This is a collection of eighteen piano pieces with descriptive titles by
one of the most gifted composers of English light music of the twentieth
century.
King was born in London in 1904 and studied with Henry Farjeon at the Royal
Academy of Music. He played at the Proms under Sir Henry Wood and his Piano
Concerto was conducted by Sir Alexander MacKenzie.
But his main interest lay both in light music and in entertaining people,
and it is true that he had an exceptional gift for melody. He was admired
by Billy Mayerl who played some of his pieces which may sound familiar to
some people.
Some pieces have a sugary sentimentality that will not please everyone but
the jazzy numbers such as Money Spider are far more effective. We
have a habanera with In the Shade of the Palms and his so-called
'signature tune' Song of Paradise is a good piece.
I suspect that these impressionistic pieces are somewhat autobiographical
such as June Night on the River and the charming portrait of
Julia.
It is wonderfully nostalgic of the period but I do not recommend you hear
all the pieces at once.
They are played with tremendous enthusiasm and only musical snobs will fail
to find something in this collection to please them.
Pass the cucumber sandwiches, Linda.
Reviewer
David Wright
Performances
Recording
Alan
Cuckston (piano) 
