Garland 1132 of British Light Music Composers
 
The name of Max Bruch (1838-1920) may cause eyebrows to rise, even to the ceiling, as he composed operas, cantatas, concertos and three symphonies. But if we take the best definition of light music that I know: that its tune is more important than what you do with it, this fits Max Bruch, even his symphonies and concertos. In any event he brought out many compositions which are indisputably light: Swedish dances, Russian and Swedish folk songs and dances, the Romance for violin and orchestra, the Adagio on Celtic themes (cello/orchestra), Kol Nidrei and the Scottish Fantasy many of which are based on his preoccupation with folk and traditional melody. Bruch was born and died in Germany. Britain's claim to him arose out of the fact that in 1880-83 he conducted the Liverpool Philharmonic orchestra and indeed the premieres of two of his best-known compositions - Kol Nidrei and Scottish Fantasy took place in Liverpool under him and he took a degree albeit an honorary one at Cambridge University.
 
I finish this Garland with modern wind composers Julia Gomelskaja's Sentimental Serenade (1996) for bassoon and piano and a bagatelle (1996) for piano; Andrew Tweed for PR Girl for saxophone quintet, published 1992; John Mitchell for Kentish Caprice for clarinet and piano and Contrasts (Bagatelle and The Seance)for solo piano (both 2000); Graham Lawson (Two Cumbrian Caprices) for bassoon or trombone and piano, also 2000); and Robert Bloom's brackets (1908-94) for his works for oboe and piano - a Sonatina, Madrigal and Aria.
 
Philip L Scowcroft
November 2010

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