher, and 4 rifles, but of greater The highlight of the Little Suite for Brass playing one can relax in the sure interest is that as well as being great fun it band No 1 is undoubtedly the second Mansell Concerto, written for a film by a knowledge that he will do the works features one of Arnold's best tunes. movement, a wistful Siciliano. The composer whose name and compositions justice, This DVD, like the others of his The next item is even more enjoyable. Overture Beckus the Dandipratt which follows are too little heard nowadays, Kenneth performances, will get regular playing When concert pianist Cyril Smith lost the is one of Arnold's earliest works, Leslie-Smith. It was just as good as others from me. Mike Harth 2013 use of his left arm after a stroke, he characteristically lively and entertaining. in the same genre, and why it fell into formed a 2-piano, 3 hands team with his The Fantasy for Brass Band, one of a obscurity is a mystery to me. pianist wife Phyllis Sellick, and they number of works originally written for Frederick followed with five pieces performed a number of specially made this combination, passes through various by Arthur Schutt, who didn't publish arrangements. However, for the 1969 moods, and it's followed by another, the many compositions and even those were Proms season Arnold composed a Concerto Little Suite for Brass band No 2, whose final rarely played. When we had heard them, for them, and the result is my favourite of movement is a Galop that evokes a circus we could appreciate at least one of the all his works. The whole work is atmosphere. main reasons for this: they are extremely delightful: an opening Allegro followed Finally, Arnold turns his attention to virtuosic, and I would imagine very few some of the creatures that Saint-Saens by a beautiful slow movement and amateur pianists would be bold enough rounded off with a hilarious finale. neglected in his Carnival of the Animals to tackle them. Bluin' The Black Keys, the Arnold wrote several sets of dances with his own set, including giraffes, during his long career, and next we get sheep, cows, mice, Jumbo and first of them, and the only one I'd ever the Four Scottish Dances, played in an Chiroptera, though you really have to heard before, was one of the few actually Sir Malcolm Arnold arrangement for brass band. The slow 3rd strain to detect this last while, in the style published: the rest Frederick had to is particularly beautiful, and the set ends of Saint-Saens' tortoise, Jumbo sounds transcribe from recordings, though he CDs of Sir Malcolm Arnold with a rumbustious con brio. The Serenade suspiciously like a certain piece by informed us that a recent visit to the “The Collection” 74321/883922 for Small Orchestra which follows is also Delibes. Mike Harth 2013 British Library had turned up a rare copy 10 of Rambling In Rhythm, which came next. while the treatment of Over The Rainbow 11 Delirium had only been available in a was particularly delightful. Frankie totally inadequate published version, and Carle, a pianist-composer whose fame there was no piano recording, so that was largely confined to the States, was the Frederick had to prepare his own version talented composer of Estelle, in which we from the orchestral arrangement, while are well into the world of novelties that the title of Piano Puzzle refers to the we are used to. Pick Yourself Up by Jerome problems set for the left hand, not that Kern was played in Frederick's own they seemed to be giving any trouble to arrangement, after which it was back to the pianist on this occasion. Then Bringup novelties, this time a rare piece by the Frederick Hodges Breakdown, again not published, was pianist-composer Frank Banta. He is 1 recorded on a 33 /3 record at a time when pretty much forgotten today, at least on almost nobody had the requisite player, this side of the Atlantic, though some but fortunately the disc came to the years ago Pearl issued a CD of recordings attention of collectors and ended up in by three pianists, of whom Frank was the eager hands of our pianist today who, one. I don't remember who the other two needless to say, made his own were. For their own reasons these were transcription. put out in their original state, without any It was really good to have the chance of the cleaning-up that Shellwood, for Happy New Year to hear these rare pieces. Schutt didn't instance, does in its re-issues, and the have a great melodic gift, but his result was not, to my ears at least, figuration and inventive piano-writing satisfactory, but it still made me want to are sufficient compensation, so that hear more of him, though I've had to wait listening to them is a rare pleasure, till now to have my wish gratified. though I'm not sure I'd want to attempt to Laurette proved to be a charmer, and it play them. was followed by Richard Rodger's Lover, The Grand Fantasy On Showboat was given the