Peter Yorke: Holiday Excursion (1950s)

Do you remember the days when holidaymakers at Morecambe (and other places) would take a coach on an excursion to nearby scenic attractions? In the 1960’s Morecambe was still thriving as a popular British seaside resort, and coach excursion trips were an important part of the holiday experience. There would be daily trips to Windemere, Keswick and Coniston in the Lake District. Or a trip to the historic city of Lancaster. Sometimes it was just a pleasant way to explore the picturesque countryside. And then there were the evening mystery tours. In the days before mass motoring, these trips provided an accessible and affordable way for families and individuals to explore the wider Northwest of England.

Peter Yorke (1902–1966) was an influential British composer, arranger, and conductor. A graduate of Trinity College, London, he quickly rose to prominence as an orchestrator, collaborating with leading bandleaders such as Jack Hylton and Louis Levy. 

Yorke's fame soared after World War II, due to his BBC radio programmes such as Sweet Serenade and The Peter Yorke Melody Hour, which regularly featured his original compositions. The Peter Yorke Concert Orchestra gained popularity through these broadcasts. He recorded extensively for Columbia Records, and composed prolifically for production music libraries such as Chappell, Bosworth, and Paxton.

Yorke's music is characterized by sophistication, elegance, warmth, and charming melodies, alongside skilful orchestration. His redolent compositions include pieces such as Cocktails by Candlelight, Blue Mink, Melody of the Stars, and Highdays and Holidays. In the 1950s and 1960’s his music was used in films, radio programmes and even television. Readers of a certain vintage may recall that Yorke composed the theme music Silks and Satins used in the popular ITV soap Emergency Ward Ten (1957-67).

Holiday Excursion is a charming and evocative piece of light music that perfectly captures the spirit of leisurely travel and adventure. It is structured in ternary form, with the opening and closing sections giving a sense of movement, almost becoming a moto perpetuum. The strings are always to the fore, creating a sense of movement and excitement. A slightly more relaxed theme is introduced in the trio section suggesting a romantic dalliance.

The piece would have been ideally suited for use in film, radio, or early television, perfectly accompanying scenes of travel, scenic vistas, or joyful family outings, making it a fitting musical snapshot of its long past era.

Listen to the Telecast Orchestra, conducted by the composer, play Holiday Excursion, on YouTube, here. Enjoy the historic movie images of coach travel.