THE ROBERT FARNON CD THAT NEVER WAS

By David Ades

On 30 & 31 October 1995, Robert Farnon was once again at the CTS Studios in Wembley, London, recording the orchestral backings for a new CD with the great American popular singer Eddie Fisher.

In a feature in JIM 125 (February 1996) it was hoped that this would be one of the most exciting new CD releases of standard repertoire that year. Eddie Fisher was reported to be full of eager anticipation for this project, which was expected to relaunch his career in a big way!

The JIM article continued: Eddie is now managed by Tino Barzie, who readers will recall recently guided the career of Pia Zadora, resulting in several superb albums which made sceptical critics eat their words.

It is hardly a similar situation with Eddie Fisher, who has been a big star for over 40 years. However he would probably agree that he has not exactly pushed himself to the forefront of the entertainment scene in recent years, but this new album is likely to do just that!

Vincent Falcone, previously Sinatra’s MD, is working closely with Eddie, and his great experience, plus Fisher’s undoubted talent, makes a combination hard to beat. Add Farnon’s brilliant scores, plus four swinging charts by Sammy Nestico, and you have a winning formula that can hardly fail.

Eddie Fisher was at the CTS Studios to listen in and guide the orchestral backings. As each score appeared on the music stands his enthusiasm grew, and the rich, warm Fisher tones could be heard soaring above the magnificent orchestra. The vocal tracks are being added in Los Angeles.

The basis of the Robert Farnon Orchestra this time is the London Philharmonic, leader Duncan Riddell ... 14 violins, 4 violas, 4 cellos, 2 French horns and harp. Added to that are the cream of London session players: Kenny Baker, Guy Barker, Steve Sidwell and Simon Gardner on trumpets; Don Lusher, Gordon Campbell, Bill Geldard, Mark Nightingale* and Cohn Sheen* on trombones; Roy Willox, Peter Hughes, Tommy Whittle, Duncan Lamont, Denis Walton* and Eddie Mordue* on saxes and woodwinds; Jim Lawless on percussion; Louis Stewart on guitar; Chris Lawrence on bass; and Jack Parnell on drums. Vincent Falcone was on electric piano. (*These players were not present on every session.)

The first three-hour session began at 2:30pm on Monday 30 October, and featured Robert Farnon conducting his arrangements of It Never Entered My Mind, April Showers, Oh my Papa and Love You Didn’t Do Right By Me. The evening session started with another run-through of Love You Didn’t Do Right By Me, followed by The Very Thought 0f You, My Shining Hour (this may well be the title track of the album), and My Funny Valentine. On the Tuesday afternoon Bob conducted My Foolish Heart, Love’s Been Good To Me and What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life? The rest of the Tuesday sessions were taken up with Vincent Falcone conducting the Sammy Nestico arrangements: Crazy On A Slow Boat to China, I Remember You and a medley comprising Wish You Were Here and Any Time.

……………………..

Fifteen years later we are still waiting for the CD to be issued. At the time we heard rumours that the producers were delaying its release until Eddie Fisher was available to undertake a tour of radio and television stations in the USA to promote the album, but it seems he was unwilling to commit to it.

Now that he has passed on (his obituary appears on page xx of this issue) is it possible that the CD may finally reach the record stores? It is well known that the death of an artist seems to result in an upsurge in interest of their work. The producers must have invested a lot of money in the original sessions – perhaps they may now be considering recouping it.

When he heard the test results (after Fisher’s vocals had been added in the USA) Robert Farnon confided to us that he was a little unhappy with the way in which some choral passages intruded on his original arrangements. Also it has to be said that Fisher’s voice had passed its prime.

The results could have damaged his reputation, which possibly was the real reason why these sessions produced "The CD That Never Was".

This article originally appeared in ‘Journal Into Melody’, December 2010

Submit to Facebook

BBC ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS FAILED TO MAINTAIN ITS APPEAL TO MANY OLDER LISTENERS

Last February BBC Radio 2 was told to do more to appeal to older listeners - particularly over-65s.

In a major review of the station, the BBC Trust said Britain's biggest network should find a "more varied and challenging selection of programmes" - even if this meant losing some of its audience. The review, which began nine months earlier, said Radio 2 needed to be more "distinctive" and more ambitious in its "non-music" programmes in peak-time. The station targets over 35s with 82% of its audience within that age range with the average audience member of 50. But it said Radio 2 must do "more to target those over 65 years of age". The Trust concluded that Radio 2 was highly regarded by audiences but should use its scale to be more distinctive.

Other recommendations today included: Providing peak-time audiences with more content they could not hear elsewhere, refreshing comedy and arts programmes; Reaching more ethnic minority groups. BBC Trustee David Liddiment, who led the review, said: "Radio 2 has a large audience who clearly love its output, but the review showed it must break out of the routine with its programming, in particular to be more distinctive during peak time. We're aware of concerns about Radio 2 targeting a younger audience. The current average audience age of 50 is well within the station's target audience, but the Trust is clear that this must not fall any further, and we would like to see Radio 2 work on its appeal to over 65 year olds."

For years the Robert Farnon Society has criticised the music output of Radio 2. Although there are a few notable exceptions (such as "Friday Night Is Music Night" and shows presented by Russell Davies, David Jacobs and Desmond Carrington), the music played in most Radio 2 programmes can be heard elsewhere on countless radio stations, both local and national commercial. Older listeners who enjoy light music and the kind of repertoire generally classified as 'popular' (rather than 'pop') are poorly served. Even if a change of music policy results in Radio 2 losing some of its younger listeners, it could well find that the older generation will start listening in once again. Programmes appealing to more mature listeners should be broadcast during the daytime when they are at home to listen; it does not seem sensible to target daytime programmes towards a younger audience which is either at school or at work, as seems to be the case now.

First evidence of a possible change occurred in mid-April when Desmond Carrington’s weekly show was moved to 7:00 pm on Friday evenings, immediately before "Friday Night Is Music Night" which now occupies the 8:00 to 10:00pm slot. There is also talk of a ‘special’ in the summer bringing back "Legends of Light Music" – if this happens it will be announced on the Latest News page of the RFS website. This seems to be the best opportunity in years for those of us who would like to see a more enjoyable mix of music on Radio 2 to make our feelings clear. Every letter helps, and is more seriously considered than petitions by the powers-that-be.

BBC Trust publishes review of BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music

15 February 2010

A BBC Trust review published today concluded that Radio 2 was highly regarded by audiences but should use its scale to be more distinctive, while 6 Music was distinctive and well-liked by its listeners, but needed to reach a bigger audience.

The review looked at the performance of Radio 2 and 6 Music - including usage, quality, distinctiveness and value for money.

BBC Trustee David Liddiment, who led the review, said:

"Radio 2 has a large audience who clearly love its output, but the review showed it must break out of the routine with its programming, in particular to be more distinctive during peak time. In contrast, 6 Music has a distinctive approach, but the review concluded that it needed to grow its audience base without losing its USP.

"We're aware of concerns about Radio 2 targeting a younger audience. The current average audience age of 50 is well within the station's target audience, but the Trust is clear that this must not fall any further, and we would like to see Radio 2 work on its appeal to over 65 year olds."

Key findings and recommendations

Radio 2

The Trust's review found that Radio 2 was popular with listeners, who believed the station was distinctive - eight out of ten felt that Radio 2 offered something that could not be easily found elsewhere. This finding was supported by analysis of Radio 2's output which found that, in a typical week, most tracks played were unique to the station. The Trust's review welcomed the lack of music overlap between Radio 2, Radio 1, 6 Music, and comparable commercial radio stations. It concluded, however, that the station should become more distinctive by adopting a more ambitious approach to non-music content in peak time.

Radio 2's remit is to appeal to all ages over 35. Its under 35 audience has grown significantly over the last 10 years, albeit from a low base, but since 2004 this growth has stabilised. Today some 82 per cent of Radio 2's listeners are over 35, and the average audience age is 50. The review concluded that Radio 2 should maintain this stability but also protect the interests of its older audiences - specifically doing more to target those over 65 years of age.

Radio 2's listeners are loyal to the station, with nearly five million listening to no other BBC radio, and around two million listening to no other radio at all. The review concluded that Radio 2 should use this scale and popularity to make a greater contribution to the BBC's public purposes. The review's key recommendations were as follows:

    • Radio 2 should provide the peak time audience with more content that the licence fee payer couldn't hear anywhere else. This meant, for example, refreshing comedy and arts programming and using some of this material in peak time

    • As an entertainment station, Radio 2 should aim to preserve the aspects of the station which made it popular but we accept the risk that some loss of audience may be a consequence of a more varied and challenging selection of programmes

    • It should also seek to address variances in reach between audience groups - for example the Trust's research showed that ethnic minorities in particular were less likely to listen

    • The station should seek to promote the benefits of new technology so that hard to reach groups, such as the over 65s, did not get left behind.

Submit to Facebook
Gene Lees
Gene Lees

Gene Lees, Jazz Critic and Great Supporter of Robert Farnon, has died aged 82

Eugene Frederick John Lees, born on 8 February 1928, in Hamilton, Ontario, the eldest of four children of an expatriate British couple, Harold Lees and the former Dorothy Flatman. He died at his home in Ojai, California on 22 April 2010, After dropping out of the Ontario College of Art, he worked as a newspaper reporter in Canada before moving to Kentucky to become music editor of The Louisville Times in 1955. He was the editor of Downbeat magazine from 1959 to 1961 and went on to write about music for The New York Times and other publications.

Gene Lees was a prolific jazz critic and historian who approached his subject with a journalist’s rigour and an insider’s understanding. The author of numerous books, Gene was not just an observer of the music scene, he was also a participant. The Robert Farnon Society was proud to count him as a valued member for almost fifty years, and he regularly kept in touch with news of his latest assignments.

He was also an accomplished lyricist whose credits included Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars, the English-language lyric for Antonio Carlos Jobim’s Corcovado, which was recorded by Frank Sinatra, Astrud Gilberto and many others. He was also a vocalist, with several albums to his credit.

That experience, and the friendships he built over the years with musicians, singers and songwriters, informed the project that had been his primary focus since 1981: publishing (monthly at first, later at irregular intervals) the subscription-only Gene Lees Jazzletter, mostly as an outlet for his own biographical and historical essays.

"The beauty of this thing," Gene said of his journal in an interview in The New York Times in 1987, "is that it has permitted me to write what I want to write, not what editors want me to write. And the beauty of it for the other contributors is that they’ve got total freedom. No money, but total freedom."

The Jazzletter, published out of his own home, carried no advertising, and its circulation was small, although it included readers whose names any jazz fan would recognize. He initially financed it with income from his book "The Modern Rhyming Dictionary" (Cherry Lane, 1981), and his book and songwriting income helped keep it going. It was reported after his death that his wife of 38 years, the former Janet Suttle, planned to continue publishing it.

Gene was steadfast in his contempt for rock music, calling it "junk" produced by "illiterates."

Mr. Lees supported his strong opinions with strong research. At times that research took him far afield of his ostensible subject. The first chapter of another essay collection, "Singers and the Song" (Oxford, 1987), for example, was a history of the English language from the 10th century to the present.