five-star treatment. Then another world. Frederick said it was in Frederick demonstrated his versatility by the style of Liszt's operatic fantasias on singing an amusing Eddie Cantor popular operas of the day, though Liszt number, Ever Since The Movies Learned To usually selected a few themes to Talk from the show Whoopee, about the epitomise the story of the opera, whereas early days of the talkies, when a number Frederick gave us a sample of just about of stars were dropped because their famous and widely played piece, but all playing, where he got the energy from, everything in this show. Showboat was a voices didn't match their image. three were highly enjoyable and played but it was, putting it mildly, full of brio. groundbreaking musical, hugely popular Back to Billy for a favourite of our Even after two hours of high-voltage both here and in the USA, and also artist (and me) Parade Of The Sandwich-board with panache. The final excursion to Mayerl country playing, he looked as if he could have hugely influential, though few of its Men, and this was followed by three successors were able to match its quality, Adam Carroll numbers. Racing Down The was Bats In The Belfry, full of energy, and gone on for another hour, while at no and it was good to be reminded of its Black And Whites is a slightly odd title then to the closing piece, Gershwin's time was there any feeling of strain or melodies I thought Can't Help Lovin' Dat because most of the racing is done Rhapsody In Blue. I confess this is not excessive effort. Mr Hodges is something Man and Old Man River came over exclusively on the white keys: that apart, something I have any desire to hear again, of a phenomenon, and we in the Billy particularly well in Frederick's version, it is great fun. Syncopetude was but Frederick gave us a tastefully Mayerl Society are very lucky to have had while the finale was truly Lisztian in the commissioned by a French pianist when controlled performance so that even the the pleasure of experiencing his talents. style of his Rigoletto Paraphrase. he visited the States, and it proved a great big tune was quite tolerable. Then for an The Wizard Of Oz Fantasy, which success when he played it back in France. encore we were given the same Mike Harth 2013 opened the second half, was similarly But it was never published, so Shellwood composer's I Got Rhythm in a virtuoso encyclopaedic, containing a considerable may well have been the scene of its arrangement that I presume was his own. BillyDVD now in available 1957 £10 Uk £12 overseas amount of music that I had forgotten, British debut. Lastly, Nanette, Carroll's I can't imagine, after all the previous

10 of Rambling In Rhythm, which came next. while the treatment of Over The Rainbow 11 Delirium had only been available in a was particularly delightful. Frankie totally inadequate published version, and Carle, a pianist-composer whose fame there was no piano recording, so that was largely confined to the States, was the Frederick had to prepare his own version talented composer of Estelle, in which we from the orchestral arrangement, while are well into the world of novelties that the title of Piano Puzzle refers to the we are used to. Pick Yourself Up by Jerome problems set for the left hand, not that Kern was played in Frederick's own they seemed to be giving any trouble to arrangement, after which it was back to the pianist on this occasion. Then Bringup novelties, this time a rare piece by the Frederick Hodges Breakdown, again not published, was pianist-composer Frank Banta. He is 1 recorded on a 33 /3 record at a time when pretty much forgotten today, at least on almost nobody had the requisite player, this side of the Atlantic, though some but fortunately the disc came to the years ago Pearl issued a CD of recordings attention of collectors and ended up in by three pianists, of whom Frank was the eager hands of our pianist today who, one. I don't remember who the other two needless to say, made his own were. For their own reasons these were transcription. put out in their original state, without any It was really good to have the chance of the cleaning-up that Shellwood, for Happy New Year to hear these rare pieces. Schutt didn't instance, does in its re-issues, and the have a great melodic gift, but his result was not, to my ears at least, figuration and inventive piano-writing satisfactory, but it still made me want to are sufficient compensation, so that hear more of him, though I've had to wait listening to them is a rare pleasure, till now to have my wish gratified. though I'm not sure I'd want to attempt to Laurette proved to be a charmer, and it play them. was followed by Richard Rodger's Lover, The Grand Fantasy On Showboat was given the five-star treatment. Then another world. Frederick said it was in Frederick demonstrated his versatility by the style of Liszt's operatic fantasias on singing an amusing