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A 256TH GARLAND OF BRITISH LIGHT MUSIC COMPOSERS

Three brief mentions to begin with. First, a recall of the name Harvey Richards, a "mood music" purveyor of a generation or so ago, whose titles include the orchestral miniature Plain Sailing. Second, a mention for a present day composer of marches in the shape of Martyn Hancock, especially for The Jolly Roger. And thirdly, there is the name Malcolm Bennett, who writes, among other things, music for brass, of which many exemplify the atmospheric euphonium solo, Rutland Water.

The name Harry Morley Acres was a notable one in the English musical stage between the 1920s and the 1950s though primarily as a conductor, notably for shows by Ivor Novello and Noel Coward. He did however compose in a modest way, with contributions to The Yellow Mask (1927, mainly by Vernon Duke), the Gaiety successes Darling I Love You (1930) and The Love Race, with its motoring background and revues like Shake Your Feet, from which came Acres’ best known hit song Anybody But You.

Bert Lee was also long connected with the English musical stage, as librettist and lyricist (and later as film scriptwriter), often with the Waller and Tunbridge shows, up to the Second World War, rather than as composer; but he is credited with the music for a number of songs: I Feel So Lonely for the musical The Island in 1910, Wild Oats for For the Love of Mike (1931) and numbers for sundry revues (like Sunshine and Laughter and Razzle-Dazzle) and for the touring musicals Mr Tickle MP

(1924) and Billy Blue (1928). Generally speaking, his songs were best suited to revue or the older-style musical hall, examples being Fares Please! (The Tram-Conductor Girl), I Love Zomeone in Zummerset (with T.C. Sterndale Bennett), On the Nancy Lee (with Reg Low) and Fancy You Fancying Me! with Robert P. Weston, long Lee’s partner as lyricist and librettist in the theatre.

Philip L Scowcroft

March 2002


Enquiries to Philip at

8 Rowan Mount

DONCASTER

S YORKS DN2 5PJ

Philip's book 'British Light Music Composers' (ISBN 0903413 88 4) is currently out of print.

E-mail enquiries (but NOT orders) can be directed to Rob Barnett at rob.barnett1@btinternet.com


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