In addition to seven collections of Jazzletter essays, Mr. Lees’s books include biographies of Woody Herman, Oscar Peterson, Johnny Mercer and the songwriting team Lerner and Loewe. He was also a co-writer of the composer Henry Mancini‘s autobiography and author of two novels. At the time of his death he was working on a biography of Artie Shaw.

Editor: while Gene was editing the US ‘Downbeat’ magazine, in 1961 he published an article on Bob Farnon which caused quite a stir. I make no excuse for repeating it once more, partly for the benefit of newer RFS members, but also to remind us all of the importance of Robert Farnon in the development of decent popular music during the second half of the last century.

Afterthoughts – by Gene Lees

From Downbeat Magazine, 16 February 1961

This issue is more or less devoted to arrangers and composers, particularly Gil Evans.

Evans, you'll note, was born in Toronto, Canada.

Now it happens that Toronto produced another remarkable arranger and composer about the same time, a man named Robert Farnon. Evans left Canada (during his late adolescence) for the United States; Farnon went to England. (Famous two brothers, Dennis and Bryan, came to the U.S. Bryan is now a television music director and Dennis is a well-known west coast arranger.)

If you're a hippie, you've probably never heard of Farnon. He's not the type that the esotericists write about; probably they don't even deign to listen to him. But if your tastes are not insular, and you have any insight at all into the art of orchestration, chances are very good that you're a member of that small group of devotees that I've dubbed the Robert Farnon Irregulars. For they are certainly as zealous a breed as the members of the Baker Street Irregulars, those Arthur Conan Doyle fans who know the Sherlock Holmes novels inside out. Farnon Irregulars are that way about Farnon's charts.

I consider myself one of the ranking members of the group. Dizzy Gillespie, who is another Farnon wig remembers that Bob used to be "a hell of a trumpet player." (Farnon says he gave up trumpet after hearing Gillespie.) But I claim to outrank even Dizzy: when I was a kid, I used to listen to Farnon playing on an otherwise dismal broadcast from Toronto called The Happy Gang. So there, Birks!

André Previn is a Farnon fan, and once said he considered Farnon "the best living string writer." Barney Kessel in turn proudly claims to have introduced Previn to Farnon's music. Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, and Quincy Jones are Farnon fans. And arranger Marion Evans is not only a Farnon admirer, but has synthesized the Farnon sound better than anyone I've heard. In fact, there is a whole group of New York arrangers who are in love with Farnon's writing, and have been influenced by it. They constitute a special subchapter of the Irregulars, and are known as the Disciples. (They, in turn, refer to Farnon as "the Guv'nor.") I suspect, from listening to his charts, that Nelson Riddle is also a member of the Irregulars.

Chicago bassist Johnny Pate turned out to be a Farnon Irregular. I was very smug about having two Farnon EPs he didn't have - until I found he had three that I didn’t have. We're negotiating.

Al Cohn is a Farnon fan too and Donald Byrd just walked off with two miniature scores of Farnon compositions that I got from the Guv'nor's Own Hand in England a couple of years ago. (Note to Al; hit Byrd for them. Then I WANT THEM BACK!)

Farnon’s reputation in America rests largely on a series of mood music albums he did for English Decca, and some light classical originals, including Canadian Impressions. (Note to other Irregulars; that falling woodwind figure in Lake of the Woods is a simulation of the cry of a loon. And the angular lines in Alcan Highway are meant to be evocative of the Rockies of British Columbia.) All these albums were released in the U.S. by London, with four now available on the subsidiary Richmond label. I urge that you listen to them, particularly Canadian Impressions and Pictures in the Fire.

After you've listened to the "conventional" writing of Farnon for a while, you find that he is an incredibly subtle orchestrator with a rich imagination and superb skill with voicings. There's so much happening in his charts.

For an example, during a passage of fill in the bridge of a pop tone in one of the mood albums, Farnon leaps the orchestra up into another key, then modulates back gracefully to the original key with a lovely figure, leaving you a little breathless; it is as if you had just seen a gust of wind lift autumn leaves, swirl them around in a dancing vortex, and then let them tall gently to earth. And that’s just one bar of fill!

Farnon gave up writing music of that kind a couple of years ago. Having earned a good bit of money doing movie scores for both British and U.S. movies (he also scored a Broadway show, but didn't dig the gig and went back to England), he moved to Guernsey in the Channel Islands and is now writing strictly classical music. Efforts by several jazz musicians to get him to write albums for them has been fruitless - until now.

For in March of this year, Farnon Irregular Gillespie is going to Europe to record the Guv’nor’s nearly-completed Suite for Trumpet and Orchestra, probably with a German symphony orchestra. Farnon is writing it specially for Dizzy. At the same time, Oscar Peterson will record another Farnon work, with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen integrated into the symphony orchestra. The two works are to be released by Verve on one LP.

Watch for this album. I hope it turns out to be all that Farnon and Peterson and Dizzy want it to be.

Then maybe the Farnon Irregulars will net a batch of new members.

Chords and Discords - Downbeat Magazine, 30 March, 1961

Fair Farnon Fanfare

Add another Farnon fan to your list. I think he is largely responsible for bringing the fresh air of enlightenment to the BBC in London during the late 1940s and early '50s. I thank you for informing me that Bob is appreciated by so many people in jazz. Ridgewood, N. J / Ron Eyre

Funny you should mention Bob Farnon. My girl and I are great English-movie goers, and in many a good picture there seeps through some good jazz band backing. Even the B English pictures have some fine charts. The vast majority have been by Farnon. I'm sorry to say that as a "Farnon Irregular" I've been quite irregular; I haven't a single LP. That will be corrected. Brooklyn, N. Y. / A. J. Smith

Footnote from Gene Lees: It's getting rather hard to be a Farnon Irregular. London Records has never recognized the value of the property they have in the Farnon discs, and they are hard to get. Several have been turned indifferently over to London's secondary line, Richmond, and no attempt has been made to make the public aware of their existence.

Editor: as RFS members will know, the special projects mentioned by Gene (especially with Dizzy Gillespie) never materialized, and happily for us Bob did not turn his back on composing and arranging light music in favour of ‘strictly classical music’.

Submit to Facebook

Twenty years ago "Journal Into Melody" celebrated its 100th issue – increased in size to 56 pages for the special occasion! The September 1990 issue was actually number 100, and in his editorial the Editor (guess who it was) wondered if we might reach issue 200 in 2015. It could actually happen in June 2014, but we won’t cross our bridges just yet.

Among the special features back in 1990 was a detailed report on the Robert Farnon sessions at CTS, Wembley, when Bob accompanied Eileen Farrell in the first of three CDs they made together. The album was called "This Time It’s Love" and it was released on Reference Recordings RR-42CD in 1991. The orchestral recordings took place at CTS on 30 April and 1 & 2 May 1990. Eileen sang with the orchestra on four of the tracks, but for the remainder her vocals were dubbed later back in the USA.

Twenty years on we are pleased to let you see many photos from the sessions, never previously included in JIM, together with the reports that appeared in our magazine:

EILEEN FARRELL & ROBERT FARNON

SPRING 1990 SESSIONS AT CTS WEMBLEY

The omens were good. Monday 30 April, according to the weather forecasters, was likely to be one of the warmest April days on record in England. It was. It also proved to be a day on which some of the finest Robert Farnon sounds ever were to he heard at the CTS Studios in Wembley.

Eileen Farrell
Eileen Farrell

After originally being scheduled for San Francisco, then switched to New York - the eagerly awaited Farnon sessions with Eileen Farrell finally transferred to London’s CTS Studios on 30 April and 1 & 2 May 1990. The results delighted every one concerned - performers, producers and privileged onlookers, including those members of the Robert Farnon Society who were able to get along to the Studios.

To kick-off our reports on the Wembley sessions, we’ll hear from our first man on the pitch ... VERNON ANDERSON:

On a beautiful late Spring morning I made my way to the CTS Studios, for what was to be my second visit there both to see and hear Robert Farnon in action before a large orchestra. Today he would be recording with Miss Eileen Farrell, well-known in the United States of America for her operatic singing, but more recently venturing into the realms of popular music with some fine recordings of a selection of favourite "standards" in the jazz idiom.

The day’s session was not due to begin until 1 pm, but I arrived early so that I could experience all the work that precedes an occasion such as this. This decision proved well worth the effort. I made myself known to the Receptionist, who just happened to be talking to Miss Farrell’s Production Manager for the sessions. I was greeted warmly and made to feel very much at home. Studio No. I was the venue for today, so I made my way downstairs to see how the preparations were going, drawn by the sound of some not unfamiliar phrases being worked out on a piano. On reaching the doorway I had quite a surprise. I recalled that on the occasion of my last visit in May 1986 the studio had been partitioned off into small compartments, each containing different sections of the orchestra. Now, all this had gone, so as to provide one large space. The orchestra’s chairs were set out in a large semi-circle facing towards the right-hand wall and centred on the conductor’s rostrum, which was a raised platform ensuring that all would see him and he could see everyone else. Suspended above were the microphones and lights, with some floor standing microphones suitably placed around, The rostrum also housed a control panel with an audio link to the main control room upstairs, whose large soundproofed tinted glass window overlooked the studio.

The recording engineers were busying themselves, monitoring the piano to get the right sound balance in audio link from the control room to the pianist, with various instructions and comments passing between them and these beautiful musical phrases rippling around the studio. I just stood and listened, trying to take it all in.

I made my way up to the control room and there was introduced to other members of the production team and the recording engineers. Lastly to Miss Farrell, who proved to be a delightfully down to earth lady, who proceeded to tell me about her journey over from the States the previous day, her hotel etc., but most of all how much she was looking forward to meeting and making this recording with Robert Farnon, a man whose music she much admired. I asked her what her favourite piece of Farnon music was and immediately she recalled the "On Target" album which Bob recorded with jazz pianist George Shearing. In particular she loved his rendition of "Song Bird", a piece composed by her accompanist Loonis McGlohon, the gentleman I had seen in the studio. He joined us in the control room and I was delighted to be introduced to him. A very modest man, quietly spoken, who was also much looking forward to working with Robert Farnon. He, too, was delighted with Bob’s arrangement of "Song Bird".

So with a sense of anticipation, we made our way down to the studio, Miss Farrell wanting to get the feel of the place and see where she was to be positioned, etc... The recording booth was immediately to the left as one entered the studio, with glass fronted partition, but open each side, complete with chair, music stand, headphones and microphone.

