Alan Langford: Four Pieces for String Orchestra (1960-62)

One of my minor (re-)discoveries of 2021 so far, is Alan Langford’s ‘Waltz’ for String Orchestra. To be honest, it is one that slipped through the net. I first heard this miniature more than fifty years ago when I purchased (second hand, in the Barras Market, Glasgow) George Weldon’s British Light Music of the 20^th Century with the Pro Arte Orchestra on EMI 0887962. This LP has an evocative cover complete with E-Type Jaguar, Weldon himself, Hyde Park and with the London Hilton, Park Lane in the distance. I have not heard this album since my record deck became largely defunct.

Weldon’s LP covered a wide range of music including works by Edward Elgar, Eric Coates, Haydn Wood and Anthony Collins. The third track on Side 2 was Langford’s ‘suave’ Waltz. 

Just the other day, I was delighted to find that Langford’s Waltz (1960) is the first of Four Pieces for string orchestra, designed to be played as set. The other numbers are the ‘Pizzicato Polka’ (1960), a ‘Pastoral’ (1961) and a ‘Scherzetto’ (1962). Clearly, these were written over a three-year period and were assembled into a ‘Suite’ later. In 1999, the now defunct ASV label released a disc of English String Miniatures which featured Langford’s Four Pieces. Other music included Geoffrey Bush’s Divertimento (1943), Geoffrey Wright’s Two Pieces for strings and harp (1959), Herbert Sumsion’s A Mountain Tune (1940), David Lyon’s Intermezzo (1968) and finally, Anthony Hedges’s Divertimento (1971). These are played by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by David Lloyd-Jones.

The ‘Waltz’, which caught my imagination nearly half a century ago, is urbane and full of ‘easy-going elegance’ perhaps even ‘chintzy.’  The ‘Pizzicato Perpetuo’ as been mooted as a good and viable ‘alternative to the oft performed ‘Playful pizzicato’ of Britten's Simple Symphony’ (Paul Conway, MusicWeb International, 2000). The heart of the ‘Suite’ is the ‘Pastoral’. Despite its title, this is not the proverbial ‘cow pat school’ of Elisabeth Lutyens’s ire, but something much deeper. To be fair, this is not a depressing threnody for a lost era, but more of a nostalgic reminiscence. The final piece is a vibrant ‘Scherzetto’ which moves the action from the countryside to the city. For me, it evokes a ‘Boulevardier’ up ‘In Town Tonight’, taking a stroll along Piccadilly or Regent Street.

The first thing to say about Alan Langford is that he is no relation of Gordon Langford. Some critics have adduced that the two composers were brothers. In fact, Alan’s real name is Alan Owen. He was born in London on 28 February 1908. After studying at the Guildhall School of Music with Benjamin Frankel, he worked for many years for the BBC as a music producer for programmes such as Matinée Musicale and Friday Night is Music Night. Most of his compositions appear to have been written during the 1960s. Respected for his contribution to ‘light music’ his works include Three Amusements, a Little French Suite, Three Dance Contrasts, the overture Two Worlds, a Dance for a Square, the Chanson Populaire and a tantalising Chanson du Café Triste, all for full orchestra (Philip Scowcroft, British Light Music, Dance Books, 2013, p.139). There was also much incidental music for radio.  Langford also wrote a quantity of mood music for commercial recording libraries. The Times obituary states that he composed ‘many avant-garde pieces for his own enjoyment’. Unfortunately, none of these have surfaced (so far). Alan Langford died in London on 9 February 2011.

The reviewer of the ASV CD (Michael Stewart, The Gramophone, December 1999, p.85) stated that ‘as Alan Langford’s Waltz glides in on track 1, instinct tells you that this CD is going to be a delight to all lovers of English string music…’ It turns out to be the case. Stewart considers that the ‘four pieces gathered here combine to make a perfect little suite and displays Langford’s masterly writing for strings.’

Alan Langford’s Four Pieces have been uploaded to YouTube: Waltz, Pizzicato Perpetuo, Pastoral and Scherzetto. (Accessed 06/01/21).  George Weldon’s recording of the Waltz can be heard here. Under ‘show more’ click on track 4.