Music and film
Film music is popular with our member orchestras. We have a comprehensive collection in our library worth exploring.
Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka is a Canadian and American singer, songwriter and actor best known for songs including Diana, You Are My Destiny, Lonely Boy, Put Your Head on My Shoulder, and (You're) Having My Baby. He also wrote the main theme to the 1962 film The Longest Day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ7hYEJt2UY
We have a version of this piece in our library.
Contact our Library team for further information.
Women composers
We are exploring the many works in our catalogue by women composers and arrangers.
With over 100 women represented, there is plenty to discover.
Elsie April
Elsie April is a bit of a mystery. The RNCM Blog lists a figure of this name, but points out that she did not write music herself. In the 1920s she worked as a musical assistant to Noël Coward and helped him with the writing of Bitter Sweet. However, our catalogue indicates that an Elsie April composed a suite, The Village Green (orchestrated by Sydney Baynes). It is possible that this is a pseudonym, but is it possible that Elsie April had a hidden talent hitherto undiscovered?
https://www.rncm.ac.uk/blog/elsie-april-1884-1950/
Search our women composer listing
Listen
What makes your audiences smile?!
Here's a suggestion that would make a perfect programme filler or encore.
Playful Scherzo - Peter Hope
Repertoire ideas
Here are some works being borrowed from our library by member groups:
On a Local Train Journey - Rathke
The Syncopated Clock - Anderson
March from Things to Come - Bliss
Poodle Parade - Farnon
La Gazelle - Myddleton
Our Classical World
Our library is not just about Light Music. We have a significant collection of lighter opuses from the western classical tradition.
Here is a suggestion:
A Night in Madrid: Fantasy on Spanish themes - Glinka
Composer Spotlight
Frederick Curzon (4th September 1899 to 6th December 1973) was half a generation younger than such stalwarts of the English light music composers as Arthur Wood, Albert Ketélbey, Percy Fletcher, Alfred Reynolds and Eric Coates. Curzon, however, is to be reckoned among their number, as a most attractive purveyor of tuneful, beautifully scored light music, primarily for orchestra.
His work The Boulevardier is regularly performed, but do you know these works?
Contact us on lmsliborders@gmail.com for more information.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The 2025 LMS Play Day October 5th from 10am– 6pm
at Victoria Hall,
Bolton
Howard Rogerson and Andrew Penny invite you to apply for places for this event on October 5th 2025. Following on the enormous success of last year’s Play Day and the centenary themes, we hope to include a tribute to Ron Goodwin in his centenary year and to recognise the 150th birthday of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Places can now be reserved (as a player or audience member, application form enclosed) and we are able to hold prices at the same level as last year with no extra tariffs! Watch out for more info coming soon, or sign up to our newsletter to stay updated!
Savings Available
Can your group benefit from ordering more orchestral sets from LMS?
Music groups can order multiple orchestral sets at a reduced rate. Here are the details.
Orchestral Music sets for sale
Is your music group looking to buy some orchestral music?
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