I was glad to hear
Ronald Binge’s Sailing By on Classic
FM the other day. Looking at the radio
website it is one of three popular pieces that regularly feature in their
broadcast schedules. The other two are the Elizabethan
Serenade and The Watermill. I am
not sure if any of these pieces featured in the Hall of Fame 2013 listings as
there is no searchable list.
The Watermill, which was
composed in 1958, is well-known to television viewers of a certain generation as
the theme tune to The Secret Garden
which was screened in 1975. This is not
impressionistic music as such, but more of an 'impression'. It is closer to
musical realism. The opening cello and
bass motive ‘evoke the steady trundling of the mill wheel.’ Against this is a
lovely rocking string theme. After a few bars the oboe states an evocative and
wistful melody, or is it a commentary. Formally the music is almost monothematic
– with the interest being supplied by gentle variations of the accompaniment
and theme. Certainly this is a lovely pastoral piece that makes an accomplished
use of the solo oboe and strings. Included in the score is a harp which lends weight
to the cascading effects of the water. It is music to soothe even the most
troubled mood.
The work is currently available on at least a dozen recordings. The
Guild Light Music series has a version by the Lansdowne Light Orchestra
(Probably Stuttgart Radio Orchestra / Kurt Rehfeld) on GLCD5183 however, one of the
best recordings is on the Hyperion label, CDA66868
with the New London Orchestra conducted
by Ronald Corp. Marco Polo (8.223515)
issued a retrospective of Binge’s music in 1992. The Slovak Radio Symphony
Orchestra plays under Ernest Tomlinson. The
Watermill is also features on YouTube in a version for
oboe and piano. The soloist is Jeremy Polmear.
3 comments:
Hi,
Much more melodious than Britten - so much snobbery in UK which dictates that we should adore Britten (and JS Bach)and sneer at the likes of Ronald Binge.
So sad that "light music" is not celebrated.
Pity BBC doesn't appear support the lighter fare any-more as they did once ("Matinee Musical"). I must admit that I do like Britten's Matinees and Soirées.
Please continue to fight for the under appreciated light music genre.
Cheers,
Douglas(UK)
(from the home of Edward German).
Hi,
Much more melodious than Britten - so much snobbery in UK which dictates that we should adore Britten (and JS Bach)and sneer at the likes of Ronald Binge.
So sad that "light music" is not celebrated.
Pity BBC doesn't appear support the lighter fare any-more as they did once ("Matinee Musical"). I must admit that I do like Britten's Matinees and Soirées.
Please continue to fight for the under appreciated light music genre.
Cheers,
Douglas(UK)
(from the home of Edward German).
Hi again,
I should have also said:
"From the land of lost content" --God's own country!!
Cheers,
Douglas (UK)ecdclud says,
Post a Comment