Music and Film
Film music is popular with our member orchestras. We have a comprehensive collection in our library worth exploring.
Mel Brooks
Melvin James Brooks, born as Melvin Kaminsky, is an American filmmaker, comedian, actor, and songwriter whose seven-decade career has produced iconic parodies and farces. An EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner, he created Get Smart, co-created The 2000 Year Old Man, and directed classics like The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and Spaceballs. His work spans stage, screen, and TV, earning him enduring influence on American comedy.
We have a selection from the iconic musical The Producers available from 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.
Harriette Cady
Harriette Cady was a talented instrumentalist and composer, known for her contributions to the world of piano music. Her works, particularly those from the player piano rolls, have been preserved and can be found in various collections and databases. Cady's music, while not as widely recognised as those of other composers, is a testament to her skill and the enduring legacy of her contributions to the art of music.
We have an arrangement of Song of the Volga Boatmen by Cady in our library.
Search our women composer listing - https://www.lightmusicsociety.com/services
What makes your audiences smile?!
Here is a suggestion that would make a perfect programme filler or encore.
Sketch of a Dandy - Haydn Wood
We have a version of this for orchestra in our library.
Repertoire ideas
Here are works being borrowed from our library by member groups:
Swedish Rhapsody - Alfven
Coronation Scot - Ellis
Summertime (arr ET) - Gershwin
My Fair Lady Selection - Lerner & Loewe
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:
Barcarolle from Tales of Hoffmann - Offenbach
Composer of the Month
Every month sees anniversaries of the births of significant composers in our Library collection.
Franz von Suppé: pioneer of Viennese operetta 1819-1895.
Born in Split, Dalmatia, Franz von Suppé — whose full name was Francesco Ezechiele Ermenegildo de Suppé — brought Italian flair to the heart of Viennese operetta. Originally destined for a legal career, he turned to music after meeting Rossini and Donizetti, becoming a pioneer of the Viennese operetta with works like Das Pensionat. His overtures, including Light Cavalry and Poet and Peasant, remain concert favourites for their galloping energy and sparkling orchestration. Suppé wrote hundreds of stage works and was honoured by Vienna for his contributions to its musical life. Though once a household name across Europe, today he is remembered chiefly for his overtures — earning him the affectionate title of “the most famous forgotten composer.”
We have several of his works in our library. Contact us on lmsliborders@gmail.com for more information about the music we have by this composer.
Looking ahead…
SAVE THE DATE!
Light Music Society AGM, 14th June at 3pm online, either by zoom or another interface.
As well as the formal business, we will be giving an overview of LMS achievements during the past year. You may be surprised, and you may learn something! All the trustees have been busy with various projects .
More information will be in our monthly newsletters, and an invitation to join the meeting will be sent by email at the appropriate time.
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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