Library News June 2025

Posted on 26th June, 2025

Music and film

Film music is popular with our member orchestras. We have a comprehensive collection in our library worth exploring.

Edwin Astley

Edwin Astley, also known as Ted Astley, was a British composer who gained fame for his work in creating music for British television programs. He was born in Warrington, Lancashire. During World War II, Astley served as a musician in the army orchestra, playing the saxophone and clarinet.

Astley created numerous pieces for British television series in the 1950s and 1960s. Some notable shows for which he composed include The Champions, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Danger Man, Department S, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Gideon's Way, and The Baron. These television themes were known for their rich melodies and vibrant arrangements. His most familiar though is arguably the theme to The Saint starring Roger Moore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unu320-enIk

In our library, you can also find Themes from the Vorslav Concerto, from the film At The Stroke of Nine, a 1957 crime drama starring Patricia Dainton, Stephen Murray, Patrick Barr and Dermot Walsh.

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.

Florence Aylward

Florence Aylward was born in Sussex in 1862 and died in 1950. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and seems to have largely confined herself to composing ballads. Some of her most popular titles were Beloved It is Mora, Love's Coronation, How Dear You Are, Song of the Bow, Mother of Mighty Sons, and The Bird I Love Best; her Flower Songs were a ballad cycle of four songs.

Morning in June can be found in our Library.

Search our women composer listing to discover more music!

Listen:

What makes your audiences smile?!

Here is a suggestion, which would make a perfect programme filler or encore.

Looking Around - Colin Smith

Repertoire Ideas

Here are some works currently on loan from our library to member groups:

Dancing Nights - Eric Coates

Manhattan Playboy - Robert Farnon

Dances with Wolves - John Barry

Star Wars Suite - John Williams

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 one suggestion from our collection:

Gopak from the ballet Gayaneh - Khachaturian

Composer Spotlight

Robert Farnon

Robert Farnon (1917–2005) was a Canadian-born composer, conductor, musical arranger and trumpet player. As well as being a composer of original works, he was commissioned by film and television producers for theme and incidental music. In later life he composed a number of more large-scale orchestral works, including three symphonies, and was recognised with four Ivor Novello awards and the Order of Canada. His influence was noted by luminaries such as Quincy Jones, and conductor André Previn called him "the greatest writer for strings in the world”.

Here is a work by Farnon which is well worth performing.

Pictures in a Fire

Looking Ahead:

LMS Play Day Sunday 5th October, Victoria Hall, Bolton

Reserve your place for our annual Play-Day and Teatime Concert!