It is hardly an exaggeration to say that during
the period between the mid-1930s and the mid-1950s no day would go by
without at least one piece of music penned by Eric Coates - the ‘Uncrowned
King of Light Music’ - being broadcast. In fact, in his erudite
notes to this new set, Michael Payne, author of the newly published
The
Life and Music of Eric Coates (Ashgate Press) recalls, for instance,
that Coates’ march
Calling All Workers was selected to
be the signature tune of the popular BBC radio programme ‘Music
While You Work’ At the height of World War II there were three
editions of the programme a day with the march opening and closing each
programme. Furthermore Coates’
By the Sleepy Lagoon still
introduces BBC Radio 4’s ‘Desert Island Discs’ after
seventy years … but then so many other radio and television programmes
included music by Coates. One wonders, does this superbly crafted music,
so full of vitality and romance appeal to audiences below the age of
say sixty. This despite the sterling work of several young people like
Michael Payne and especially the conductor John Wilson?
Both Nimbus and Alan Bunting, who was responsible for the restorations
and re-masterings, are to be congratulated on compiling such a comprehensive
survey of the work of Eric Coates as conductor. Like a number of other
composers working in the first half of the 20
th Century,
including Elgar and Walton to name only two, Coates regularly worked
in the recording studios - in his case in both EMI and Decca facilities.
First I must play devil’s advocate and remind readers of two 2-CD
sets devoted to Eric Coates conducting his own music. These were released
by the late-lamented Conifer label in 1994 (‘The Music of Eric
Coates’ on CDHD 211-212) and 1996 (‘The Three Elizabeths’
- The Music of Eric Coates’ on 7560552390 2A-2B). The 1994 compilations
were transferred from collections by enthusiasts: Malcolm Walker, Hugh
Palmer and Roger Beardsley. The re-mastering engineer for the 1996 release
was Ted Kendall. A total of 77 music tracks are available on these two
Conifer sets. Both the Conifer and Nimbus collections commence with
the HMV 2449, 1931 recording of Eric Coates’s
The Merrymakers
Overture. I listened to both for comparison. The Conifer transfer is
very good; it has immediacy and a good dynamic range, a solid base end.
The new Nimbus transfer is splendid too but to my ears just lacks the
punch and sparkle of the Conifer.
While carping I must also express my disappointment about the content
of the Nimbus bonus disc. While I realise there could have been difficulties
in rights possessions between Dutton Vocalion and Nimbus, I sadly missed
any recorded performance of Eric Coates’s music by his great friend
and champion, Stanford Robinson. Speaking of Stanford Robinson, we are
indebted to him for recording what many call Coates’ masterpiece,
his extended composition
The Enchanted Garden - ballet music
for a ballet that has never, to the best of my knowledge, been staged.
What a shame that Coates never recorded this delightful work. By the
way he was a very fine conductor and took his works at a brisk pace
- he always frowned on conductors who dragged out his music - and was
unashamed to point up their romantic elements.
The contents of these seven discs set out at the foot of this review
will be critical in selling this set without any blandishments from
myself. Clearly I could not hope to cover all the works in this set
otherwise this review would be tediously long. So I will just mention
a few, that have always resonated for me. The Marches must be included
especially
The Knightsbridge March that really put the composer
on the map when it was chosen to introduce the popular radio series,
‘In Town Tonight’ and at the other end of a lifetime’s
work
The Dam Busters March used in the famous film. Of the many
marches here there are so many that impress and stir the blood - of
the London settings -
London Bridge and
Oxford Street,
then there is
Music Everywhere - The Rediffusion March. I can
think of how
The Three Elizabeths music was such an inspired
choice for two programmes: for the 1960s - the black and white BBC TV
production of ‘The Forsyte Saga’ and the sublime middle
section of
Elizabeth of Glamis as used for BBC Radio’s
‘Myself and Music’.
The Merrymakers Overture will
always be a favourite of mine, similarly
Cinderella,
the
Saxo-Rhapsody, played by Sigurd Rascher here, and that marvellous
‘Rhythm’ movement that ends
The Four Centuries Suite
- a work that almost brought a BBC Promenade Concert to a standstill.
I must also add those lovely nostalgic middle movements of the two London
Suites for
Westminster - Meditation and
Langham Place - Elegy.