Eileen Farrell & RFS Secretary David Ades
Eileen Farrell & RFS Secretary David Ades

While all this was going on, I heard a familiar voice followed by first the feet and then the familiar figure of the man himself, as he came down the stairs to the studio. Robert Farnon greeted me warmly and asked whether David Ades had arrived. I assured him that David was on his way and I hoped he would be joining us for lunch. Bob asked if I would be writing an article on the sessions for the magazine, and I said I would. He was then introduced to Miss Farrell, who was immediately at ease with him, and they talked about the day’s programme. Then Bob met Mr. McGlohon. They discussed the schedule, which was to include another piece composed by him called "Everything I Love". Bob also met the recording engineers who discussed the layout and sound balance with him. Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Robert Farnon will know that he has this marvellous reassuring nature, is very unassuming and has a great sense of humour. These qualities revealed themselves as the day’s programme progressed. But it was now time for lunch, so I made my way upstairs to the restaurant on the second floor. This has a bar, and a long balcony with views west to the Conference Centre and beyond. The weather was fine, sunny and unusually hot for the time of year. I met Derek Boulton, Bob’s agent and manager, who generously treated me to a lunch. He asked me to join him at a table with Miss Farrell and Mr. McGiohon but I declined, saying that I thought Bob would want to discuss arrangements with them, so I sat at a table adjacent to them and started my meal. Bob Farnon came over with his lunch and said "I don’t like to see you eating by yourself, mind if I join you?" That is typical of the man, and that gesture made my day. We were joined by Bob’s son David, who would be assisting in the production and also playing with the orchestra in several pieces. Altogether a very enjoyable meal.

The lunch over, we made our way first to the control room, where we were joined by David Ades and then to the studio where the musicians were assembling ready for the afternoon session.

In true Farnon fashion, the rehearsal began at 1 pm sharp, the first piece on the stands "My Romance" with Eileen Farrell ‘singing in’ with the music. A lovely arrangement by Bob, and what a joy to hear the full orchestra playing it live. David Ades and I were standing just inside the doorway adjacent to Eileen’s booth, catching every note and colour. The stuff that dreams are made of.

The second piece - "Alone Together’ by Arthur Schwartz opened with a trombone solo from top session musician (and bandleader in his own right) Don Lusher, with a reference at beginning and ending to Bob’s orchestral score on the "Something To Remember You By" album of the 1950s.

No. 3 - "More Than You Know" by Vincent Youmans. This time a vocal intro, with the verse played by orchestra and solo from Don Lusher. The closing bars made reference to Bob’s "Prairie Sunset" (also known as "Almost A Lullaby").

No. 4 - "Everything I Love" by Loonis McGlohon: a new piece, with an intro, by Bob reflecting "Something to remember ..." and closing with a reference to ‘Pictures In The Fire". A beautiful arrangement.

At 2:45 No. 5 - "My Foolish Heart" was on the stands, with the intro, reflecting Bob’s earlier orchestral arrangement and closing passage from "Lake Of The Woods" with flute solo, followed by

No. 6 - "The Nearness Of You" by Ray Noble. Bob made an orchestral recording of this one back in the 1950s and later with vocalists Ray Ellington and Sheila Southern. Today we were treated to a new arrangement of this ‘standard’ which was very beautiful.No. 7 - "Easy To Love" with a hint of Bob’s ‘Hits Of Sinatra’ album’s "Second

Time Around". An up-tempo number with the great Lenny Bush on rhythm bass and Martin Taylor on guitar.

The time 3:40 and No. 8 — "The More I See You" was on the music stands. A marvellous up-tempo arrangement by Bob which had Eileen Farrell swinging along, showing how well she can sing in the jazz idiom. I particularly enjoyed her phrasing on this one.

3:49 - and it was time to start recording. So with take 1 Bob swung the orchestra and Eileen into "The More I See You" again. I noted a particularly fine tenor solo from Tommy Whittle. By the time everyone was satisfied, it was time for tea in the restaurant, where David Ades and I were joined by Bob and son David. Bob seemed quite pleased with the way the sessions were going. There was even time to enjoy the afternoon sun on the balcony.

At 5:00 pm the sessions resumed with "My Romance’. The fourth take commencing at 5:30 was fine and, as the expression goes, ‘in the bag’. At this point I’ll hand over to David Ades to tell you about the remaining magical moments of the evening session. VERNON ANDERSON

Vernon’s report above graphically conveys the atmosphere at the studios, and the business-like way in which the sessions proceeded. My overwhelming impression of that first afternoon was the sheer joy of hearing that magnificent orchestra (all hand-picked session musicians) glide almost effortlessly through no less than eight stunning new Farnon arrangements within three short hours. There is very little I can add to Vernon’s comments, except to tell you that I detected Bob’s First Symphony briefly appearing in "The Nearness Of You"; he also used the same theme in his "New Horizons".

Although there were a few changes on the final day, on most numbers the orchestra comprised: 10 first violins (leader, Raymond Cohen); 8 second violins; 6 violas; 3 bass; 3 french horns; 2 trombones; 4 woodwind; harp; piano; bass and guitar.

Now to return to the evening session on the Monday. Following "My Romance", at 5:32 the orchestra played "Alone Together". Certain instrumentalists need their own headphones so that they can hear the singer, and ensure that their own solos or accompaniments fit in neatly with the rest of the orchestra. During this number certain problems arose in this respect for the harp, and Martin Taylor’s guitar passage at the end. But in typical Farnon fashion all such matters were quietly resolved with good humour, and by 6:00 the orchestra were ready for the next tea-break.

By 6:35 the orchestra were gently swinging "Easy To Love", much to everyone’s enjoyment. Bob suggested that they should up the tempo a little, which made the arrangement really sparkle. But while the increased tempo sounded fine from the orchestra, it didn’t really suit the singer; it was decided that this number should proceed at a more leisurely pace, and the final result was much to every one’s satisfaction.

Soon after 7:00 they went back to "Alone Together" because it was felt that they could still improve on earlier efforts. Not infrequently the crew think that a number sounds fine - until Bob declares that this and that were not quite right, and invariably he is proved correct. By 7:22 they were happier with the results, and Bob then turned his attention to the new Loonis McGlohon number "Everything I Love". Given the necessary exposure, this lovely melody could well become a modern standard. This performance was given added poignancy by the composer’s participation at the piano. By 8 pm everyone agreed that the long day had been a great success; in particular Eileen Farrell and her American companions seemed knocked out by Bob’s arrangements.

Loonis McGlohon & Robert Farnon
Loonis McGlohon & Robert Farnon

May Day dawned, with more temperature records being broken. Fortunately minor problems with the air conditioning were quickly corrected! And some new faces appeared at the studios. On the Monday, Frances Carder had looked in during the afternoon, and Tuesday saw the arrival of Beryl Antony, Don Furnell and Cab Smith joining the RFS ranks. Cab has reported on the remaining sessions for us (below) so I’ll close my own remarks with just a few observations. We were a little surprised at first on finding that the orchestra did not include any trumpets or percussion. Bob decided that they were not essential, and "Easy To Love" in particular illustrates that an orchestra can swing without them - at least, in Bob’s hands. On the technical side, the sound engineers used only a small part of the elaborate facilities available to them in the CTS Studios. Remember, these are the same studios where John Williams and many other leading film composers have recorded their soundtrack scores, needing state-of-the-art technology. But the experts at Reference Recordings like to use their own equipment, which even extends to employing different circuitry for CDs and vinyl, to match the differing requirements of digital and analogue sound. The intention was that Eileen Farrell would sing each number in the studio with the orchestra, rather than weeks or months later in a remote studio elsewhere. Unfortunately her booth caused relationship problems between herself and the orchestra which her headphones could not adequately remedy. It is likely that she will dub in a few of her vocals which did not satisfy her high standards. "My Foolish Heart" was one number where Eileen was particularly unhappy with the results being achieved. DAVID ADES

Now let’s read CAB SMITH’s impressions on his two days at Wembley:

Once again I had the great pleasure of attending another of Bob’s recording sessions, which took place at C.T.S. Wembley over three days from Monday 30 April - although we rounded off at 12:30 on the Wednesday.

The event was a series of popular songs from the past, sung by a charming lady from the States who sang with a most pleasing voice which came over most clearly on all of her songs. If I recall correctly, she sang in a similar style to Kate Smith, who I used to hear on some of her radio shows aired on A.F.N. in Germany back in the late l940s. Eileen did admit that she had been around singing after the war, so you can gather from that she has covered a great number of songs in her time.

Unfortunately I could not attend the Day 1 sessions, but I could not wait for Day 2 (Tuesday 1 May) to arrive. So after travelling for an hour and three-quarters, on a journey that usually takes about forty minutes, I finally made it - NOT the fault of my Lada, as some people may have thought!

I arrived at 10:15 am and made my may to the control room, where I was greeted by David and Don Furnell and, of course, the Guv’nor himself looking very well. It was also good to meet David Farnon again, who had his hands full keeping tabs on the cue sheets, etc... I just arrived as they were listening to the playback of a song from the 1930s "More Than You Know". It was originally featured in the film "Hit The Deck" with Jack Oakie, with a remake in 1955 by MGM. After three takes everyone seemed happy with the result, Then on to the next number "The Nearness Of You" by Ned Washington and Hoagy Carmichael, from the 1938 picture ‘Romance In The Dark". Again, this was very nicely sung.

 

David Farnon and Robert Farnon checking
David Farnon and Robert Farnon checking

The following piece was entirely new to me , "What Is There To Say" ... once more, a beautiful performance by Miss Farrell after three takes.

Song No. 4 "Love Panic", I must admit, was completely new to me as well. But again it was nicely put over by Eileen. Throughout the session, at times Don, David and myself would go down on the studio floor and sit at the rear of the orchestra. What a treat, being among the cream of the orchestral world Raymond Cohen, first violin; Don Lusher, trombone; Lennie Bush, bass; Roy Willox, Tommy Whittle, reeds; Martin Taylor, guitar; along with around 50 session personnel. This is where the real atmosphere of the orchestra was! And I mustn’t forget Bob, out in front conducting his wonderful arrangements which clearly appealed to the musicians on that enjoyable session.

Then the lunch break arrived, so most of us trooped off to the studio restaurant, to enjoy a first class meal, at their price!

Two o’clock arrived, and we returned to the control room to await the next ballad to be rehearsed. It was a number that became a big hit way back in 1949 "My Foolish Heart", composed bv Victor Young with words by Ned Washington. This took a little longer to rehearse, as by now Eileen Farrell’s voice was starting to get tired, so she decided to sing it again the following day. She tried out the next number on the schedule, which she seemed to handle better - "His Is The Music That Makes Me Dance". Eileen performed this with great feeling and after four takes this led us up to 4:55pm. Everyone seemed to be happy with what had taken place, so after our farewells to all concerned my next move was to head the Lada for home.

Wednesday 2 May: Day 3. I arrived a little late for the final session, and greeting me as I entered the control room was Bob’s arrangement of "The More I See You" with Eileen handling the lyric with ease. This number was written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the Billy Rose film "Diamond Horseshoe" starring Dick Haymes and Betty Grable in 1945. By 10:30 the song was in the can, as you might say, and then came a lovely ballad which Frank Sinatra used to sign off his radio show back in the 1940s. "Put Your Dreams Away", again very nicely put over, and after a few takes everyone was satisfied.

Break time came for twenty minutes, giving us a chance to check the weather outside which was still outstanding for the time of the year. Then back to the control room to hear another run-through of "My Foolish Heart", postponed from the previous day. After another take it was decided to record an orchestral track only, so that Eileen could add her voice later if she wished.

