Ernest Tomlinson (1924-2015): Gaelic Lullaby from Three Gaelic Sketches

In 1958 Fred Benson published Ernest Tomlinson’s Three Gaelic Sketches for orchestra. The individual movements were titled, Fairy Cobbler, Gaelic Lullaby and Legend of the Sea. Sadly, only the middle movement has appeared (to date) on record or CD (Marco Polo 8.223413). The liner notes explain that the composer mined incidental music he had written for a 1956 revue, The King and the Mermaid with the “book” by L.A.G. (Leonard Alfred George) Strong (1896-1958). The plot centres around a King who falls in love with an amphibious lady from the deep. This source is entirely appropriate when transferred to his Gaelic Lullaby. Students of folklore will be well-aware of the legends of merrows, seals, selkies and Maighdean-mara - “maidens of the sea.” Granville Bantock himself wrote a short choral work entitled The Mermaid’s Croon which seems to tie up various similar legends.  Gaelic in the context of these Sketches probably refers to Ireland rather than Scotland. 

The CD booklet explains that the Lullaby featured in the original revue where the king, having brought the mermaid to his castle finds she is tired. She is put to bed, attended by her hand-maidens. To help here sleep, the king’s harpist plays a gentle lullaby to her.  

Tomlinson’s take on this subject is quite charming. The short piece opens with some lovely harp chords, before the violin enters with a wistful melody. Soon the orchestra lends support, but the tune is never totally submerged. Flutes add to the magic. There is a little bit of development, with some hints of Delius here and there. The song is echoed by a lugubrious horn solo. The short piece ends quietly with the mermaid sound asleep.  I am not sure if Tomlinson has based his delicious tune on a “found” melody or if it is own devising.

The King and the Mermaid was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on 25 December 1956 at 8:30pm. The BBC Concert Orchestra was conducted by Wilhelm Tausky.

Gaelic Lullaby has been uploaded to YouTube. The Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra is conducted by the composer.

Ernest Tomlinson (1924-2015): Silverthorn Suite

One of Ernest Tomlinson’s most delightful offerings is the short Silverthorn Suite, completed during the 1950s. Gardeners will know that Silverthorn is a large, fast-growing shrub that is often planted in hedgerows or along roads, as it can quickly give screening. Yet, despite the horticultural overtones, Tomlinson did not derive his title from any such pastoral musings. It is much more prosaic than that. Back in the day, when BT was called the GPO, telephone exchanges had names, rather than numbers. Many bore some relation their location, others did not. For example NAT was National and covered the City of London (Moorgate): REN was Renown for the Fulham area. At the time of writing the Suite, Tomlinson was living in Chingford, Essex. The telephone exchange there was SILverthorn. 

The Silverthorn Suite is written in three short movements, lasting for about ten minutes. The opening Alla Marcia is flamboyant and extravagantly scored. The middle section is a little more relaxed. The Marco Polo CD liner notes by Tim McDonald rightly point out that this march is “singularly un-martial in character, notwithstanding the prominence of a side-drum.” It is the sheer exuberance of the Essex countryside on a hot summer’s day. Evening comes with the second movement. This is a lushly orchestrated Canzonet. This title means quite simply “a little song” perhaps a light songs or short and simple air from an opera. Tomlinson has created a wistful little number that is “shot through with lyricism.”  It is the heart of this Suite. The finale is a Concert Jig, that is full of vivacity. Once again, the listener will be struck by the elaborate scoring and a sense of momentum as the work reaches its conclusion.

Ernest Tomlinson’s Silverthorn Suite can be heard on Marco Polo 8.223413. It has been uploaded to YouTube: Alla Marcia, Canzonet, Concert Jig.

Ernest Tomlinson: Kielder Water

One of Ernest Tomlinson’s most delightful miniatures is Kielder Water. Despite its short duration, this is a musical tone poem of the first order. 

In 1983 Ernest Tomlinson received a commission to compose a piece of music to commemorate the opening of Kielder Dam in Northumberland. This massive engineering project had created a reservoir nearly six miles long by two miles wide. Although initial proposals for the project had been made in the late 1960s, work did not commence until 1975. The project was completed in 1981 and was flooded the following year. The Kielder Reservoir was officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh on 26 May 1982.

The progress of work on the reservoir was filmed and made into a documentary. The company, CinePhoto Productions approached Ernest Tomlinson asking for ‘a suitable accompanying score.’ The present tone-poem is the main theme of the film.  I have been unable to discover anything else about this film.

Tomlinson’s Kielder Water, presents an idyllic view of this stretch of water. Quite understandably, it is musically devoid of any angst generated by the considerable criticism generated by the project. Nor does it allude to the loss of several farms, houses, a school and the track-bed of a disused railway.  

The sweeping strings present a picture of a summers day's boating or rambling on or by the Water: people making use of the project’s recreational facilities. It is a perfect piece of nature music creating lasting impressions of water, forest and hills.

I understand that there is only a single recording of this work available: Marco Polo, British Light Music Series: Ernest Tomlinson 8.223413. This is available on download or from second-hand record dealers. It has also been uploaded to YouTube.