Having disparaged the Bonus CD somewhat, I should add that it does contain
some valuable material not covered in the preceding 6 CDs. Notably there
are three early works:
From The Countryside Suite, the
Miniature Suite and the
Joyous Youth plus
The Four
Ways Suite from 1927.
An unmissable bargain for Coates fans and, it is to be hoped, an introduction
to younger generations of music-lovers, especially those who appreciate
first class tunes.
Ian Lace
Valuable Coates links
Coates on MusicWeb
International
Coates
in Sussex - Ian Lace
Coates
and Elgar - Ian Lace
Coates
-Philip Scowcroft
Track-Listing - Overview
CD 1 - 1931-1937 [78.08]
1. The Merrymakers - Overture 4:21 2. From Meadow to Mayfair - Suite
11.35 3. Summer Afternoon - Idyll 3:28 4. Cinderella - Phantasy 12:46
5. By The Sleepy Lagoon - Valse Serenade 4:36 6. The Jester At The Wedding
: No.1 The Princess Arrives - March 3:00 7. By The Tamarisk - Intermezzo
4:13 8. Saxo-Rhapsody 8:46 9. Summer Days - Suite 8.07 10. Springtime
- Suite 12.20 11. For Your Delight - Serenade 4:00
CD 2 - 1940-1948 [77.57]
1. Footlights - Concert Valse 4:17 2 . Last Love - Romance 3:54 3 .
The Seven Seas - March 3:14 4. I Sing To You (A Souvenir) 3:17 5. Calling
All Workers - March 2:59 6. Fanfare Number 1 0:18 7. Salute the Soldier
- March 3:22 8. Fanfare Number 2 0:26 9. The Eighth Army March 2:37
10. The Four Centuries - Suite 17.24 11. The Three Elizabeths - Suite
18.06 12. Dancing Nights - Concert Valse 6:48 13. London Calling - March
2:55 14. London Bridge - March 4:05 15. London Suite - Knightsbridge
March 2:56
CD 3 - 1948-1955 [78.33]
1. A Song Of Loyalty 3:19 2. By The Sleepy Lagoon - Valse Serenade 3:15
3. Bird Songs At Eventide 3:08 4 . Television March 3:19 5. Wood Nymphs
- Valsette 3:09 6. London - Suite 13.27 7. London Again - Suite 12.51
8. The Three Men - Suite 13.28 9. The Jester At The Wedding : No.4 -
Dance Of The Orange Blossoms 3:45 10. Music Everywhere - Rediffusion
March 2:57 11. The Dam Busters - March 2:56 12. Sound And Vision The
A.T.V. Television March 3:00
CD 4 - 1952-1957 [78.29]
1. High Flight - March 2:49 2. Impression of a Princess - Intermezzo
2:58 3. Wood Nymphs - Valsette 2:46 4. South Wales and West - Television
March 2:47 5. London - Suite 13.18 6. London Again - Suite 12.00 7.
The Three Elizabeths - Suite 19.09 8. The Four Centuries - Suite 20.25
CD 5 - Early records [72.05]
1. Summer Days - Suite 0.00 2. Wood Nymphs - Valsette 3:01 3. With A
Song In My Heart. Symphonic Rhapsody after Richard Rodgers 7:47 4. Bird
Songs at Eventide 4:01 5. I Pitch My Lonely Caravan At Night 4:11 6.
I Heard You Singing & Bird Songs At Eventide - Symphonic Rhapsody
4:03 7. London - Suite 8.08 8. London Bridge - March 3:07 9. The Jester
At The Wedding : No.1 - The Princess Arrives - March 3:21 10. The Jester
At The Wedding : No.4 The Dance Of The Orange Blossoms 3.03 11. The
Three Men - Suite 12.12 12. Wood Nymphs - Valsette 3:18 13. Song Of
Loyalty (The Prayer Within Our Hearts) 4:16
CD 6 - Early and Acoustic records [70.25]
1. Meadow To Mayfair Suite : No.2 4:03 2. London Again - Suite 11.28
3. By The Sleepy Lagoon - Valse Serenade 3:20 4. The Three Bears - A
Phantasy 8:52 5. London Suite - Knightsbridge March 4:01 6. Television
March 3:20 7. Valse From The Phantasy “The Three Bears”
3:07 8. The Merrymakers - Overture 4:06 9. Moresque Dance - Interlude
3:37 10. Joyous Youth - Suite 11.33 11. Summer Days Suite : At The Dance
3:59 12. The Selfish Giant - A Phantasy (arr. Lucas) 8:06
Bonus CD 7 - 1918-1955 [74.33]
Performances of works which Coates did not record himself alongside
alternative and famous performances by other conductors. Including The
Peerless Orchestra, Clarence Raybould, Charles Williams, Jack Hylton,
Joseph Lewis, RAF Central Orchestra, Sidney Torch, Robert Farnon, and
the Central Band of the Royal Air Force.