About 12:15 the session came to an end, For me it was a most enjoyable two days listening to a great lady of song, whose diction is so clear that every words of the lyrics comes through. As for today’s vocalists ... you often wonder just what they are singing! My thanks to Bob and David Farnon for letting us sit in at the sessions, and let’s not forget Bob’s manager Derek Boulton for helping to make it all possible.

An afterthought: looking through my ‘Hollywood Musicals’ book I see that, in 1955 MGM produced a film called "Interrupted Melody". It was the biography of Marjorie Lawrence, a well-known opera singer played on screen by Eleanor Parker co-starring Glen Ford. The entry states that Eileen Farrell dubbed the songs for Eleanor Parker, and from reports she was rated very highly for her valuable contribution towards the film’s success.

CAB SMITH

The photographs in this feature were taken on 1 May 1990.

Submit to Facebook

In January 1972, Tony Bennett and Robert Farnon began recording a series of television programmes from London’s ‘Talk Of The Town’ in Leicester Square. A few Robert Farnon Society members were able to attend the rehearsals and the actual recordings, and their reports were published in the May 1972 issue (No. 36) of ‘Journal Into Melody’. The following feature (with some minor editing) is based on those impressions of some memorable Sundays almost forty years ago.

TONY BENNETT AND ROBERT FARNON AT ‘THE TALK OF THE TOWN’

DAVID ADES REPORTS ON THE TV RECORDING SESSIONS

Everyone seems happy with the finished result of the Tony Bennett / Robert Farnon Television Shows recorded at London’s "Talk Of The Town" during the first three months of this year.

Tony Bennett is certainly very happy!

For the first time he is doing exactly what he wants to do on television, and virtually the whole free world will be seeing the result. Even before all the programmes were recorded he was making plans for doing a further 13 shows in London later this year. And, of course, Robert Farnon will be with him. Tony told us that having someone like Bob in charge of the orchestra is a wonderful help and comfort to him. "You know that everything will be all right. There’s no doubt that Robert Farnon will be famous within a year — and rightly so".

Robert Farnon must be happy with the superb 38-piece orchestra assembled under his baton for each of the 13 shows. Just consider these star names:

Kenny Baker and Stan Roderick (trumpets); Don Lusher and Bobby Lamb (trombones); Kenny Clare (drums); Eric Allen (percussion) and Marie Goossens (harp). The orchestra leader is Lionel Bentley.

Judging by the enthusiastic response from the audience each time, there is no doubt that they are happy with the entertainment provided on that particular Sunday evening when they have been lucky enough to he present. And finally, we in the RFAS should be happy — and delighted — that Robert Farnon is at last going to get world-wide publicity for his talents.

Each show includes a film sequence showing Tony Bennett in various parts of the country. These are accompanied by a different Farnon composition and full credit is given on the screen. The following have been included:

Melody Fair, En Route, Strolling Home, Blue Theme, Journey Into Melody, Gateway To The West, Portrait Of A Flirt, A Summer Love, A Star Is Born, To A Young Lady, Little Miss Molly, Down Home, Proud Canvas and State Occasion.

To fit in with the length of each film (and to allow a brief appearance of the orchestra at the end of each number) a few alterations had to be made to some of these pieces. Melody Fair is played in the original version (never recorded) which has a longer ending; at Chappell’s request this was shortened - unfortunately! Both En Route and Journey Into Melody have main themes extended and repeated - but the biggest ‘change’ of all is for A Summer Love. This is played when Tony Bennett wanders among the Spring flowers near Bob’s home in Guernsey; for the TV show it has been retitled A Promise Of Spring! The problem now is what to call the real A Promise of Spring if they wish to use it in the next TV series. Perhaps A Summer Love?!

[Editor: sadly the hoped-for second series did not happen. This had a familiar echo: while Farnon was recording with Sinatra in June 1962 they talked about a second LP, but it turned out to be just talk.]

The same setting is used for each show. The orchestra are at the back of the stage, with Tony and his guest stars performing in front of them. Members who have visited The Talk Of The Town (or who have seen other TV shows from there) will know that the stage extends into the theatre so that the audience is seated on three sides of it. It is certainly one of the most popular places in London for ‘outside’ TV shows. The predominant colour is gold, and most programmes use a large dark backcloth covered in stars.

[Editor: ‘The Talk Of The Town’ began life as The London Hippodrome which was originally designed as a circus when it opened on 15 January 1900. In 1909 it was redeveloped as a theatre which could also screen films, and its location in Leicester Square, at the heart of London’s theatreland, meant that it would stage many top shows over the next fifty years. In 1958 it became a theatre restaurant as "The Talk Of The Town" which thrived for 25 years. In 1983 it was transformed into a nightclub, which brought its share of problems, eventually leading to its closure. There are plans to reopen it as a Casino in 2010.]

All the shows - except two (when Sacha Distell failed to turn up!) - have guest stars in the second half, and the famous names include: Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughan, Matt Monro, Annie Ross, Tommy Leonetti and Cleo Laine.

During the run of this series, Bob has been working to a very busy schedule. This has given him barely 48 hours at home each week. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are taken up with arranging and doing vocal rehearsals with Tony and the guest stars. 10:00 am on Sunday morning sees the start of the band rehearsals which break at noon. At 2:00 pm begins a complete run-through of each show (two were video-taped each week, except the first) and finally at around 6:00 or 6:30 there is a final break until the audience arrives and the first programme starts at around 7:45.

At the start of the show there is a short film sequence showing a newspaper van driving past and a bundle of papers thrown out. Newspaper headlines proclaim that Tony Bennett is in London at The Talk Of The Town, and the lights of the theatre then announce the show. At the same time the orchestra is playing an up-tempo version of Robert Farnon’s A Star Is Born. This reaches a climax ... there is a drum roll, and Bob’s voice (on tape) announces "Ladies end Gentlemen, from London — meet Mr. Tony Bennett!" To great applause, Tony steps down from a revolving door and rushes down the steps on to the main stage to start the show!

Now let’s have some reports from several members who have been along to the recordings.

‘Cab’ Smith went on 23 January - the first show to he taped:

On entering the showplace of the stars we were shown to our table for six, which was near the stage. Awaiting us were two bottles of ‘champagne’, as for the grade, I couldn’t tell you, but by the time the show ended we found it most enjoyable - and free at that! It was kindly supplied by Thames Television who were recording the first of their thirteen half-hourly shows in colour of their TV spectacular of Tony Bennett, with Robert Farnon and his Orchestra, John Bunch ah the piano, and Tony’s special guest star Tommy Leonetti.

While we waited for the show to start, we gazed around to see the Who’s Who in Show Business, and quite a few familiar faces could be seen near-by. On stage appeared the session men, among them Kenny Baker and Don Lusher. Then the ‘Guv’ appeared which made the group complete. About 7:40 the show got under way with Bob’s up-tempo arrangement of A Star Is Born, then on came Tony Bennett in his amicable style, singing What The World Needs Now, followed by a couple at other numbers.

After this he announced his first special guest star — Tommy Leonetti, who sang most pleasantly. Tony joined him in a duet with a second helping of What The World Needs Now, which ended the first half.

During the interval a few more familiar faces appeared, among them Tony Bennett’s wife Sandie, and Sheila Southern who were sitting at a table a few feet from us.

Part two commenced with Bob’s composition and fine arrangement of Strolling Home, which was a treat to hear and watch. Thanks, Bob.

Tony’s San Francisco had to be sung in the first show. This he sang in his superb way, followed by I Want To Be Happy with John Bunch giving out some grand chords on the 88s.

By this time the show was at an end and Tony came forward, smiling in his usual way and still full of bounce and zest to thank everybody present for being such a grand audience and to say "Goodnight folks".

I must say he puts a lot of feeling and ‘go’ into his numbers, just like he did at the Royal Albert Hall in the early part of last year with Bob. The time went so quickly, but what we saw and heard made a memorable evening, so our thanks to Thames TV for the invitation.

Three RFS members reported for JIM on the 6th February shows. First here are Margaret Foreman’s jottings:

We found our visit to The Talk Of The Town one at the most exciting nights we can remember. The evening was divided into two halves - each half representing one half-hour show when it is televised in Britain later this year. Tony Bennett’s performance was, as usual, faultless, and I feel that he and Mr. Farnon deserve each other.

Each half had its own guest star, the first was Cleo Laine and the second Annie Ross, surely two of Britain’s best singers. They each sang two songs solo and shared a third with Tony Bennett. A short piece of film was also included in each show - familiar London scenes, the Changing Of The Guard and a boat trip along the Thames. As these were shown on the monitors around the theatre they were accompanied by a Bob Farnon composition, although regrettably no mention was made to the audience of the composer or the title.

The orchestra was superb especially the rhythm section - the same group, I believe, that augmented the London Philharmonic Orchestra that Robert Farnon conducted at the Royal Albert Hall in January 1971.

The final pleasure came at the end when it was announced that a technical fault had been discovered and some of the second show had to he repeated thus giving us another chance to hear Tony Bennett and Annie Ross sing, and Mr. Farnon accompanying the Changing Of The Guard with State Occasion.

If Robert Farnon’s association with Tony Bennett means that we see and hear more of this kind of music presented, long may it continue. I, for one, will not complain!

Jimmy Gibbs was also present on 6 February:

I really enjoyed the shows … they were superb! The highlight for Farnon fans was the orchestra playing Gateway To The West to a film of Tony sailing up the river admiring all the landmarks. Cleo swung through On A Clear Day and a duet with Tony.

In the second show the highlight was Bob Farnon’s State Occasion which we were lucky enough to hear twice, as the first recording had been faulty. As Tony said: "We can listen to it again and again – I don’t mind, and I don’t suppose you do." We certainly didn’t!

All through this we sipped ‘champagne’ – on the house, of course! I liked Bob’s smooth casual approach to it all, and his parting remark to the orchestra "same time next week!" shows what a friendly get-together of superb musicians this was. How Kenny Clare enjoyed those drums! And what a laugh there was when the orchestra was recalled for the retake and one of the violinists (a big man) came puffing back with his violin already packed in its case!

It all seemed so informal. Everyone stood around chatting while the tape was checked. Yes, it was superb!

Finally a few more comments on the same show from George Fraser:

We were seated downstairs about thirty feet from the stage and were able to see and hear everything with the maximum of comfort. The orchestra was, of course, superb – as regards the guests this, of course, is a matter of personal preference. I realise that Cleo Laine is very highly regarded in the music profession as a very accomplished singer and stylist. She sang two songs, On A Clear Day and a modern pop song Making It With You but, quite frankly, she didn’t make it with me!

On the other hand I really did enjoy the singing of Annie Ross. No vocal gymnastics, she sang two good tunes – both very much with a jazz flavouring – and as luck would have it they had to be repeated.

I could have sat there all night listening to the orchestra and the two singers; it was a great experience.

David Ades reported on the 13 February shows:

Billy Eckstine guested on both these shows, looking quite different from his usual public image, but with the great voice still there. However the duet with Tony – My Favourite Things – caused as much trouble in the evening as it had during the afternoon rehearsals!