Eddie Cantor popular operas of the day, though Liszt number, Ever Since The Movies Learned To usually selected a few themes to Talk from the show Whoopee, about the epitomise the story of the opera, whereas early days of the talkies, when a number Frederick gave us a sample of just about of stars were dropped because their famous and widely played piece, but all playing, where he got the energy from, everything in this show. Showboat was a voices didn't match their image. three were highly enjoyable and played but it was, putting it mildly, full of brio. groundbreaking musical, hugely popular Back to Billy for a favourite of our Even after two hours of high-voltage both here and in the USA, and also artist (and me) Parade Of The Sandwich-board with panache. The final excursion to Mayerl country playing, he looked as if he could have hugely influential, though few of its Men, and this was followed by three successors were able to match its quality, Adam Carroll numbers. Racing Down The was Bats In The Belfry, full of energy, and gone on for another hour, while at no and it was good to be reminded of its Black And Whites is a slightly odd title then to the closing piece, Gershwin's time was there any feeling of strain or melodies I thought Can't Help Lovin' Dat because most of the racing is done Rhapsody In Blue. I confess this is not excessive effort. Mr Hodges is something Man and Old Man River came over exclusively on the white keys: that apart, something I have any desire to hear again, of a phenomenon, and we in the Billy particularly well in Frederick's version, it is great fun. Syncopetude was but Frederick gave us a tastefully Mayerl Society are very lucky to have had while the finale was truly Lisztian in the commissioned by a French pianist when controlled performance so that even the the pleasure of experiencing his talents. style of his Rigoletto Paraphrase. he visited the States, and it proved a great big tune was quite tolerable. Then for an The Wizard Of Oz Fantasy, which success when he played it back in France. encore we were given the same Mike Harth 2013 opened the second half, was similarly But it was never published, so Shellwood composer's I Got Rhythm in a virtuoso encyclopaedic, containing a considerable may well have been the scene of its arrangement that I presume was his own. BillyDVD now in available 1957 £10 Uk £12 overseas amount of music that I had forgotten, British debut. Lastly, Nanette, Carroll's I can't imagine, after all the previous

12 Alex Hassan : concert We were on more familiar ground with 8 13 Oct. 27th 2013 the Selection from Runaway Love, Billy's last musical, which contains one of my all- There can't be many musicians in the time favourites of his numbers, Like A Cat whole wide world who have a wider knowledge of the popular music of our With A Mouse, and given the Hassan period than Alex. He regularly comes up treatment it certainly sparkled. with numbers I've never even heard of, The Frederick Hollander Fantasy was of let alone heard, and yet are worthy of course dominated by the number being rescued from the obscurity into Dietrich made famous, Falling In Love which they have fallen, which makes one Again. I have to confess she was far from a realise there is a considerable element of favourite actress of mine, though I have luck in which numbers achieve fame and friends who faithfully went to see her those that fall by the wayside. whenever she did a season in the West For this recital Alex produced yet End in her later years - I'll be a gentleman more rabbits out of a seemingly and not say in her dotage. Whereas if it inexhaustible hat, starting with a had been Garbo, I think I'd have been charming Sammy Fain number that was happy to just watch her staring into space, new to me, By A Waterfall. A couple of minutes into that and it was evident that as she did so memorably as the end of his playing has now reached a level of Queen Christina. fluency that makes it appear effortless, Enough of this maudlin reminiscing: and so You Are Worth While Waiting For, another fantasy followed on, and this which followed, more than lived up to its time the composer's name was familiar to Alex DVD available £10 UK £12 Overseas title. me as the unfortunate involved in the The next item, a G & S mini-overture, notorious flop, Whitebirds, in which Billy was a real treat, though tantalisingly short appeared - (he also recorded a double- You Opened My Eyes by Felix Bernard They are quite different to his later somehow Sullivan's melodies always sided selection from the show). Alex was written to accompany a slapstick- works, more lively and without the come up fresh. Then back across the started with probably Meyer's best- style comedy, though one couldn't have romantic element which characterises Atlantic for a Rube Bloom Fantasy. The only known number, California, Here I Come, told that from the tune itself. In