Ernest Tomlinson First Suite of English Folk Dances

I was delighted to hear ‘Dick’s Maggot’ from Ernest Tomlinson’s First Suite of English Folk Dances on Classic FM the other day. (12 January 2018). This suite is a charming little bit of rural England dished up for full orchestra. Fortunately, there are plenty more tunes where this comes from. The 1^st Suite has six dances, all with evocative titles: ‘Jenny Pluck Pears’, ‘Ten Pound Lass’, ‘Dick’s Maggot’, ‘Nonesuch’, ‘Hunt the Squirrel’ and ‘Woodcock’. I am not so sure that Squirrel Hunts are quite the thing in 2018. However, the entire suite makes for enjoyable listening. And the good news is there is a 2^nd Suite. More about that later, perhaps.

The story of Ernest Tomlinson’s (1924-2015) enthusiasm for English folk-tunes deserves to be recalled, with the help of the liner notes of the Marco Polo CD (see below for disc details). Sixty-seven years ago, the English Folk-Dance and Song Society held a major New Year Festival of Folk-Dance at the Royal Albert Hall (5 January 1951) The 27-year-old Tomlinson and his wife were present in the audience. At the end of the first act, two fiddlers played the old English dance Jenny Pluck Pears. On a darkened stage, three couples, dressed in 17^th century costumes danced. Tomlinson was hooked by the magic, the history and the music. Shortly after the concert, he began work on the score of the First Suite of English Folk Dances. It was completed the same year.

Ernest Tomlinson utilised John Playford’s book The Dancing Master, first published in 1650. The six dances noted above were extracted and arranged for orchestra.

For many years, Dick’s Maggot was used as the signature tune to Steve Race’s Invitation to Music programme on the BBC Radio 4.

The Gramophone (March 1995) reviewer is generous with his praise. He considers that ‘Dick’s Maggott’ will be ‘the most familiar number from the suite’ but suggests that the ‘Hunt the Squirrel’ is hardly less delightful.’  He concluded by insisting that the ‘whole suite deserves to rank as a classic in the British orchestral repertory.’  Alas, although some of these dances are occasionally heard on the radio, this Suite has never really become popular, like other works such as Vaughan Williams’ Folksong Suite and John Rutter’s Suite for Strings. 

The performance of ‘Dick’s Maggot’ on Classic FM noted above, was played by Iain Sutherland and his Concert Orchestra. (ALC1192). The entire First Suite of English Folk Dances was released in 1994 on Marco Polo 8.223515. It is played by the Slovak Radio Orchestra conducted by the composer. This CD is available as a download. ‘Dick’s Maggot’ and ‘Hunt the Squirrel’ are available as a sample on YouTube. 

Ernest Tomlinson: Sweet & Dainty

‘Sweet & Dainty’ is one of the shortest little numbers on the first Marco Polo retrospective CD of music by the 91 year old light music composer Ernest Tomlinson (b.1924). He has written that this piece of ‘mood music’ was ‘designed for Pride and Prejudice type plays.’ The liner notes record that the music was used in an advert for Palmolive soap and featured as a signature tune for a TV series about fishing. I have been unable to find out what the TV programme was but would be grateful to hear from readers. In conclusion the composer suggested that the work satisfied ‘requirements of Jane Austen, personal hygiene and angling at one and the same time.’

‘Sweet and Dainty’ is exactly like the title suggests. It is really the same theme repeated over and again with a little variation. What makes the piece so attractive is the neat orchestration that delicately changes as it re-presents the melody. Oboe and strings come to the fore with twittering flutes and pizzicato cellos and basses. I guess that it would be deemed a little tame for Jane Austen these days, but I think that the listener well get the idea.

Alas, there is no indication when this delightful little piece was composed, though it is likely to have been in the 1950s. It is clearly ‘library music’ that would have been used as and when the radio, film or TV producer required this particular ‘refined’ mood.

‘Sweet and Dainty’ is available on Marco Polo 8.223413. Other works on this CD include his attractive Silverthorn Suite, the English Serenade and 2^nd Suite of English Folk dances.  A large proportion of this piece can be heard on the Amazon download site.

Ernest Tomlinson: An English Overture

This is one of my favourite pieces by Ernest Tomlinson in spite of the fact that I am not normally a fan of a potpourri of melodies being strung together. Certainly, Tomlinson has made quite a collection of tunes in this work. I guess, if I am honest, that there were a fair few that I did not get – my excuse is that I went to Scottish schools and majored on Scottish songs. However, there will be few people from any corner of the British Isles  who do not recognise ‘Come Lasses and Lads’, ‘Greensleeves’, ‘Oh! Dear What can the Matter be’, ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’, and ‘Lillibulero’.  Tomlinson has revealed that this work was originally conceived for brass band, ‘specifically’ for Foden’s Band conducted by Harry Mortimer. At that time is was known more appositely as an Overture on Famous English Airs. When the work was transcribed for orchestra it was renamed.  Other tunes that the attentive listener will hear are ‘Here's a Health unto His Majesty’, ‘Old King Cole’, ‘King Arthur Ruled the Land’, ‘Gossip Joan’, ‘Begone Dull Care’ and ‘The Lincolnshire Poacher’. Like so much of Tomlinson’s music it is the skill that he brings to the orchestration of each melody. In fact, there are times that one is not really conscious that this is really just one song after another with a well-judged reprise of the opening tune in the last bars.