Bob’s compositions in the two filmed spots were Down Home (with added strings) and the ever-beautiful Melody Fair. Two particularly nice Bennett songs were Summer of 42 and Street Of Dreams, the latter with a splendid Bob Farnon arrangement. Also watch out for a long and unusual performance of It Had To Be You – quite a tour de force by Tony Bennett with lovely piano playing by John Bunch.

Barbara Bunfield was present on 27 February:

The orchestra straggled spasmodically on to the stage, as do orchestras all over the world; the chandeliers dimmed and the big arc lights over the stage blazed. The conductor walked on to the stage, picked up his baton and an expectant hush fell over the waiting audience. This is the sort of scene that happens nightly all over London, but, to us, this evening held a particular interest ... it was not just any conductor, this was Robert Farnon and this television recording at The Talk Of The Town was giving us an all too rare opportunity to see (and indeed hear) the master in action.

The strains of San Francisco announced the appearance of Tony Bennett, the star of the show, who gave his own particular magic to such differing songs as Wave, Get Happy and The Shadow Of Your Smile, not forgetting Bob Farnon’ s own hauntingly beautiful composition How Beautiful Is Night (With You). The guest artist was Matt Monro, who I think must be rated as the best British singer of recent years, particularly since he seems to have picked up some of the suavity and polish of American performers whilst visiting those shores.

Our president led the orchestra in his own inimitable compositions Portrait Of A Flirt and To A Young Lady and here we come to my one criticism of the presentation: both of these pieces were played as background to some extremely appealing film of Tony Bennett and his small daughter shown on the monitor screens. Now this was explained to us, but what was not mentioned was that recording of the music was still taking place and therefore most of the audience seemed to look upon this as a diversion staged for their benefit and seized the opportunity to chat amongst themselves, which, as you can imagine, annoyed Peter and myself intensely.

The high spot of the evening was, for me, a Farnon arrangement of Georgia On My Mind sung by Matt Monro; this took me back nostalgically to my youth and my love of Dixieland jazz when this was a favourite piece, but nostalgia didn’t feature at all in this arrangement - a more swinging big band sound would he hard to imagine coming right down to the romantic strings that only Mr. Farnon is complete master of. I bet Matt Monro could hardly believe his luck. I know I couldn’t!

May I digress here to mention the outstanding acoustical properties at The Talk Of The Town ... I only hope the quality comes over on the television so that we can all enjoy it together.

David Ades reported on the 5 March shows:

Blue Theme and a lengthened En Route were the Farnon specials for this Sunday’s recordings. Also a lovely Farnon arrangement of Here’s That Rainy Day. During the afternoon rehearsals I told Tony Bennett that the chattering of the audience during the film sequences was most annoying, and I said that I hoped that the microphones were not picking it up. The following week, as soon as I arrived at the theatre, Tony came straight up to me to say that he had taken my ‘complaint’ seriously, and checked some of the shows already recorded. I’m pleased to report that everything sounds fine, with no noticeable chatter on the soundtrack.

The final two shows were recorded on 12 March, and David Ades completed his impressions of a memorable series:

The last two programmes to be recorded merely featured Tony Bennett and the Robert Farnon Orchestra. As far as I was concerned they were the best of all. Not that Tony can’t face up to competition from guest stars - he most certainly can, but after all it is his TV series, and each show only lasts 24½ minutes in total. I understand that guest spots in the next series may feature instrumentalists, rather than singers. [Editor: as already mentioned, this series did not happen.]

Bob’s pieces in these final shows were Journey Into Melody and A Summer Love (retitled A Promise Of Spring on screen). Journey had the main theme repeated to increase its length; it had been hoped to use the original Chappell version, but the scores were so badly spoilt (in the Chappell fire several years previously) that they could not be rewritten in time.

We could go on forever praising these TV shows, but this article must end somewhere! May I thank all the members who have shared their ‘evening out’ with us. One point needs emphasising - the order in which the shows were recorded will not necessarily be the order of their transmission.

[Editor: the shows were eventually broadcast on ITV in Britain, but not in all parts of the country and occasionally at different times. In those days the UK’s only commercial TV broadcaster was split into many regional companies who often ‘opted out’ of the programmes being screened elsewhere. The shows were also shown overseas, and at the start of each programme a separate opening sequence was recorded especially for the USA.]

Under the headline "FARNON: THE GUV’NOR" the prestigious British weekly music newspaper Melody Maker printed the following article on 11 March 1972.

American musicians of the calibre of Quincy Jones and Nelson Riddle call him "the guv’nor."

That, of course, in Stateside parlance is the ultimate accolade. "Not," says Robert Farnon, with a self deprecatory smile "as it means here - the boss, in the usual context of the word."

Yes, in one sense, Bob Farnon is the "boss man" when it comes to the specialised job of conducting a 38-piece orchestra for Tony Bennett.

The fact that Bennett chose Farnon to front and conduct his accompanying orchestra is itself enough testimony to his qualities. Yet, to the public at large, he remains a somewhat shadowy figure less well-known to those who listen to Tony Bennett on TV and concerts than some fairly lightweight talents who bounce into the spotlight via the album or singles charts.

Farnon is no dyed-in-the-wool reactionary who dismisses rock/pop with contempt. He pays tribute, in fact, to predecessors who’ve done much to break down the ‘snob’ barriers between the ‘legit’ and pop idioms.

"We owe a lot to people like Andre Previn and Leonard Bernstein for bridging the gap," he says.

America, of course, was always more flexible in its musical attitudes than Britain.

"But I think the gap started to close when Tutti Camarata (once a trumpeter with Benny Goodman) came to Britain and formed an orchestra of our top symphonic men and jazz musicians for the ‘London Town’ movie."

The gulf between the American and British ‘feeling’ for jazz is still closing.

That had a lot to do with Ted Heath’s tours of America in exchange for the Stan Kenton Band, which came here. This presented British musicians with an opportunity to see and hear American musicians at first hand.

"American musicians were not such good readers as the British musicians, but they phrased the music better, and in the case of pop and jazz music, they made a nice sound on their horns."

In his 38-piece orchestra accompanying Tony Bennett on his TV series, Robert Farnon now includes such jazz talents as Don Lusher and Bobby Lamb (trombones), Kenny Baker and Stan Roderick (trumpets), Kenny Clare (drums) and Arthur Watts (bass).

Robert arranged for Ted Heath, Geraldo and recorded on Decca, accompanying such topliners as Vera Lynn. He moved into film work, and has some 40 films to his credit.

"I first met Tony Bennett 20 years ago" he recalls. "We decided then we’d get together one day to do an album and some concert work."

Farnon has now done three Bennett albums: ‘Snowfall’, an album of the TV show with the London Philharmonic at London’s Royal Albert Hall, and Tony Bennett With Love’. - LAURIE HENSHAW.

[The Melody Maker article was reprinted in ‘Journal Into Melody’ by kind permission of the Editor.]
Submit to Facebook

ROBERT FARNON’S BASSOON CONCERTO RECEIVES ITS WORLD PREMIERE IN MALVERN
CONCERT REVIEW
Romancing the Phoenix (Robert Farnon) : World Premiere
DANIEL SMITH, Bassoon
CHANDOS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Conducted by MICHAEL LLOYD
Sunday 13 September 2009

When an amateur orchestra in a provincial town is offered the opportunity to perform the world premiere of a new work it is bound to create a certain degree of excitement. And when the composer happens to be someone that many people regard as the world’s finest light music master of the second half of the 20th century – and the soloist is also recognised as a world leader on his chosen instrument, the musical establishment starts to sit up and take notice. And rightly so.

The venue was the Forum Theatre in historic Malvern, an idyllic town famous not only for its mineral water, but also because of its association with Sir Edward Elgar. The Malvern Hills, often quoted as the inspiration for much of Elgar’s magnificent music, are an overwhelming presence - but comforting, rather than threatening. One could almost imagine the great composer nodding in approval as the fine orchestra dealt competently with a wide ranging selection of music aptly described in the concert’s title "The Lighter Side of Classical".

As expected the local press recognised the importance of the event. In the Birmingham Post on 7 September Peter Bacon alerted his readers to a "Rare outing for exotic bassoon":

Bassoons – you wait years for one to come down the jazz road and then two come at once! ….it’s getting a real prestige outing at Malvern. As a composer and arranger, the Canadian-born English resident Robert Farnon worked with Frank Sinatra, was admired by Andre Previn and influenced Quincy Jones. The last work he wrote before he died in 2005 was a concerto for bassoon and jazz trio, but it has never been performed - until now.

The piece, called "Romancing The Phoenix", is in the programme being performed by bassoonist Daniel Smith (its dedicatee) and the Chandos Symphony Orchestra at the Forum Theatre in Malvern on Sunday.

Daniel says of Romancing The Phoenix, "Robert Farnon’s bassoon concerto was not bound by any commissions, deadlines, financial obligations, or anything else; just written to fully express himself as a composer.

"I was honoured that he dedicated the piece to me and he told me it was the best piece of music he’d ever written. As the only piece of music written by Robert Farnon which has never been performed in public, this concerto premiere will be a fitting tribute to the memory of one of the 20th century’s greatest composer/arrangers."

Daniel is a leading pioneer of the bassoon with a repertoire from Baroque concerti to jazz, ragtime and crossover. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Wigmore Hall and the Lincoln Center.

On 10 September, under a heading "Robert Farnon’s ‘light music’ not to be sniffed at", Christopher Morley wrote a second pre-concert piece in the Birmingham Post:

A recent depressing correspondence in the Radio Times spluttered that MGM film music had no place at the BBC Proms, where it was allocated a concert this year, and that Henry Wood and Malcolm Sargent would be spinning in their graves. To be honest, I don’t care if they do. MGM had the services of some of the world’s most expert composers and arrangers (many of them refugees from the Nazis), and the scores they created remain classy examples of the film-composer’s art.

I wonder how many of our "respectable" composers would be capable of instantly providing an extra 13 seconds of music to complement a take where the actors had gone on too long? And I don’t think John Wilson, the gifted young conductor who has devoted so much time and energy into reassembling these film scores, and who this season conducts concerts of both film music and "proper classical music" with the CBSO, would have any truck with such musical fascism.

Michael Lloyd, conductor at both English National Opera and in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s publicity-grabbing production of The Sound of Music at the London Palladium, is obviously of a like mind. On Sunday he programmes an entire concert of light music with the Chandos Symphony Orchestra in Malvern’s Forum Theatre, a venue which more frequently resonates with all the sounds of Elgarland.Selections of music by the great film composer Ron Goodwin (how CBSO players who performed under his baton revere him) and the brilliant Leroy Anderson are included, as well as the whimsical Symphony 5½ by Don Gillis, subtitled A Symphony for Fun. Possibly the most serious part of the evening comes with Malcolm Arnold’s Four Cornish Dances, but the undoubted curiosity is the world premiere of the bassoon concerto Romancing the Phoenix by the elegant Canadian light-music composer Robert Farnon, with American bassoon virtuoso Daniel Smith as soloist.