the Over the later shows and all his best- number I recognised was Fools Rush In, but remembered melodies. made famous by the ghastly Al Jolson - She Goes selection that followed, the the others were nearly as good, and I why he became so popular is a complete Emmerich Kalman was, I believe, of particularly enjoyed the final one, where comedy element was more pronounced. mystery to me. The other numbers were Hungarian extraction, and his best- Alex let himself go with a few fireworks. This was Billy's favourite of his shows, remembered show, Countess Maritza, also enjoyable, good second-stringers, As Long As You're Near Me, by Burton though I suspect its success and the certainly has a mittel-European one might say. Lane, was a charmer, while during the concomitant financial rewards were pre- ambience, but You Are My First Love Zombie, by Xavier Cugat, was written to next number, Sous le Ciel d'Afrique, I found eminent there, since I think the score of sounds American rather than European. myself imagining it being sung by a accompany a fairly dreadful lyric that Crazy Days, which came next, is finer, but Then as an encore Alex gave us some French chanteuse, though I doubt if she Alex kindly read out to us. It sounded to its run was cut short Alexby the Hassan untimely Harry Warren: as a songwriter certainly, could have coped with the rhythmic me as if the composer had ignored the death of Laddie Cliff. up there with the greats, but not nearly as finale Alex gave us. lyric, probably the best thing to do with it. The Jerome Kern Fantasy featured many well known, a punishment, no doubt, for Even the name of the composer of the With Your Sunny Southern Smile we're in the well-loved melodies by this most musical spending his most productive years in next piece, Somebody From Home, was new fondly remembered hands of Harry of American songwriters. In the early Hollywood. to me, but the song was good enough for Revel, while it seems I Touched A Star was part of his career Kern wrote a series of It is many years since I first had the me to make a mental note to look out for written to accompany an exhibit named pleasure of hearing Alex: he doesn't more of his work. Rio Cristal was similarly musicals with Guy Bolton and P G Gay New Orleans at the New York World DVD seem to have slowed up either in unknown, but its composer, Vernon Wodehouse: one of them, Very Good, Fair. Unfortunately it didn't mean what available productivity or virtuosity, in fact he now Duke, certainly isn't, and the melody had Eddie, has been on in the West End quite seems to me to be at the top of his form. I one might have thought, or I'd have been £10 inc post. that touch of class that he imparted to all recently, while I used to have a recording look forward to his next visit. looking up the next flight. his work. of Leave It To Jane, another of them. Mike Harth 2013 12 Alex Hassan : concert We were on more familiar ground with 8 13 Oct. 27th 2013 the Selection from Runaway Love, Billy's last musical, which contains one of my all- There can't be many musicians in the time favourites of his numbers, Like A Cat whole wide world who have a wider knowledge of the popular music of our With A Mouse, and given the Hassan period than Alex. He regularly comes up treatment it certainly sparkled. with numbers I've never even heard of, The Frederick Hollander Fantasy was of let alone heard, and yet are worthy of course dominated by the number being rescued from the obscurity into Dietrich made famous, Falling In Love which they have fallen, which makes one Again. I have to confess she was far from a realise there is a considerable element of favourite actress of mine, though I have luck in which numbers achieve fame and friends who faithfully went to see her those that fall by the wayside. whenever she did a season in the West For this recital Alex produced yet End in her later years - I'll be a gentleman more rabbits out of a seemingly and not say in her dotage. Whereas if it inexhaustible hat, starting with a had been Garbo, I think I'd have been charming Sammy Fain number that was happy to just watch her staring into space, new to me, By A Waterfall. A couple of minutes into that and it was evident that as she did so memorably as the end of his playing has now reached a level of Queen Christina. fluency that makes it appear effortless, Enough of this maudlin reminiscing: and so You Are Worth While Waiting For, another fantasy followed on, and this which followed, more than lived up to its time the composer's name was familiar to Alex DVD available £10 UK £12 Overseas title. me as the unfortunate involved in the The next item, a G & S mini-overture, notorious flop, Whitebirds, in which Billy was a real treat, though tantalisingly short appeared - (he also recorded a double- You Opened My Eyes by Felix Bernard They are quite different to his later somehow Sullivan's melodies always