Music and film
Film music is popular with our member orchestras. We have a comprehensive collection in our library worth exploring.
Vivian Dunn was a distinguished British conductor, military musician, and composer whose career defined Royal Marines music across mid 20th century Britain. Serving first as Director of Music for the Portsmouth Division (1931–1953) and later as Principal Director of Music of the Royal Marines (1953–1968), Dunn modernised the Corps’ musical identity, led international tours, accompanied the Royal Family on major Commonwealth voyages, and became the first Armed Forces musician to receive a knighthood. His legacy includes more than 60 compositions, influential arrangements, and landmark recordings that shaped military and light music traditions. Upon retiring from the military in December 1968, Dunn became a guest conductor with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He also recorded with the Orchestra of the Light Music Society. In 1955, Dunn was asked by Euan Lloyd of Warwick Films to compose the theme music for The Cockleshell Heroes (the rest of the film was scored by John Addison) We have the concert march from the film in our library.
Contact our Library team for further information about works we have by Dunn.
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.
Clara Edwards
American composer, singer and pianist Clara Edwards created some of the most enduring art songs of the early 20th century. Born Clara Gerlich in Minnesota, she trained in Chicago and Vienna before turning to composition in the 1920s. Edwards wrote over 100 works, publishing more than 60 songs, among them Into the Night, By the Bend of the River, and With the Wind and the Rain in Your Hair. Her music blends lyrical art song writing with the warmth of popular ballad style, making her work accessible yet refined. Frequently performed on radio and sung by artists such as Lily Pons and Ezio Pinza, her songs remain a staple of American vocal repertoire today.
We have By the Bend in the River in our library
Search our women composer listing - https://www.lightmusicsociety.com/services
Listen…
What makes your audiences smile?!
Here is a suggestion that would make a perfect programme filler or encore.
Music Lesson - Charles Williams
We have a version of this for orchestra in our library.
Repertoire Ideas
Here is a selection of works being borrowed from our library by member groups.
Autumn Melody - Felton Rapley
Blue Danube - Johann Strauss
Kiss Me Kate Selection - Cole Porter
Slaughter on 10th Avenue - Richard Rodgers
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:
Capriccio Espagnol - Rimsky-Korsakov
Composer of the Month
Ernest Tomlinson
A defining figure in postwar British light music, Ernest Tomlinson combined lyrical charm with masterful orchestration and a deep sense of humour. His works, Little Serenade, Suite of English Folk Dances, Fantasia on Auld Lang Syne, and Sinfonia ’62, capture the warmth and wit of midcentury broadcasting and concert life. As founder of the Library of Light Orchestral Music, Tomlinson preserved thousands of scores that might otherwise have been lost, ensuring the survival of Britain’s Light Music heritage. His craftsmanship and melodic invention continue to inspire performers and audiences alike.
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.
Light Music News
Hilary Ashton, daughter of Ernest Tomlinson recently gave an informative talk about Light Music, her father’s work and the work of the Library to the Bolton U3A. The talk was well-attended and clearly fascinated the audience. If you are interested to learn more about the Light Music Society by booking one of the team as a speaker, please get in touch!
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?
We have a selection of orchestral sets for sale. Are any suitable for your group?
To help move this stock on, each piece is now £10.
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