Smith is a versatile player whose repertoire ranges from the baroque – he has recorded all 37 of Vivaldi’s concertos for his instrument for the ASV label – to jazz, where his playing has prompted comparisons with baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan. His discography includes music by Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie and many other jazz notables. He also gave the American West Coast premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and crossover pioneer Gunther Schuller’s Concerto for Contrabassoon and Orchestra, one of only a handful of concertos written for the contra.

Farnon’s concerto is heavily influenced by jazz, incorporating passages of free improvisation. The bassoon has to be amplified, Smith points out, to be heard above the rhythm section, let alone the rest of the instruments. "In the score you can see passages where the bassoon plays the role of a lead saxophone, with three bassoons underneath in the scoring, just as in a saxophone section," says Smith. "There is also a lot of percussion used and in many sections, the winds act as a sort of wind band within the full orchestra – Farnon described this as ‘a big band within a full symphony orchestra’."

In the final movement there is a section where both orchestra and "big band" sit back and the soloist is left to improvise on an up-tempo blues with a rhythm-section of piano, bass and drums. This passage is open-ended, and at the soloist’s moment of choosing the conductor brings the orchestra back in, beginning with the percussion. After several more passages involving improvisation, the concerto culminates in what Smith describes as "a really startling ending which simply flies all over the place and ends on a bang."

Farnon did not live to hear the piece played in public, and Daniel Smith reveals that the composer declined the chance to have it previewed. "He had the opportunity for one movement to be premiered with the BBC Concert Orchestra but turned it down because they would have used their own bassoonist (he would have had to write out any improvised solos of course), and he would not allow this to happen until I did the actual premiere. Which was very kind of him."

There was a pre-concert conversation between Daniel Smith and Michael Lloyd, chaired by Birmingham Post music critic David Hart. Daniel explained how he had become involved with Robert Farnon, and he made it clear that there had been detailed discussions during the final stages of composition to ensure that the work was right for the instrument. Michael Lloyd spoke about his wide career in music, most recently in London’s West End, and his love of light music. He was especially pleased to be conducting Don Gillis’s Symphony No. 5½.

Daniel Smith is widely regarded as the leading pioneer of the bassoon with his many critically acclaimed award-winning recordings and live performances. As the most recorded bassoon soloist in the world, his repertoire spans music ranging from Baroque concerti to contemporary music including jazz, ragtime and crossover. He is the only bassoonist performing and recording in both the jazz and classical fields. Daniel Smith's unique career has been profiled in Gramophone, the New York Times, Fanfare, Classical Music, Musical Heritage Review, American Record Guide, Classic CD and many leading European publications including The Times in England. In the USA, his career was highlighted on PBS's "All Things Considered'. In the UK, one of his recordings was the 'signature tune' for BBC radio 3 while BBC radio 4 recently showcased his career.

Daniel Smith's performances include jazz with his quartet 'Bassoon and Beyond', classical recitals with piano, concertos with orchestra, and highly popular programs divided between classical and jazz, with music ranging from Vivaldi, Elgar, Mozart and Verdi to Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins and Dizzy Gillespie. Described as a 'phenomenon', he has been called the 'Gerry Mulligan of the Bassoon' in the world of jazz and the 'Galway' and 'Rampal of the Bassoon' in the world of classical music, bringing his unique sound and style to concert series, festivals and jazz clubs.

His historic and unprecedented 6 CD set on ASVof the complete 37 Vivaldi bassoon concertos was chosen as 'Best Concerto Recording of the Year' by the Music Industry Association and awarded the Penguin Guide's coveted *** rosette rating as well as inclusion in Fanfare's annual 'Want List'. These concertos, recorded with The English Chamber Orchestra and I Solisti di Zagreb, firmly established Daniel Smith as a leading soloist on his instrument. His recordings with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Caravaggio Ensemble for the ASVWhite Line label produced innovative crossover albums, with unique renditions of ragtime pieces, opera excerpts, and popular standards. In the world of jazz, his albums on the Zah Zah label, 'BEBOP BASSOON' and 'THE SWINGING BASSOON' showcase the music of Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie and many other legendary jazz artists. Other recordings of Daniel Smith are available on Vox, MHS, KemDisc, Pearl, Spectrum, Cambria, Regis, Crystal and Forum labels.

His performances have included many firsts: The American West Coast premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gunther Schuller's 'Concerto for Contrabassoon and Orchestra'; the world premiere of Steve Gray's 'Jazz Suite For Bassoon' with the Welsh Chamber Orchestra; solo concerts at New York's Lincoln Center and the Tivoli Concert Hall in Copenhagen, and also five appearances at London's 'Pizza On The Park' with his jazz quartet. Other major venues where he has performed include New York's Carnegie Recital Hall (two appearances) and the Merkin Concert Hall. In London, the Wigmore Hall (three times), St.John's Smith Square, and the BBC Concert Hall. His many recordings are heard throughout the world on classical and jazz radio stations, National Public Radio in the USA, major airlines for in-flight listening, and featured with leading book and record clubs as well as the Muzak network. In 2003, Daniel Smith was designated as 'Ambassador for the Bassoon' by Youth Music in the UK.

In 2008 the International Jazz Journalists Association voted him as finalist for 'player of the year' in their category of "Instruments rare in jazz'. Starting at the end of 2009 and thereafter, his new jazz album 'Blue Bassoon', will be heard world-wide on leading jazz radio stations.

Warner Chappell recently published the score and parts of "Romancing The Phoenix" with Robert Farnon's dedication to 'The American virtuoso Daniel Smith' on the title page.

The conductor Michael Lloyd, BA, ARCM, also has an impressive cv: read music at the University of East Anglia; postgraduate studies at RCM. Career includes: Scottish Ballet (company pianist and professional conducting debut);  Staatstheater Kassel where he switched from ballet to opera, Württembergisches Staatstheater, Stuttgart; ENO 1985-2003, conducting new productions, revivals and performances in a wide range of repertoire (in 1989 appointed Assistant Music Director, in 1998 Senior Resident Conductor).  Conducted frequently in New Zealand (opera, concerts and ballet), in Japan, Korea, Singapore and Macau.  Regular conductor with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and English National Ballet and made his debut with the Ulster Orchestra and with Opera Holland Park in 2005.  Has returned regularly to ENO since 2003.  Music Director of the Chandos Symphony Orchestra, Malvern and the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra.

David Hart’s report on the concert was printed in the Birmingham Post on 15 September. He began:

Although conductor Michael Lloyd is not a complete stranger to ‘light’ music, for the Chandos Symphony Orchestra this concert was a new experience, and one I’m sure they will want to repeat.

In addition to introducing these part-time players, who for tonal quality and precision could easily be mistaken for full-time professionals, to the delights of miniature classics by Leroy Anderson, Ron Goodwin and Don Gillis (and on a more elevated level Malcolm Arnold’s Four Cornish Dances), it also gave us the world premiere of Robert Farnon’s bassoon concerto "Romancing the Phoenix".

Completed just before Farnon’s death in 2005, the work was written for the American bassoonist Daniel Smith, a multi-talented performer equally adept in classical music, jazz and crossover. And it’s these qualities which shape and inform the concerto, by integrating and contrasting the bassoon with full orchestra and a jazz trio.

At times it seems an uneasy combination. Smith’s note-bending, although elegiac in its way, on Sunday sounded rather at odds with the lyrical opulence and lush string writing of the opening Andante Moderato; but when it lifted off into brass-led big band territory with jazz bass and drums, everything fell into place.

The slow movement also started reflectively, though less purposefully, again reserving its big moment – with the amplified soloist pitted against full brass – until the end.

As did the finale, although there were jazzy excitements along the way, including a very punchy improvised cadenza. The best moment, however, came in the concluding bars, with a flying scamper of bassoon and orchestral woodwind culminating in a glorious Mahlerian tam-tam clang. If only there had been more of that sort of thing earlier.

As many RFS members will no doubt agree, Robert Farnon’s serious works become considerably more enjoyable when heard several times. His writing is often so complex, and his harmonies frequently unexpected, that a first encounter does not always reveal a new work in its full splendour. An audience accustomed to the works of Beethoven, Wagner and Mozart must have found the experience in Malvern that Sunday evening something of a cultural shock, although the applause at the end indicated that many people present were very glad to be there.

Daniel Smith certainly rose to the occasion magnificently. His mastery of the bassoon is beyond question, and his careful preparation for the premiere was evident. The work is based on the "Saxophone Tipartite" from 1971, but Farnon has added some nice touches, including a sensitive introduction lasting around two minutes before the full, rich orchestral sound fills the concert hall so dramatically.

The climax of the work finds the bassoon supported by a jazz trio – Sean Whittle on keyboard, Russell Swift bass and Steve Smith who was outstanding on drums. The audience clearly wanted to hear more from this impressive quartet, and Daniel obliged with three titles from his latest CD "Blue Bassoon", ending with the Mercer Ellington classic "Things Ain’t What They Used To Be".

Amazingly some members of the orchestra (particularly the strings) managed to sit through this jazz session without any sign of the rhythms reaching their bodies. How they could sit there without even the slightest movement of even a gently tapping foot was astonishing. Of course, the brass, woodwinds, percussion and notably the french horns were certainly caught up in the excitement of the occasion – as was the audience!

Our president David Farnon was present to witness the premiere, and it was good to meet several other RFS members as well, including John Bladon, David Corbett and Eric Smith.

Thanks to Daniel Smith’s persistence, the concert was previewed in the magazine Classical Music on 29 August, and it made the Bassoon Concerto its ‘Premiere of the Fortnight’ with a report covering two-thirds of the page and photos of both Daniel Smith and Robert Farnon. Chris Elcombe’s report went into some detail about the meetings between performer and composer:

The timing of Farnon’s death helps to explain the premiere’s delay until 2009 as Smith explains: "When he died unexpectedly early in 2005 it fell on my shoulders to follow up and try to get premieres and performances lined up, which was not an easy task starting from scratch". Fortunately though, there had been enough time for composer and soloist to discuss the piece together in the final weeks of Farnon’s life. "When I first flew to Guernsey he showed me a work in progress and I offered input and ideas. Within a very short time he had it all finished. I had the opportunity to fly again to Guernsey (this time to meet him at the hospital where he was recovering from surgery) and I played the entire piece for him. He gave me a good idea of how the piece was to be performed. Within a month or so of this meeting he died in his sleep, and this was the only opportunity to find out what he had in mind in regard to his concept of the concerto".

Daniel Smith is now concentrating on getting more performances of this work, both in Europe and his native USA. He also hopes that other UK orchestras will follow the lead of the Chandos Orchestra and include it in future programmes.th gave an exclusive interview to ‘Journal Into Melody’ about his meeting with Robert Farnon – published in issue 165, September 2005.