sided selection from the show). Alex was written to accompany a slapstick- works, more lively and without the come up fresh. Then back across the started with probably Meyer's best- style comedy, though one couldn't have romantic element which characterises Atlantic for a Rube Bloom Fantasy. The only known number, California, Here I Come, told that from the tune itself. In the Over the later shows and all his best- number I recognised was Fools Rush In, but remembered melodies. made famous by the ghastly Al Jolson - She Goes selection that followed, the the others were nearly as good, and I why he became so popular is a complete Emmerich Kalman was, I believe, of particularly enjoyed the final one, where comedy element was more pronounced. mystery to me. The other numbers were Hungarian extraction, and his best- Alex let himself go with a few fireworks. This was Billy's favourite of his shows, remembered show, Countess Maritza, also enjoyable, good second-stringers, As Long As You're Near Me, by Burton though I suspect its success and the certainly has a mittel-European one might say. Lane, was a charmer, while during the concomitant financial rewards were pre- ambience, but You Are My First Love Zombie, by Xavier Cugat, was written to next number, Sous le Ciel d'Afrique, I found eminent there, since I think the score of sounds American rather than European. myself imagining it being sung by a accompany a fairly dreadful lyric that Crazy Days, which came next, is finer, but Then as an encore Alex gave us some French chanteuse, though I doubt if she Alex kindly read out to us. It sounded to its run was cut short Alexby the Hassan untimely Harry Warren: as a songwriter certainly, could have coped with the rhythmic me as if the composer had ignored the death of Laddie Cliff. up there with the greats, but not nearly as finale Alex gave us. lyric, probably the best thing to do with it. The Jerome Kern Fantasy featured many well known, a punishment, no doubt, for Even the name of the composer of the With Your Sunny Southern Smile we're in the well-loved melodies by this most musical spending his most productive years in next piece, Somebody From Home, was new fondly remembered hands of Harry of American songwriters. In the early Hollywood. to me, but the song was good enough for Revel, while it seems I Touched A Star was part of his career Kern wrote a series of It is many years since I first had the me to make a mental note to look out for written to accompany an exhibit named pleasure of hearing Alex: he doesn't more of his work. Rio Cristal was similarly musicals with Guy Bolton and P G Gay New Orleans at the New York World DVD seem to have slowed up either in unknown, but its composer, Vernon Wodehouse: one of them, Very Good, Fair. Unfortunately it didn't mean what available productivity or virtuosity, in fact he now Duke, certainly isn't, and the melody had Eddie, has been on in the West End quite seems to me to be at the top of his form. I one might have thought, or I'd have been £10 inc post. that touch of class that he imparted to all recently, while I used to have a recording look forward to his next visit. looking up the next flight. his work. of Leave It To Jane, another of them. Mike Harth 2013 14 Lionel Monckton: Songs from the Shows Made into a film under the title Those 15 Were the Days, giving Will Hay his first I have written before about while Beautiful Bountiful Bertie came from starring role, and in the music-hall Monckton, but as he is by far the finest one more, The Shop Girl. scenes showcasing the veteran Lily melodist of his period, and I am a sucker The Arcadians was followed by The Morris, performing two of her numbers. for a good tune, a new disc of his numbers Mousmé, somewhat less successful, but Having played through the piano exerts an irresistible attraction. It is which included The Temple Bell, and then score, it seems to me well up to their best something of a surprise to find Catherine we have three numbers from the other standard, and I would love to hear some Bott as the featured soprano, as she is show for which he wrote the full score, of its numbers. Perhaps one day? Then better known as an early music specialist, The Quaker Girl. Though it only ran for those of you who possess computers but her light and pure tone suits these 536 performances, it is an excellent show might be interested in turning to numbers and she does us proud here, which was still being toured in the mid- YouTube and looking up the entries while the baritone, Richard Suart, though 1900s I saw a professional performance under Monckton, when you will not not possessing a voice of comparable of it in Bournemouth around 50 years only find period recordings of a few quality, certainly knows how to put over a ago. A Bad Boy and a Good Girl, The Little numbers, but also a much abbreviated number. Grey Bonnet, and Tony from America are version of