Andrew Lamb, writing in The Gramophone magazine considers that the English Overture is ‘clever, but rather brash’, which I guess is the intended effect.  I feel that it would be an ideal work for the Last Night of the Proms. However to keep a sense of equality, some similar work would have to be found for Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man. Certainly, Haydn Wood could provide the solution for that latter country with his fine ‘Manx Overture’. And then there is Edward German’s ‘Welsh Rhapsody’ and not to be forgotten is Ronald Binge’s ‘Scottish Rhapsody’. Finally, one or two of Stanford’s Irish Rhapsodies would be a good choice for Ulster and Eire. Everyone happy!

Ernest Tomlinson’s An English Overture can be heard on Marco Polo 8.223413 with the Bratislava Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composer

Ernest Tomlinson: 'Fairy Coach' & 'Cinderella Waltz'

A few weeks ago I posted about Ernest Tomlinson’s delightful ‘Little Serenade’ which is justly regarded as one of his most popular works.  The piece was derived from some incidental music written for a radio play, with the ‘book’ by Roy Plumley and libretto by Henrik Ege, called The Story of Cinderella. This was broadcast on Christmas Eve 1955. What I had not realised is that two more numbers from this production are also available on CD. What was more galling is that this disc is in my collection! These two other ‘survivals are the ‘Fairy Coach' and the ‘Cinderella Waltz’.  

The ‘Fairy Coach’ opens with the magical sound of bells which soon turns into a lively canter: light syncopation makes this all the more charming. Tomlinson is a great orchestrator, making considerable use of woodwind, romantic strings, and percussion. The beauty of a radio play is that the magical transformation is all done in the listeners head. It is so easy to transform a pumpkin into a coach, six white mice into horses, lizards into footmen and a rat into the coachman.  The music suggests a an opulent, sparkling, golden coach that is fairly bowling down the road to the Prince’s palace. The stars are in the sky and the frost glistens in the trees…

The ‘Cinderella Waltz’ is major accomplishment by any standards. This music is often reminiscent of Tchaikovsky’s ballet music and the waltz from his Eugene Onegin. One listener has detected an allusion to the ‘waltz’ from Khachaturian’s Masquerade, the suite of which had appeared in 1944.  Whatever the precedents, this is a beautifully wrought waltz that has all the characteristics demanded of that romantic moment when Prince Charming dances with Cinderella.

I wonder if any more extracts from this radio play will surface?  Whatever the case, the three pieces that are recorded are worthy of the composer, and create a magical impression on the listener.

The ‘Fairy Coach’ and the ‘Cinderella Waltz’, conducted by Ernest Tomlinson, can be heard on Marco Polo 8.223413. The Waltz is also available on ‘The Golden Age of Light Music: The 1950’s Volume 5 ‘Sunny Side Up’’ GLCD5142.                  

Ernest Tomlinson: Little Serenade

Ernest Tomlinson (b.1924) is one of the most prolific of all light music composers. He has been compositionally active since before the Second World War when he began composing as a choirboy at Manchester Cathedral. Tomlinson’s musical achievement is considerable, however relatively few of his works have appeared on CD.  At present there are some 13 albums listed on Arkiv which feature his music. Most of these are one number samplers. Only the two Marco Polo discs are dedicated exclusively to his works.

The delightful ‘Little Serenade’ is possibly one of the composer’s best known pieces (others may include the Suite of English Folk Dances and ‘Kielder Water’.  The piece began life as a part of the score of a radio musical play, The Story of Cinderella. Interestingly, the ‘book’ for this musical was written by Roy Plomley of Desert Island disc fame. This was performed in 1955.  The ‘Serenade’ is featured early on in the tale, when Prince Charming first sets eyes on Cinderella. It is at the moment when she is unaware of his princely rank.  The ‘song’ develops into a ‘love duet.’  This is a ‘delicately winning’ (Gramophone March 2000) little number that bears many hearings.

Tim MacDonald, writing the liner notes for the Marco Polo recording of this work, reminds the listener that this tune has been used as a signature tune in at least five radio and TV programmes and that the work has been subject to more than thirty ‘assorted’ arrangements.

Other survivals from this suite of incidental music are the ‘Fairy Coach and the Cinderella Waltz. The original play was commissioned by the BBC and was broadcast on Christmas Eve, 1955.

The ‘Little Serenade’, conducted by the composer, can be heard on Marco Polo 8.223413.  Other versions include Ronald Corp on Hyperion CDA67148, and an early performance dating from 1955 with George Weldon conducting the Pro Arte Orchestra on EMI 0887962. There is an attractive YouTube video featuring this music.  Finally I cannot resist showing a picture of the iconic George Weldon Light Music LP cover.