Submit to Facebook

JOHN WILSON CELEBRATES THE GLORIOUS MGM MUSICALS AT THE PROMS

For over 2 hours the Royal Albert Hall became the MGM Concert Hall in Culver City where John Wilson and his incredible hand picked 92 piece orchestra took us through all those wonderful arrangements of Conrad Salinger, LLoyd 'Skip' Martin, Adolph Deustch, Lennie Hayton etc, from the classic MGM Musicals.

The hall was packed and the atmosphere was 'electric' and when John gave the down beat for the MGM Jubilee Overture we all knew we were in for a very special evening. The Orchestra sounded out of this world with marvellous string playing, wonderful swinging brass and reeds and they really did produce that unique 'MGM Sound'. It really felt the musicians on stage were enjoying themselves as much as the audience and to be able to be part of this orchestra, to play these classic arrangements , so painstakingly reconstructed by John, was indeed an honour.

The handpicked soloists - Kim Criswell, Sarah Fox, Sir Thomas Allen, Curtis Stigers and Seth MacFarlane and the Maida Vale Singers really pulled the stops out in their numbers and just could not believe their luck in having such a marvellous orchestra backing them . It was indeed Technicolor for the Ears!

The Prom was carried 'live ' on BBC Radio 3, BBC 2 and the BBC HD Channel. Unfortunately the BBC 2 television transmission had Clive Anderson as compere with Debbie Wiseman and neither acquitted themselves very well I am afraid. They had not researched the subject thoroughly and they got many of their facts wrong. It really should have been done by Edward Seckerson who used to present the much lamented 'Stage and Screen' on Radio 3. The Radio 3 introductions were handled better by Petroc Trelawny.

The BBC TV transmission had an audience of over 2 million - exactly double the Proms Opening Night. It is interesting to read the concert reviews on the BBC Proms Website. Most Proms have 5 or 6 comments - the MGM Prom had 69 with over 95% asking "why can't we have more of this type of music programme?" A lot of correspondents wanted to know when it was going to be repeated and also if it was coming out on DVD and Blu-Ray.

I think the BBC may have opened a 'Pandora's Box' with this Prom after so many years completely ignoring Film and Light Music. I feel sure we will be seeing much more of the John Wilson Orchestra in the future after the outstanding success of this Prom, and he is to be congratulated for all his hard work in reconstructing theses scores that have been now enjoyed by millions.

Hamish MacLean

Programme

MGM Jubilee Overture (Singin’ In The Rain, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Broadway Melody, The Last Time I Saw Paris, Temptation, Be My Love, The Trolley Song, On The Atchison Topeka And The Santa Fe, The Donkey Serenade and Over The Rainbow)
The Trolley Song (from "Meet Me In St Louis")
Over The Rainbow ("The Wizard of Oz")
Steppin’ Out With My Baby ("Easter Parade")
The Heather On The Hill ("Brigadoon")
Wonderful. Wonderful Day & Barn Dance ("Seven Brides For Seven Brothers")
Stranger In Paradise ("Kismet")
More Than You Know ("Hit The Deck")
I Got Rhythm ("Girl Crazy")
Main Title & Love Is Here To Stay ("An American In Paris")
Get Happy ("Summer Stock" – in UK "If You Feel Like Singing")
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, You’re Sensational & Well Did You Evah ("High Society")
Title Song ("Gigi")
One Kiss & Lover Come Back To Me ("Deep In My Heart")
I Like Myself ("It’s Always Fair Weather")
Singin’ In The Rain & Broadway Melody Ballet ("Singin’ In The Rain")
Encores
That’s Entertainment ("The Band Wagon")
Boy What Love Has Done To Me ("Girl Crazy")(heard on Radio-3 but not included in television broadcast)

John Wilson’s glorious MGM Musicals Promenade Concert on 1 August generated the biggest postbag ‘Journal Into Melody’ has received for many years. The following is an edited representative sample of the comments: apologies if your message is missing, simply because it repeats what others have written.

I wish to offer my congratulations on the concert given by John Wilson and his Orchestra, and singers. Over the years my wife and I have enjoyed many Promenade concerts, but we cannot recall any one which gave us more sheer pleasure. In our younger days Light Orchestral music formed a prominent and much appreciated part of the BBC’s output. It was a rare day indeed when, for instance, some composition by Eric Coates was not played over the air. Even into the television era such programmes as Robert Farnon’s Sunday afternoon concerts, and Roger Moffat introducing The BBC Northern Dance Orchestra (with Sheila Buxton) were highlights of the television week. The MGM Musicals Prom reaffirmed that such music, performed with enthusiasm by musicians who really appreciated the works, provides superb entertainment. It is music which deserves to be lifted out of the pit of neglect into which it has been consigned. Although most of the Corporation’s house orchestras have long gone, in The BBC Concert Orchestra there is still a magnificent interpreter of such music. (It is ironic that the Concert Orchestra’s recently released CDs of the orchestral works of Leroy Anderson carry the Radio 3 logo, when Radio 3 never broadcasts anything by Anderson!) The success of John Wilson’s concert suggests that it might be time to incorporate more Light Music into the Prom’s schedule, or even, in the weeks preceding the Proms, revive the Light Music Festivals which for so many summers brought delight to the airwaves. Some influential people seem to believe that the genre of beautifully crafted Light Music which flourished during the middle decades of the Twentieth Century has appeal only to those of us who are were contemporary with it. Even if that belief were true, it would not in itself be reason for our tastes to be ignored. But it is manifestly not true; the youthful enthusiasm of John Wilson, and the exuberance of his musicians, demonstrates that. HORACE BENNETT, England.

Great Prom, although I thought there were too many vocals in the second half. What a fantastic orchestra - pity about presenter Clive Anderson! ALAN BUNTING, Scotland.

I wish to thank all concerned for the magnificent Prom concert on Saturday devoted to Hollywood musicals. This was the kind of enterprise that only the BBC could afford to mount, and it was worth every penny. The conductor John Wilson deserves a knighthood! His orchestra appeared to enjoy playing the wonderful arrangements as much as the audience enjoyed hearing them without the distraction of visuals. It was a chance to pay tribute to the skills of those MGM orchestrators rather than the actual composers of the melodies. I loved it and only wish I had been in the Albert Hall.

ANTHONY WILLS, England.

Hope all RFS members caught the John Wilson Prom - wasn't it magical?! JEFF HALL, England.

We're still reeling from that superb John Wilson Prom on Saturday evening. Yes some of the singers were a bit naff and as for Clive Anderson - yuck!!! It seems to have gone down very well; on a late night phone-in on London's LBC on Saturday evening the first caller was waxing lyrical about it, and even Paul Barnes thought it top-class. I would like to know the programme viewing figures. ALBERT KILLMAN, England.

Let me still tell you how excited I was to listen on the first day of August via internet radio to the fantastic BBC Proms Concert with John Wilson conducting the reconstructed MGM musical scores! Probably the greatest concert I have ever heard. My deepest respect to this young highly talented conductor and his incredible and excellent job. Let us hope one day this big event will be available on DVD. This concert was also broadcast last week (5 September) on the German radio channel Bayern 4 Klassik from Munich. As far I know the reaction of many listeners was enthusiastic! ALEXANDER SCHATTE, Berlin, Germany.

 I enjoyed the latest magazine which arrived yesterday, especially the little bit about John Wilson. What a terrific conductor. I speak for many when I say his MGM Prom was just brilliant and I love his new CD of John Ireland's Music also! MARTIN MILLER, England.

Predictably the musical snobs could not resist complaining about ‘their’ Proms being taken over by something likely to appeal to a far greater audience. One woman wrote to the Radio Times saying that Sir Henry Wood and Sir Malcolm Sargent would be turning in their graves. Clearly she was ignorant of the history of the Proms. Sir Henry Wood envisaged an annual music festival that would appeal to the masses, and the music performed in its early years did just that. It is only in recent decades that the BBC has turned it into an elitist event, with its new commissions clearly intended to foster admiration from non-musical souls who wouldn’t recognise a melody if it jumped up and bit them.

Happily other correspondents to Radio Times put that stupid woman firmly in her place. As well as reminding her of Sir Henry’s original vision, one gentleman who knew Sir Malcolm Sargent, stated categorically that he would have loved the MGM Prom.

 Sir Michael Parkinson also contributed a wonderful article to Radio Times. Under the headline "Cloth-eared zealots who complain are to be pitied", Sir Michael wrote:

The Proms, which I often presented, are one of the great cultural achievements of the BBC. The Prom concert featuring music from 75 years of MGM musicals (1 August BBC2, Radio 3) made me feel, for the first time in a long while, that all was well with the world. John Wilson, the conductor, not only reconstructed the scores of the original orchestral parts destroyed when MGM’s library was demolished, but assembled a big, big band to create a sound that can only be described as glorious. Morecambe and Wise, Tommy Cooper and Les Dawson were regularly on telly the last time I felt as happy watching the box.

There have been sniffy comments from the usual cloth-eared zealots who complain about "dumbing down". They are to be pitied if they don’t understand that the music from the Great American Songbook will last as long as any in the classical canon; and if people extol the genius of Alfred Brendel while dismissing Oscar Peterson, then they know nothing.

It was best illustrated many years ago on Parkinson when we brought together Yehudi Menuhin and Stéphane Grappelli. Menuhin was fascinated by the other man’s talent for improvisation, Grappelli in awe of the other’s reputation. "He is a maestro, I am a fiddle player," he said. They rehearsed for the first time and afterwards Grappelli’s face was creased in a joyous grin. "Good rehearsal?" we asked. "Three minutes into Lady Be Good, tell me, who is the maestro?" he said. It was the start of a working relationship that produced a few records and a long friendship between two men from different worlds, but who shared a genius for making music.

There have been other Prom concerts featuring film music, but why not make a celebration of an incomparable 20th-century art form — which is what the Great American Songbook is — a regular part of the season? It’s too important to be ignored, as it is nowadays, by all of TV and most of radio, including those BBC stations that ought to know better. I speak, of course, of Radio 2, which should be the guardian and promoter of the golden treasury that John Wilson unforgettably presented to us at the Proms. I have a better idea: make John Wilson head of music at Radio 2.

This feature appeared in the December 2009 edition of ‘Journal Into Melody’.

Submit to Facebook

TOM WALSH – FOLLOWING IN GRANDPA’S FOOTSTEPS!

Robert Farnon began his professional musical career as a trumpeter, and his grandson Thomas Walsh seems to be following in his footsteps. His proud mother Judith keeps us informed of his progress, and we recently received the following newspaper report from the Suffolk Evening Star (26 October 2007) by Stephen Foster of BBC Radio Suffolk:

"This Sunday the ever-popular Horn Factory make their fourth appearance at the lpswich Jazz Club. Led by Gill Burgoyne from the saxophone section, this 17 piece outfit were formed nearly a decade ago to give local musicians the chance to play in a big band setting.

Among the current members is highly-rated trumpet player Tom Walsh from Manningtree. Tom’s 16 and now plays regularly with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. Earlier this week he told me how he came to join NYJO: ‘I look back on it now and think its quite embarrassing. I was busking in Colchester and the well known jazz bass player Eddie Johnson heard me and suggested I get in touch with NYJO who I’d never heard of before. It’s great because you don’t hare to audition. You just go along and if you can play well you’re in!’