Track-Listing - Detail
CD 1 - 78.08 (1923-1937)
1)
The Merrymakers Overture (1923) [4.21] rec. 1931+
From Meadow to Mayfair Suite (1931) [11.35] rec. 1931+
:-
2)
In the Country - Rustic Dance [3.12]
3)
A Song By the Way - Romance [4.03]
4
) Evening in Town - Valse [4.20]
5
) Summer Afternoon - Idyll (1931) [3.28] rec. 1934 *
6
) Cinderella - Phantasy (1929) [12.46] **
7)
By the Sleepy Lagoon - Valse Serenade extended version
(1930) [4.36] rec. 1935 **
8)
The Jester at the Wedding (‘The Princess Arrives’)
- March (1932) [3.00] rec. 1934 *
9)
By the Tamarisk - Intermezzo (1927) [4.13] rec. 1936
**
10)
Saxo-Rhapsody (1936) [8.46] with Sigurd Rascher (alto
saxophone) rec. 1937 ***
Summer Days Suite (1937) [8.17] rec. 1937 ***
11)
In a Country Lane [2.06]
12)
On the Edge of a Lake [2.19]
13)
At the Dance [3.42]
Springtime Suite (1937) [12.20] rec 1937 #
14)
Fresh Morning - Pastorale [4.01]
15)
Noonday Song - Romance [4.17]
16)
Dance in the Twilight - Valse [4.02]
17)
For Your Delight - Serenade (1937) [4.00] rec. 1937
#
+ London Symphony Orchestra
* Symphony Orchestra (unidentified) ** Symphony Orchestra (actually
London Philharmonic Orchestra) *** Symphony Orchestra (actually London
Symphony Orchestra)
+ London Symphony Orchestra; # Light Symphony Orchestra
CD 2 -77.57
1
) Footlights - Concert Waltz (1939) [4.17] rec. 1940
#
2)
Last Love - Romance (1939) [3.54] rec. 1940 #
3)
The Seven Seas March (later retitled ‘South Wales
& West) (1937) [3.14] rec. 1940 #
4)
I Sing to You (A Souvenir) (1940) [3.17] rec. 1940
#
5)
Calling All Workers March (1940) [2.59] rec. 1940 *
6)
Fanfare No. 1 (1943) [0.18] rec. 1944 +
7)
Salute the Soldier - March (1944) [3.22] rec. 1944
+
8)
Fanfare No. 2 (1943) [0.26] rec. 1944 +
9)
The Eighth Army March (1942) [2.37] rec. 1944 +
The Four Centuries Suite (1941) [18.04] rec. 1944 ♪
10)
Prelude & Hornpipe - 17thCentury
[4.21]
11)
Pavane & Tambourin - 18thCentury
[4.46]
12)
Valse - 19thCentury [4.41]
13)
Rhythm - 20thCentury [4.16]
The Three Elizabeths Suite (1944) [17.49] rec.1944 ♪
14)
Halcyon Days - Elizabeth Tudor [6.35]
15)
Springtime in Angus -Elizabeth of Glamis, The Queen Mother
[6.37]
16)
Youth of Britain (March) - The Princess Elizabeth [4.34]
17)
Dancing Nights - Concert Valse (1931) [6.48] rec.
