A 257th GARLAND OF BRITISH LIGHT MUSIC COMPOSERS
Let us begin with Wilfred Worden, who was active
during the 1940s and 1950s. His orchestral Two Impressions, Opus
27, clearly Welsh-inspired, as the titles are The Lost Cantref and
March of Glyndwr, received a number of performances in their day.
His accessible piano solos included Menuet et Musette (Salle des
Glaces), clearly a Baroque pastiche and published in 1951, Pas
de Deux (1949) and Pastel (1943).
Next, a mention for A. Woodall, whose Christian
name I do not know, for his attractive Serenade for flute and
piano published by Rudall Carte maybe a century ago, but still being
played. (He appears to be a "one work man").
Tom D Newell was actor and choreographer on
the English musical stage. He also composed, contributing numbers to
the 1928 show Billy Blue. Other English stage "singletons"
were Marion Hart, responsible for the book, lyrics and music
for Gentlemen’s Pastime, which managed just 18 outings at the
Players Theatre in 1958, and Hugh Hastings, who in 1962 adapted
his play Seagulls Over Sorrento as a musical (with the title
Scapa) and composed the songs himself.
However, these were criticised as being "unmemorable"
and the show, put on at the Adelphi, was not a success.
Finally mentions for the composer, active around mid-century,
of three orchestral miniatures which so far as my information goes,
are also "singletons": Commissionaire by Ernest
W. Hastings (orchestrated by Howard Carr); Patterns For Strings
by Ralph Hart; and Toy Piano Minuet by one T. Harrison.
Philip L Scowcroft
March 2002
Philip's book 'British Light Music Composers' (ISBN 0903413 88 4) is
currently out of print.
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