Tom started playing with the orchestra two years ago but has only been gigging regularly with them since the summer. It was at around the same time that Tom linked up with Horn Factory and won Young Musician Of The Year at the Bures Music Festival.

Tom’s short term goal is to secure a place at the Royal Academy of Music. Believe me this young man is going places."

At another concert with the NYJO Tom was featured on Harry South’s portrait of Dizzy Gillespie, appropriately called "Dizzy". He used a trumpet with an almost vertically pointing bell, in true Gillespie style. He coped with all the high notes easily, and it is reported that he created some memorable music in so doing.

This report appeared in ‘Journal Into Melody’ March 2008

Submit to Facebook

FIDDLE FADDLE  
A Great Leroy Anderson Composition

Analysed by Robert Walton

The period immediately following World War 2 and beyond was particularly creative for light music on both sides of the Atlantic. In fact in many ways it could be said to be the rebirth of the genre. Inspired by David Rose it produced a dazzling array of original material from the likes of Edward White, Clive Richardson, Sidney Torch, Trevor Duncan, Angela Morley and of course Robert Farnon. Just as the big bands had dominated the music scene a few years before, now it was the turn of light orchestras to have their day.  With the rise of the singer, almost overnight light orchestras came into their own providing a valuable contribution to the extraordinary variety of popular music on offer. And the vocalists weren’t slow in taking advantage of the expertise of the new breed of arrangers for their backings.

In America it was an arranger for the then Boston Promenade Orchestra who emerged into the limelight as the country’s most important composer in this specialised field - Leroy Anderson. He might not have been as progressive as some of the others but he certainly had a commercial flare with numbers like Blue Tango, Syncopated Clock, Sleigh Ride, Forgotten Dreams, The Typewriter and Sandpaper Ballet.

One of his earliest compositions written in 1947 was the perpetually mobile Fiddle Faddle.  It may have seemed a million miles away from its prototype Holiday for Strings but it’s closer than you think. Essentially the format was much the same with its quick fire opening and broad sweeping middle tune. In Fiddle Faddle the method of performance is in reverse order. Bowed strings first, pizzicato second. The main difference is the start of the bridge with its welcome pizzicato relief from the bustling non-stop opening section and then the strings returning to arco, divide. The lower ones play the tune while the upper ones provide the icing (an idea later borrowed by Ray Martin).

But let’s take a closer look at this woodwindless string feature Fiddle Faddle. According to the dictionary fiddle faddle is silly talk or an unimportant piece of trivia. Perhaps not a very flattering description of the Anderson standard but at the same time a clever play on words. Like Holiday for Strings all this constant activity keeps the orchestra very much on its toes rather like an exercise.

The intro has all the hallmarks of the lead-in to a Sousa march. The first phrase is identical to Three Blind Mice but because the violins are doing a double act playing the melody and embellishments at the same time, the tune is somewhat disguised. This is followed by a scale-like descending passage. As the piece progresses there is a definite feeling of a square dance trying to get out especially with the extreme syncopation and the decoration in the middle section.

Shortly after the first chorus the music briefly comes to a halt answered by a lower syncopated note followed by another a few bars later a little higher. I can’t help speculating what Robert Farnon or Malcolm Arnold might have done with those. They would have certainly been more daring and ‘wrong’. But Leroy Anderson was one of the old school and wouldn’t have gone down that road. However it must be said he was far more advanced than he’s generally given credit for. What about the beautiful harmonies of Serenata? His work had a freshness about it with some highly original concepts and titles and his sense of humour was never far away. If anything his compositions are more closely allied to classical music. For starters try his excellent piano concerto. Fiddle Faddle in particular may well have its roots in the music of the Swedish composer Hugo Alfven. Coincidentally Anderson himself is of Swedish descent!

David Rose was by no means the only American orchestra to influence British composers. Many of them fell under the spell of Anderson’s melodic magic which ironically had quite a bit of Englishness about it. From a little acorn called Fiddle Faddle, grew dozens of Anderson gems into a giant musical oak tree of unprecedented fertility.

Submit to Facebook

Gone with the Wind
Reg Otter remembers the Great Days of Hollywood Film Music

 Many years ago (68 to be precise!) I was talking to a friend about the wonderful film music to which this article is dedicated. Both of us were 14, both of us had just left school; both of us had saved, diligently, to amass the outrageously high entrance fee of 3/6d for a seat at the Ritz Cinema, Leicester Square, to see what was then promoted as the greatest picture ever made, and as we emerged from the massive 3 hours 44 minutes showing I enquired of my pal…."What did you think of the music?"

He looked at me a trifle puzzled and replied nonchalantly "Not bad, I suppose, but it was the excitement of the battle scenes and the fire of Atlanta that impressed me."

Personally youthful as I was, I sensed that I had been present an historical moment of the cinema. I had witnessed the birth of a genre of classical music that made an impact at the time, but has been largely ignored ever since, and with the massive, overwhelming hypes of so-called ‘rock ‘n roll’ rap, funk and all the other tuneless drivel that has ruled (and pierced!) our eardrums since the ‘liberating’ (from what? melody?) days of the 1960’s, I fell head over heels in love with the gorgeous, dramatic, rapturous music of master melody makers such as Max Steiner, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Alfred Newman, Victor Young, Hugo Friedhofer and Ernest Gold to name but a few.

Max was the unique composer of the symphonic-like score for this unforgettable Hollywood epic and he became the creator of just over 350, yes 350 wonderful film-music movies in an age when melody, beauty, drama, adventure, imagination and innovation was appreciated by the public, that is from the early 1930’s to the 1970’s…. "the Golden Age".

I suppose he will always be remembered for the awesome spine-chilling yet majestic music he composed for "King Kong" seventy one years ago but just three years later in 1936, this Master of Harmony, this genius of dramatic, atmospheric sound, joined Warner Brothers Studios where he made an everlasting and colossal impact, and became without doubt the greatest film music composer of all time.

It seemed that the combination of Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, George Brent, Henry Fonda and Miriam Hopkins was a gut-edge winning formula for millions of dollars and the scintillating, imaginative beautiful scores which poured from the creative brain of Max Steiner are much too long to be listed here, but here are a few for contemplation - "Dark Victory" (the tragic finale music is a masterpiece), "Jezebel" (a waltz to rival Strauss!), "The Great Lie" (Max reaches the realms of Tchaikovsky), "In this our Life" (a superbly melodious theme), "Casablanca" (you must remember this!), "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs" (such sweetness, counter-pointing a story of racial bigotry), "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (a terrific unique tale so cleverly accompanied to appropriately dramatic music), "Now Voyager" (Oh, movie fans, let’s not ask for the Moon…we have Max Steiner!), "The Letter" (Maugham, Bette Davis Herbert Marshall and Max…who could ask for anything more?) "Since You Went Away" (such a beautiful score had one wondering how Max was so talented) "Adventures of Don Juan", "Dodge City", "Charge of the Light Brigade", and "Dawn Patrol" (Erroland Max …what a combination)….just a few of the films which had us tendering our hard earned ninepences with enthusiasm to sink into our seats after having queued outside and inside the temple of dreams. Max Steiner died at the great age of 83 in 1971.

I suppose if there had to be a worthy rival for the crown of the king of film music, which rightly belonged to Max, it would have to be one of his three contemporaries, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Alfred Newman or Victor Young.

Curiously enough, due to the shortness of his career - a mere twelve years and only 18 scores, Korngold, my own personal choice, would be that rival. Six films with music by this sublimely melodic composer stand out as masterly achievements in originality, atmosphere, dramatic capability and celestial orchestration and they are "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938) "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" (1939) "The Sea Hawk" (1940), (can there be a more stirring overture?) "King’s Row" (1942) a Korngold Classic. "Devotion" (1946) and "Deception" (1946). The very fact that so few words could command the attention and admiration of discerning cinema-goers proves that Korngold was somewhat of a genius.

Film fan enthusiasts of the late 1930’s would have failed to leave the cinema without whistling or humming the haunting Cathy theme from "Wuthering Heights" which was composed by another Steiner contemporary, Alfred Newman. He was one of ten children born in a working-class family in Newhaven, Connecticut. He became a prolific and much honoured (9 Oscars!) composer and arranger, responsible for the world-renowned 20th Century-Fox "Signature" logo and his Street Scene theme from "Sentimental Rhapsody" became not only popular but a happy perennial of the world of film music, in fact I’ll wager everyone reading this would instantly recall the "Manhattany" tuneful, memorable notes once they heard them. And who will forget the dynamic suspense-filled, nerve jangling thrill of Airport, the majesty and tragedy of "The Robe" and the beauty and scenic happiness of "Love is a Many Splendoured Thing"? All contributed by Alfred Newman!

But maybe my final contender for Max Steiner’s exalted crown would be one of my own personal favourites; he was with us for just over half a century, being a mere 56 when he died, after a life of excessive drinking and smoking, yet composing some of the most beautiful, descriptive film music ever conceived - Victor Young. One has only to mention "Love Letters", "Golden Earrings". "My Foolish Heart", "Stella by Starlight", and "Around the World in Eighty Days" to realise that here was a man, who, although resembling a prize-fighting boxer physically, was a renowned sentimental genius of a musician capable of creating happiness, contentment, love and peace to millions of people whom he had never even met.

Almost all of the music I have written about is now just a pleasant memory. All of the composers are dead and the eras only captured on video and audio tape. The primary object of this small essay is to recall and rejoice in what to me was, and still is, the greatest films ever made; to honour the marvellous composers of film music which has largely been ignored by the general public, and to regret the demise of a part of life which was happy, colourful and oh! so satisfying, despite the rigours of war and insecurity.

There was a place of Directors, Producers, Film Stars and Composers called Hollywood. Here in this fascinating world the Land of Make-Believe took its last bow as ‘Reality’ ‘Rock’n’Roll’, ‘Raunchiness’ and ‘Sex’ took hold. Here was the last ever to be seen of glamour, enchantment and spell-binding charm. Look for it only in books for it is no more than a dream remembered - a way of life…. "Gone with the Wind".

Submit to Facebook
Page 69 of 77

Login Form RFS

Hi to post comments, please login, or create an account first.
We cannot be too careful with a world full of spammers. Apologies for the inconvenience caused.

Keep in Touch on Facebook!    

 If you have any comments or questions about the content of our website or Light Music in general, please join the Robert Farnon Society Facebook page.
About Geoff 123
Geoff Leonard was born in Bristol. He spent much of his working career in banking but became an independent record producer in the early nineties, specialising in the works of John Barry and British TV theme compilations.
He also wrote liner notes for many soundtrack albums, including those by John Barry, Roy Budd, Ron Grainer, Maurice Jarre and Johnny Harris. He co-wrote two biographies of John Barry in 1998 and 2008, and is currently working on a biography of singer, actor, producer Adam Faith.
He joined the Internet Movie Data-base (www.imdb.com) as a data-manager in 2001 and looked after biographies, composers and the music-department, amongst other tasks. He retired after nine years loyal service in order to continue writing.