Charles Ancliffe: Smiles, then Kisses Waltz

Charles William Ancliffe (1880–1952) was an Irish-born composer best recalled for his light music, particularly salon piano music, genre dance pieces, and light character pieces. Born in Kildare, Ireland, he was the son of an army bandmaster and followed in his father's footsteps by studying at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. Ancliffe served as bandmaster for the First Battalion, South Wales Borderers from 1900 to 1918, during which he composed many popular pieces, including marches like The Liberators and Castles in Spain.

His waltzes, such as Nights of Gladness Waltz (1912), became immensely popular, that in the early 1950s the BBC named a long-running light music program after it. Other notable works include the Thrills Waltz, Southern Nights, April’s Lady, and numerous short genre pieces. After leaving the military, Ancliffe was a regular conductor of the Scarborough Military Band and frequently conducted his own works on BBC wireless.

Smiles, then Kisses Waltz was composed in 1913, the year before the start of the First World War. It is characterized by its graceful melodies and playful rhythms, making it a onetime favourite in light music programmes.

This charming little piece captures the romantic and carefree mood of prewar Edwardian society. It opens with a short slow and expressive introduction which uses a melody to be heard later. The waltz theme is heard for the first time, before a short ‘jubiloso’ bridge passage gives way to a reprise of the main tune. The Trio is slow and romantic, ‘Tres expressif,’ and is also written in ternary form with a slightly more tragic sound. The big tune is heard again, before the recapitulation of the waltz theme. The number ends with an accelerando coda.

Listen to Charles Ancliffe’s Smiles, then Kisses Waltz on YouTube, here. Ronald Corp is conducting the New London Orchestra. It was issued on the Hyperion Record label, CDA67148 in 2000.