the Act One Finale from The The recital opens with Charming among the highlights but don't exhaust Quaker Girl performed by an enthusiastic Weather, a little too obviously inspired by a them, as those of you who have heard the amateur operatic company. This ends similar scene in The Pirates of Penzance. But Bel-Etage recording will attest. with what is my favourite of all the melody is so catchy it's hard to cavil, Two Little Sausages comes from The Girls Monckton's numbers, Love, You Are Lord, while All Down Piccadilly, which follows, of Gottenberg, and the selection is rounded a truly beautiful piece which also rounds also from The Arcadians, one of his greatest off by 2 numbers from Our Miss Gibbs, the off the third act. successes which ran for 809 last show he wrote with Ivan Caryll, who Mike Harth 2013 Lionel Monckton performances on its original run, is just as reportedly was fed up with Monckton's irresistible. A change of tempo brings us contributions always being the more to Under The Deodar from The Country Girl, popular, and decamped to America. Mary one of only two shows for which wants to be known as Miss Gibbs, while BMS Business Monckton wrote the complete score, Moonstruck, with little if any relevance to another success, notching up 729 the story, was nevertheless the big hit of As you will see from our calendar of events we have Ethan Uslan booked to play for us performances. This beautiful melody is the show and remained one of L M's this year. Some of you will remember his previous visit from the marvellous silent film joined by 2 other numbers from the same best-known numbers for many years. accompaniment he played to a Buster Keaton film. Ethan will be playing a new show in more lively style, Yo-ho Little Girls I should also mention that Monckton programme plus another silent film extravaganza utilising our new bigger screen and HD and Try Again, Johnnie. wrote many of the lyrics for his songs ten projector. The Sly Cigarette reminds us of a period of those on this recording. They are all, when cigarettes were about to become a usefully, included in the booklet, and you Later this year Christopher Duckett will be wowing us with a new programme of music fashionable accessory - at the same period may well, like me, find them even more at played in his inimitable style. The third concer t is yet to be decided, but you will be dates Wolf-Ferrari's opera, Susanna's Secret, odds with his austere, rather forbidding informed by email/phone/post. the secret being her smoking! Then The appearance than his music. Boy Guessed Right comes from the same Monckton's collaborator on The I'm sad to say Roy Wainwright, a BMS member and our Webmaster, died in May 2013. show, A Runaway Girl, while When I Marry Arcadians and his later shows was Howard His support and expertise will be sorely missed. Amelia and Keep Off the Grass both come Talbot, but for some unknown reason from The Toreador. Maisie and Liza Ann are their last joint work, The Boy, seems to Alas we are down to 80 members. Age is ex acting its toll, but there are still enthusiastic respectively from The Messenger Boy and have been totally forgotten, even though members to conjure with. The Orchid, while My Cinnamon Tree and it was very successful in its day, with a Pearl of Sweet Ceylon appeared in The Cingalee, total of 801 performances, just a little less Our thanks got to Mike Harth and Brian Willey for providing articles for this mag. a word which means a native of Ceylon than The Arcadians. The book was based on No CD this time (we are running out of appropriate material). or, as it is now, Sri Lanka. a successful play, The Magistrate, by Pinero, Yet another of the seemingly endless a foremost dramatist of the day, and is Costs inevitably rise, but the BMS is still solvent thanks to music sales and gifts from stream of shows with 'girl' in the title, The about the title character's 'night on the generous well-wishers. Coleridge-Taylor Circus Girl, was host to A Simple Bit Of String, Town' and its consequences. It was later Mike Lorenzini chairman BMS 14 Lionel Monckton: Songs from the Shows Made into a film under the title Those 15 Were the Days, giving Will Hay his first I have written before about while Beautiful Bountiful Bertie came from starring role, and in the music-hall Monckton, but as he is by far the finest one more, The Shop Girl. scenes showcasing the veteran Lily melodist of his period, and I am a sucker The Arcadians was followed by The Morris, performing two of her numbers. for a good tune, a new disc of his numbers Mousmé, somewhat less successful, but Having played through the piano exerts an irresistible attraction. It is which included The Temple Bell, and then score, it seems to me well up to their best something of a surprise to find Catherine we have three numbers from the other standard, and I would love to hear some Bott as the featured soprano, as