1945 +
18)
London Calling -March (1941) [2.55] rec. 1946 +
19)
London Bridge - March (1934) [4.05] rec. 1946 +
20)
London Suite - Knightsbridge March (Abridged Version)
(1932) [2.56] rec. 1948
+ London Symphony Orchestra; # Light Symphony Orchestra * Symphony Orchestra
(unidentified) ♪ The National Symphony Orchestra
CD 3 - 78.33
1)
A Song of Loyalty (Orchestral Version)
(1935) [3.19] rec. 1948
2)
By the Sleepy Lagoon - Valse Serenade (1930) [3.15]
rec. 1948
3)
Bird Songs at Eventide (arranged by H. M. Higgs) [3.08]
rec. 1948
4)
Television March (1946) [3.19] rec. 1948
5)
Wood Nymphs - Valsette (1917) [3.09] rec. 1948
London Suite (1932) [13.27]
6)
Covent Garden - Tarantelle [4.43]
7)
Westminster - Meditation [4.29]
8)
Knightsbridge - March [4.15]
London Again Suite (1936) [12.51]
9)
Oxford Street (March) [3.31]
10)
Langham Place - Elegy [5.04]
11)
Mayfair - Valse [4.16]
The Three Men Suite (1935) [13.08] rec. 1949
12)
The Man From the Country [4.09]
13)
The Man About Town [4.37]
14)
The Man From the Sea [4.22]
15)
The Jester at the Wedding No. 4 Dance of the Orange
Blossoms (1932) [3.45] rec. 1949
16)
The Three Bears - A Phantasy (1926) [9.14] rec. 1949
17)
Music Everywhere - Redifussion March (1948) [2.57]
rec. 1949
18)
The Dam Busters March (1954) [2.56] rec. 1955
19)
Sound And Vision - The A.T.V. Television March (1955)
[3.00] rec. 1955
All recordings on CD3 made with The New Symphony Orchestra except
Music
Everywhere with Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra; and
The Dam
Busters and the
Sound and Vision March with a Concert Orchestra
CD 4 - 78.29
1)
High Flight - March (1957) [2.49] rec.
1957 *
2)
Impression of a Princess - Intermezzo (1956) [2.58]
rec. 1957 *
3)
Wood Nymphs - Valsette (1917) [2.46] rec. 1957 *
4)
South Wales & West - Television March (1937 [2.47]
rec,. 1957 *
London Suite (1932) [13.18] rec. 1952 ♪
5)
Covent Garden - Tarantelle [4.41]
6)
Westminster - Meditation [4.25]
7)
Knightsbridge - March [4.12]
London Again Suite (1936) [12.40] rec. 1952 ♪
8)
Oxford Street - March [3.29]
9)
Langham Place - Elegy [4.59]
10)
Mayfair - Valse [4.12]
The Three Elizabeths Suite (1944) [18.49] rec. 1953 +
11) Halcyon Days - Elizabeth Tudor [7.23]
12) Springtime in Angus - Elizabeth of Glamis [7.05]
13) Youth of Britain - March - The Princess Elizabeth [4.41]
The Four Centuries - Suite (1941) [21.05] rec. 1953 +
14)
Prelude & Hornpipe - 17
th Century [6.19]
15)
Pavane & Tambourin - 18
th Century [5.53]
16)
Valse - 19
th Century [4.38]
17)
Rhythm - 20
th Century [4.15]
* Eric Coates and His Orchestra ♪ Philharmonic Promenade Orchestra
(actually a section of the London Philharmonic) + New Symphony Orchestra
of London
CD 5 [72.05]
Summer Days - Suite (1919) [9.53] rec.
1926 +
1)
In A Country Lane [2.43]
2)
On the Edge of the Lake (Isle of the Waters) [3.26]
3)
At the Dance [3.44]
4)
Wood Nymphs [3.01] +
5)
With A Song In My Heart (Symphonic Rhapsody after Richard
Rogers) (1930) [7.47] rec. 1930. ♪
6)
Bird Songs at Eventide (1926) with vocalist Billy Scott-Coomber
and Jack Payne and his Band [4.01] rec. 1932
7)
I Pitch My Lonely Caravan at Night - Symphonic Rhapsody
(1932) [4.11] rec.1933 *
8)
I Heard You Singing & Bird Songs At Eventide -
Symphonic Rhapsody (1932) [4.03] rec. 1933 *
London Suite (1932) [13.18] rec. 1933 *
9)
Covent Garden - Tarantelle [4.41]
10)
Westminster - Meditation [4.25]
11)
Knightsbridge - March [4.12]
12)
London Bridge - March (1934) [3.07] **
13)
The Jester at the Wedding:
No. 1 The Princess Arrives
(1932) [3.21] rec. 1935 *
14)
The Jester at the Wedding:
No. 4 The Dance of the
Orange Blossoms - Valse (1932) [3.03] rec. 1934] **
The Three Men - Suite (1935) [12.52] rec. 1935 ♫
15)
