each capturing a particular mood in three minutes or
less, which film, TV and radio producers could draw on to suitably illustrate
their products. Some of the great names in British Light Music were
represented in the libraries and we encounter several of them here;
for example: Philip Green, Sidney Torch, Robert Farnon, Jack Beaver
(two atmospheric numbers originally called ‘Ionosphere’ and ‘Spaceways’)
and Mark Lubbock, whose ‘Moon Lullaby’ is delightful. It is good to
hear again the stirring marches: ‘Freedom of the City’ and ‘National
Unity’, both by Arnold Steck; ‘Awkward Squad’ by Philip Green; and ‘Double
X’ by C.H. Jaeger. Not all "library composers" were, or are,
British, and in this connection, I like particularly the movements by
the Frenchman Paul Bonneau ‘Thierry Veneaux’ (five tracks altogether)
and Roger Roger (seven) especially the latter’s period pastiches ‘Pavane’
and ‘Lonely Flute’.
Coming now to music actually written for the series,
an opening titles theme was commissioned from Ron Grainer, and from
those prolific writers Robert Farnon and Wilfred Josephs. The efforts
of the latter two were eventually discarded (though two tracks of Josephs’
music appear on Vol. 1 of this 3 CD set and, as I have said, Farnon’s
library miniatures – four very varied ones, none of them particularly
well-known but all representative of his genius – were drawn on for
individual episodes). Grainer, who was well versed in providing music
for TV (remember then first series of BBC TV’s Maigret - and
Dr Who?), was given the nod for his "entry", which
figures a number of times and in various versions on these discs; it
is, of course, highly effective for its purpose, more popular in idiom
than Josephs’ and, one fancies, Farnon’s discords. The other purpose
– written music is arranged (from classical sources, Johann Strauss
I, Bizet and Vivaldi) or composed by Bert Elms. Elms often incorporates
nursery rhymes and other popular tunes – like the ‘Eton Boating Song’
– and much of his contribution was, doubtless for economic reasons,
by the sound of it, scored for small ensembles. (Many of the "library"
tracks presumably feature the Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra, though not
all, as one is for guitar solo, another for synthesiser).
Whether one’s interest is The Prisoner or the
popular music of a generation ago, or both these attractively presented
discs can be recommended with confidence.
Philip L. Scowcroft
Vol. 1: SILVA SCREEN
FILMCD 601 [55:45]