she is show for which he wrote the full score, of its numbers. Perhaps one day? Then better known as an early music specialist, The Quaker Girl. Though it only ran for those of you who possess computers but her light and pure tone suits these 536 performances, it is an excellent show might be interested in turning to numbers and she does us proud here, which was still being toured in the mid- YouTube and looking up the entries while the baritone, Richard Suart, though 1900s I saw a professional performance under Monckton, when you will not not possessing a voice of comparable of it in Bournemouth around 50 years only find period recordings of a few quality, certainly knows how to put over a ago. A Bad Boy and a Good Girl, The Little numbers, but also a much abbreviated number. Grey Bonnet, and Tony from America are version of the Act One Finale from The The recital opens with Charming among the highlights but don't exhaust Quaker Girl performed by an enthusiastic Weather, a little too obviously inspired by a them, as those of you who have heard the amateur operatic company. This ends similar scene in The Pirates of Penzance. But Bel-Etage recording will attest. with what is my favourite of all the melody is so catchy it's hard to cavil, Two Little Sausages comes from The Girls Monckton's numbers, Love, You Are Lord, while All Down Piccadilly, which follows, of Gottenberg, and the selection is rounded a truly beautiful piece which also rounds also from The Arcadians, one of his greatest off by 2 numbers from Our Miss Gibbs, the off the third act. successes which ran for 809 last show he wrote with Ivan Caryll, who Mike Harth 2013 Lionel Monckton performances on its original run, is just as reportedly was fed up with Monckton's irresistible. A change of tempo brings us contributions always being the more to Under The Deodar from The Country Girl, popular, and decamped to America. Mary one of only two shows for which wants to be known as Miss Gibbs, while BMS Business Monckton wrote the complete score, Moonstruck, with little if any relevance to another success, notching up 729 the story, was nevertheless the big hit of As you will see from our calendar of events we have Ethan Uslan booked to play for us performances. This beautiful melody is the show and remained one of L M's this year. Some of you will remember his previous visit from the marvellous silent film joined by 2 other numbers from the same best-known numbers for many years. accompaniment he played to a Buster Keaton film. Ethan will be playing a new show in more lively style, Yo-ho Little Girls I should also mention that Monckton programme plus another silent film extravaganza utilising our new bigger screen and HD and Try Again, Johnnie. wrote many of the lyrics for his songs ten projector. The Sly Cigarette reminds us of a period of those on this recording. They are all, when cigarettes were about to become a usefully, included in the booklet, and you Later this year Christopher Duckett will be wowing us with a new programme of music fashionable accessory - at the same period may well, like me, find them even more at played in his inimitable style. The third concer t is yet to be decided, but you will be dates Wolf-Ferrari's opera, Susanna's Secret, odds with his austere, rather forbidding informed by email/phone/post. the secret being her smoking! Then The appearance than his music. Boy Guessed Right comes from the same Monckton's collaborator on The I'm sad to say Roy Wainwright, a BMS member and our Webmaster, died in May 2013. show, A Runaway Girl, while When I Marry Arcadians and his later shows was Howard His support and expertise will be sorely missed. Amelia and Keep Off the Grass both come Talbot, but for some unknown reason from The Toreador. Maisie and Liza Ann are their last joint work, The Boy, seems to Alas we are down to 80 members. Age is ex acting its toll, but there are still enthusiastic respectively from The Messenger Boy and have been totally forgotten, even though members to conjure with. The Orchid, while My Cinnamon Tree and it was very successful in its day, with a Pearl of Sweet Ceylon appeared in The Cingalee, total of 801 performances, just a little less Our thanks got to Mike Harth and Brian Willey for providing articles for this mag. a word which means a native of Ceylon than The Arcadians. The book was based on No CD this time (we are running out of appropriate material). or, as it is now, Sri Lanka. a successful play, The Magistrate, by Pinero, Yet another of the seemingly endless a foremost dramatist of the day, and is Costs inevitably rise, but the BMS is still solvent thanks to music sales and gifts from stream of shows with 'girl' in the title, The about the title character's 'night on the generous well-wishers. Coleridge-Taylor Circus Girl, was host to A Simple Bit Of String, Town' and its consequences. It was later Mike Lorenzini chairman BMS