The Man From the Country [3.55]
16)
The Man About Town [4.20]
17)
The Man From the Sea [4.37]
18)
Wood Nymphs - Valsette (1917) [3.18] rec. 1935 ♫
19
) Song of Loyalty (The Prayer Within Our Hearts) (1935)
[4.16] rec. 1935
* Symphony Orchestra (actually London Philharmonic Orchestra); ** Symphony
Orchestra # New Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra; + New Queen’s
Hall Light Orchestra; ♪ The Court Symphony Orchestra; ♫
Light Symphony Orchestra (actually London Philharmonic Orchestra
CD 6 70.25
1
) Meadow to Mayfair Suite: No. 2 - ‘A Song By the
Way’ (1931) [4.03] rec. 1935 *
London Again Suite (1936) [12.40] rec. 1936 **
2)
Oxford Street - March [3.12]
3)
Langham Place - Elegy [4.20]
4)
Mayfair - Valse [3.56]
5)
By the Sleepy Lagoon - Valse Serenade (1930) [3.20]
rec. rec. 1940 *
6)
The Three Bears - A Phantasy (1926) [8.52] rec. 1945
+
7)
London Suite - ‘Knightsbridge March’ (1932)
[4.01] rec. 1946 +
8)
Televison March (1946) [3.20] +
9) ‘Valse’ from The Phantasy
The Three Bears
(1949) [3.07] rec. 1949 ♪
10)
The Merrymakers - Overture (1923) [4.06] rec. 1923
(acoustic recording) ♪
11)
Moresque - Interlude (1921) [3.37] rec. 1923 (acoustic
recording) ♪
Joyous Youth - Suite (1921) [11.33] rec. 1923 (acoustic
recordings) #
12)
Introduction [4.04]
13)
Serenade [3.59]
14)
Valse [3.30]
15)
Summer Days Suite:
At the Dance (1919) [3.59]
rec. 1926 #
16)
The Selfish Giant - A Phantasy (arr. Leighton Lucas)
(1925) [8.06] rec. 1926
* Symphony Orchestra; ** Symphony Orchestra (actually London Philharmonic);
+ London Symphony Orchestra; ♪ New Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra;
# The Aeolian Orchestra
BONUS CD 7 [74.33]
From The Countryside - Suite (1914) [6.59] rec. circa
1918
The Peerless Orchestra
1)
Early Morning - In the Meadows [1.36]
2)
Afternoon - Among the Poppies [2.05]
3)
Evening - At the Fair [3.18]
Miniature Suite (1911) [8.42] rec. 1931
Clarence Raybould conducting Light Symphony Orchestra
4)
Children’s Dance [2.16]
5)
Intermezzo [2.15]
6)
Scene du Bal [4.11]
Joyous Youth - Suite (1921) [8.19] rec. 1942
Charles Williams conducting the Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra
12)
Introduction [2.34]
13)
Serenade [2.49]
14)
Valse [2.56]
10)
Moresque - Dance Interlude (1921) [2.45] rec. 1944
Charles Williams conducting the Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra
Two Light Syncopated Pieces (1924-25) [5.17]
11)
Moon Magic [2.13]
Charles Williams conducting the Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra rec
1946
12)
Rose Of Samarkand [3.04]
Jack Hylton and His Orchestra rec. 1926
13)
The Selfish Giant - A Phantasy (1925) [8.08] rec.1945
The New Concert Orchestra conducted by John Leon
Four Ways Suite (1927) [12.17] rec. 1934
Joseph Lewis conducting the New Light Symphony Orchestra
14)
Northwards - March [4.12]
15)
Southwards - Valse (1.17]
16)
Eastwards - Eastern Dance [2.47]
17)
Westwards - Rhythm [4.01]
18)
Mirage - Romance (1928) [2.43] rec. 1942
Charles Williams conducting the Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra
19)
Under the Stars (1928) [3.07] rec. 1946
Charles Williams conducting the Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra
20)
Lazy Night - Valse Romantique (1931) [2.47] rec. 1932
Cedric Sharpe Sextet
21)
Over to You - March (1941) [3.09] rec. 1942
RAF Central Orchestra conducted by Wing Commander O. P. O’Donnell
MVO
22)
Holborn - March (1950) [3.20] rec. 1950
Sidney Torch and his Orchestra
23)
Sweet Seventeen - Concert Waltz (1954) [2.44] rec.
1955
The Melodi Light Orchestra conducted by Ole Jensen
24)
The Dam Busters March (1954) [3.00] rec. 1955
Central Band of The Royal Air Force conducted by Wing Commander A.E.
Sims OBE
