Best known for his ever-popular Elizabethan Serenade, Sailing By, and The Watermill, Ronald Binge (1910–1979) was a British composer and arranger known for his contributions to light music. Born in Derby, England, he initially worked as a cinema organist before joining orchestras in seaside resorts. His career took off when he became an arranger for Mantovani, where he pioneered the "cascading strings" effect, a hallmark of Mantovani’s sound. Many of his compositions have attractive, descriptive titles.
The liner notes of the Marco Polo survey of Binge’s music remind the listener that during the sailing era, trade winds were crucial for maritime commerce, driving ships steadily across the world's oceans. Blowing eastward north of the equator and westward to the south, these winds provided reliable routes for international trade. Between them lay the doldrums, a windless region that could leave ships stranded. Navigating these patterns ensured smooth and efficient transportation of goods. This inspired Binge’s Trade Winds (1946) which is really a miniature tone poem.
The composer has captured two distinct moods here. Clearly the listener is asked to imagine they were on a Tall Ship responding to the “wayward” winds. Sometimes, the ship surges on and then the sea becomes calm. Somehow, the “wind always returning to keep the vessel moving ever onwards into the horizon.” With its sweeping orchestration and gentle rhythmic pulse, Trade Winds conveys a sense of movement and serenity, evoking images of ships gliding effortlessly across tranquil waters.
Listen to Ronald Binge’s Trade Winds on YouTube, here. The Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Ernest Tomlinson on Naxos 8.223515.
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