What is 'Light Music' ?

[Leinster Lass]

I have 5 CDs of 'Light Music' conducted by Ronald Corp, but I'm not really sure what the term covers. People speak of the 'lighter Elgar' - the Wind Of Youth Suites and similar works. Does the term cover, for example, some of Mozart's Divertimenti? Did Percy Grainger write 'Light Music'? And what about Victorian ballads and the like?

[cloughie]

I have 5 CDs of 'Light Music' conducted by Ronald Corp, but I'm not really sure what the term covers. People speak of the 'lighter Elgar' - the Wind Of Youth Suites and similar works. Does the term cover, for example, some of Mozart's Divertimenti? Did Percy Grainger write 'Light Music'? And what about Victorian ballads and the like?

If you need to ask the question you won’t get it - or is it jazz Ilm thinking about? Are all 5 CDs British?- I have 4 volumes of this by composers such as Ronald Binge, Eric Coates and others who wrote very listenable pieces for orchestra - much of it late C19th, early C20th and maybe the composers were not viewed as having the gravitas of Elgar, Vaughan Williams or Holst and others whose lighter pieces were very much in the same vein! They may have been played in the Palm Court rather than the major concert halls!

[Serial_Apologist]

I can't remember who it was said words to the effect that light music was defined as the melody being more important than what you did with it, presumably thus distinguishing it generically from eg jazz or classical music. There has been a very good thread on the subject here on the forum.

[gradus]

I can't remember who it was said words to the effect that light music was defined as the melody being more important than what you did with it, presumably thus distinguishing it generically from eg jazz or classical music. There has been a very good thread on the subject here on the forum.

Cloughie and S_A are on the money and a repeat of R3's Light Music weekend (was it?) of a few years back would be very welcome.

[rauschwerk]

Did Percy Grainger write 'Light Music'?

Yes but it forms only a quite small proportion of his output (Country Gardens and Molly on the Shore spring to mind).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've done a fair amount of palm court playing in my time, as the pianist in a piano trio. As we were hired to play what was essentially background music, "light music" was anything that wouldn't be too demanding, and would work when arranged for violin, cello and piano. We had a staple composer: Ketèlbey, as our inspiration, but played music ranging from baroque to film tracks.
Our source of material was the Sheet Music Warehouse. Apparently this is in Paignton, Devon, and whilst living near there, I searched in vain for the shop referred to in their advertising, but was unable to find it, so I'm assuming that it's mail order only.

[Keraulophone]

.
‘Light Music’ used to be music played on the Light Programme of the BBC. No longer.

An announcement about the Light Programme in Radio Times of 27 July 1945 listed which programmes were to be broadcast on the Home Service and which on the new Light Programme. The categories were: Plays, Variety, Music, Light Music and Talks. ‘Music’ included ‘The Music of Tchaikovsky’ and Promenade concerts (Beethoven, Mozart, Delius, Elgar), while ‘Light Music’ consisted of ‘Music Parade’, ‘Songs for Everybody’ and ‘Tuesday Serenade’.
.

[Serial_Apologist]

I've done a fair amount of palm court playing in my time, as the pianist in a piano trio. As we were hired to play what was essentially background music, "light music" was anything that wouldn't be too demanding, and would work when arranged for violin, cello and piano. We had a staple composer: Ketèlbey, as our inspiration, but played music ranging from baroque to film tracks.
Our source of material was the Sheet Music Warehouse. Apparently this is in Paignton, Devon, and whilst living near there, I searched in vain for the shop referred to in their advertising, but was unable to find it, so I'm assuming that it's mail order only.

Are Aspidistras a sideline?

[Leinster Lass]

If you need to ask the question you won’t get it - or is it jazz Ilm thinking about? Are all 5 CDs British?- I have 4 volumes of this by composers such as Ronald Binge, Eric Coates and others who wrote very listenable pieces for orchestra - much of it late C19th, early C20th and maybe the composers were not viewed as having the gravitas of Elgar, Vaughan Williams or Holst and others whose lighter pieces were very much in the same vein! They may have been played in the Palm Court rather than the major concert halls!

4 British, 1 European. All 5 CDs are on Hyperion.

[Pulcinella]

I have in my CD collection this EMI 5CD set, called Best of British:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7998608--best-of-british

I bought it at rock-bottom price, as I really wanted this collection of English Anthems (King's Cambridge), and it was the best way to get it:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8145741--english-anthems

CD1 in the box is entitled British Light Music:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Light-Music-Eric-Coates/dp/B0000241D4/ref=sr_1_12?crid=1NG19AYRNT9KS&dchild=1&keywords=british+light+music&qid=1610639565&s=music&sprefix=british+light+%2Caps%2C154&sr=1-12

I might put it on the next time I tackle the ironing.

[cloughie]

I have in my CD collection this EMI 5CD set, called Best of British:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7998608--best-of-british

I bought it at rock-bottom price, as I really wanted this collection of English Anthems (King's Cambridge), and it was the best way to get it:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8145741--english-anthems

CD1 in the box is entitled British Light Music:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Light-Music-Eric-Coates/dp/B0000241D4/ref=sr_1_12?crid=1NG19AYRNT9KS&dchild=1&keywords=british+light+music&qid=1610639565&s=music&sprefix=british+light+%2Caps%2C154&sr=1-12

I might put it on the next time I tackle the ironing.

As he went dashing away with the smoothing iron!

[Pulcinella]

As he went dashing away with the smoothing iron!

It worked a treat!
Better than playing something sung by Tenebrae, I guess!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

.
‘Light Music’ used to be music played on the Light Programme of the BBC. No longer.

An announcement about the Light Programme in Radio Times of 27 July 1945 listed which programmes were to be broadcast on the Home Service and which on the new Light Programme. The categories were: Plays, Variety, Music, Light Music and Talks. ‘Music’ included ‘The Music of Tchaikovsky’ and Promenade concerts (Beethoven, Mozart, Delius, Elgar), while ‘Light Music’ consisted of ‘Music Parade’, ‘Songs for Everybody’ and ‘Tuesday Serenade’.
.

Even in the 1960s, some of the lighter Proms were on the Light Programme/Radio 2.
I always tried to listen to Grand Hotel (early Sunday evening), conducted by Reginald Leopold or Max Jaffa.
I couldn't stand Music While You Work though.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Are Aspidistras a sideline?

Now you're talking.

[ChrisBennell]

.
‘Light Music’ used to be music played on the Light Programme of the BBC. No longer.

An announcement about the Light Programme in Radio Times of 27 July 1945 listed which programmes were to be broadcast on the Home Service and which on the new Light Programme. The categories were: Plays, Variety, Music, Light Music and Talks. ‘Music’ included ‘The Music of Tchaikovsky’ and Promenade concerts (Beethoven, Mozart, Delius, Elgar), while ‘Light Music’ consisted of ‘Music Parade’, ‘Songs for Everybody’ and ‘Tuesday Serenade’.
.

When I began listening to music seriously in the 1950s, I remember that the Light Programme broadcast a concert at around 5.0 pm on Wednesdays, entitled "Music of the Masters" - this was followed at around 6.0pm by the Third Programme with a "Symphony Concert" - usually heavier fare - and then by the BBC Symphony Orchestra Concert often from the RFH at 8.0pm on the Home Service. All three networks contributing to the Musical Life of the Nation. Great days!!