The Golden Age of Light Music: Holidays For Strings

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As the title of this CD clearly suggests, the emphasis in this collection is on strings, although in the interests of variety the other sections of the orchestra also get their opportunity to shine. That immensely talented American composer Leroy Anderson sets the tone with his landmark Belle Of The Ball, leaving the equally gifted David Rose to complete a selection of 28 light music cameos with an extended version of his famous Holiday For Strings. Rose is widely credited as the man who injected short, bright pieces of instrumental music with an infectious string sound in the 1940s that would be emulated by many musicians during the following decades. Both have earned their place in Light Musics Hall of Fame, but a glance through the list of numbers on this CD confirms that they were not alone in creating the pleasing sounds that once appealed to the majority of music lovers. Ron Goodwin, George Melachrino, Percy Faith, Cyril Ornadel, Robert Farnon, Frank Cordell, Philip Green, Charles Williams and Dolf van der Linden fully deserve to share the limelight, and newcomers this time include Jack Shaindlin and Frederick Fennell, two eminent American conductors who will surely be included in future Guild compilations.