Gordon Langford RIP 1930-2017

[BBMmk2]

The death has been announced of the composer of light music and has written many arrangements and works for the brass band. infact revolutionised the music in the late 1960s, then the 1970s and 1980s. Also co posed many orchestral works as well.

RIP

[Alison]

I know a few of the orchestral pieces, spirited warmhearted works.

RIP.

[Lat-Literal]

Very sorry to hear this news. He was much more than "Sinfonietta", the theme tune for the BBC's 1970s television programme "Best of Brass". However, but for many of us not directly involved in the playing of brass band music that was our introduction to him before being able to hear more of his work many years later via You Tube, Spotify etc etc:

Gordon Langford - Sinfonietta - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-3VWswQN4I

[ardcarp]

Yes, I was very sad to learn this morning of Gordon's death. He was a close friend and neighbour of mine. He had been suffering from a debilitating illness for some time. Gordon was an amazing musician. Being a fine pianist and a master of instrumental and vocal arranging were the tools of his trade. He also had an acute ear and a memory for melody and harmony which he could reproduce at will. I remember him entertaining a hall-full of oldies about 45 years ago. He asked his audience for their favourite Ivor Novello tunes which he then worked into an extempore medley...to everyone's delight and amazement. He was generous with his gifts in old age, writing both an Overture for our local orchestra and a flute sonata for one of my daughters.

It will show no disrespect to Gordon if I point out that BBM's comment....

[he] revolutionised the music in the late 1960s, then the 1970s and 1980s.

...would have caused Gordon himself much mirth. He hated squeaky gate music by which he meant anything avant garde, serial or atonal. I suspect what BBM meant was Gordon's contributions to the brass band repertory and also to the Kings Singers...which is of course his great legacy to us.

Gordon is also featured in a lovely children's book, .Gordon's Tumbledown Train.

You are very much missed, Gordon.

[vinteuil]

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... also to be remembered as "with Gordon Langford at the piano" on the radio 4 programme, a Ronnie Barker vehicle, the comedy series "Lines from my Grandfather's Forehead"

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lines_from_My_Grandfather%27s_Forehead

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[Lat-Literal]

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... also to be remembered as "with Gordon Langford at the piano" on the radio 4 programme, a Ronnie Barker vehicle, the comedy series "Lines from my Grandfather's Forehead"

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lines_from_My_Grandfather%27s_Forehead

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That is very interesting.

I don't recall it but will need to locate it.

[EdgeleyRob]

I know a few of the orchestral pieces, spirited warmhearted works.

RIP.

There are a few nice ones grouped together on a Chandos cd.

RIP

[Boilk]

I really loved Langford's Hebridean Hoedown on the BBC1 test card, back in the early 1970s...
It starts at 11:00 below, though the CD starts with his Royal Daffodil and at 16:55 is his March from the 'Colour Suite'

[Petrushka]

I remember Gordon Langford as the arranger extraordinaire of so much music in the brass and military band world: (arr. Langford) appears on many such pieces in my collection.

[vinteuil]

That is very interesting.

I don't recall it but will need to locate it.

... "Lines from my Grandfather's Forehead" crops up fairly regularly on BBC Radio 4 Extra - indeed I think it has been on in recent weeks. You might get it on i-player or similar.

[Serial_Apologist]

It will show no disrespect to Gordon if I point out that BBM's comment....



...would have caused Gordon himself much mirth. He hated squeaky gate music by which he meant anything avant garde, serial or atonal. I suspect what BBM meant was Gordon's contributions to the brass band repertory and also to the Kings Singers...which is of course his great legacy to us.

It's ironic that, notwithstanding key centres having been widely reinstated as de rigueur, good tunes are a rarity these days. One seldom hears people singing or whistling in the street any more, maybe because if this - it's becoming like we're all living in a Taliban state!

[ardcarp]

Maybe the next phase, after today's 're-instated' tonal centres, will be Good Tunes? Having just been dabbling with some of Eric Coates' stuff, I must say that whatever people think of his formulaic popularism, he did have the knack of writing memorable melodies....the sort people still occasionally whistle in the streets.

[Alison]

Maybe the next phase, after today's 're-instated' tonal centres, will be Good Tunes? Having just been dabbling with some of Eric Coates' stuff, I must say that whatever people think of his formulaic popularism, he did have the knack of writing memorable melodies....the sort people still occasionally whistle in the streets.

Gordon's tunes were mainly 7 or 8 out of 10 lacking that last ounce or two of something!

[BBMmk2]

Mavbe it's the brass bandsman in me, but I quite liked his tunes.

[Lat-Literal]

... "Lines from my Grandfather's Forehead" crops up fairly regularly on BBC Radio 4 Extra - indeed I think it has been on in recent weeks. You might get it on i-player or similar.

As with much else, I have phases of listening to R4E and completely missed this one but as someone who is keen on vintage comedy I am, of course, aware of Gerald Wiley.

It's ironic that, notwithstanding key centres having been widely reinstated as de rigueur, good tunes are a rarity these days. One seldom hears people singing or whistling in the street any more, maybe because if this - it's becoming like we're all living in a Taliban state!

The point about singing and whistling in the street is true.

Also, people don't laugh in anything other than a fake hysterical way as much these days.