Light Fantastic

Presented by Petroc Trelawny.

John Wilson conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a concert celebrating the masters of light music including Eric Coates, Ernest Tomlinson, Haydn Wood and Robert Farnon. There's London-themed music from Eric Coates whose Knightsbridge March conjures up the busy London street with its traffic and street cries, and from Haydn Wood whose London Cameos feature musical depictions of The City, St James's Park and Wellington Barracks. The golden age of rail travel is celebrated in Coronation Scot, Vivian Ellis's salute to the London to Glasgow express, which was used as the theme tune to the BBC's Paul Temple series and the concert features Jumping Bean by Robert Farnon, one of the greatest of them all, plus Angela Morley's tribute to Farnon, A Canadian in Mayfair.

Arthur Sullivan: Overture di Ballo

Edward German: Prelude to Romeo and Juliet

Eric Coates: The Three Elizabeths Suite

8.50 Interval - Petroc Trelawny talks to David Ades, Secretary of the Robert Farnon Society, discussing not only the music in the concert, but what made the great light music composers great. We also hear from Anthony Bath, the 93-year old son of composer Hubert Bath, and if we're lucky, conductor John Wilson will reveal his favourite light music composer

9.10

Eric Coates: London Calling

Haydn Wood: London Cameos Suite

Robert Farnon: Jumping Bean

Ken Warner: Scrub Brothers, Scrub!

Vivian Ellis: Coronation Scot

Armstrong Gibbs: Dusk

Angela Morley: A Canadian in Mayfair

Ernest Tomlinson: Waltz for a Princess

Eric Coates: Knightsbridge from London (London Every Day) Suite

John Wilson conductor.

John Wilson conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a celebration of English light music.

With music including Coates, Farnon, Tomlinson, and Gilbert and Sullivan

Since the Golden Age of radio back in the 1930s and 40s, through the arrival of television, and up until the present day, light music has played a central part in shaping our perception of programmes. Some of the melodies used by producers as signature tunes have been especially composed, while others have been edited from (slightly) larger works. Many have become light music classics, such as Eric Coates's 'By The Sleepy Lagoon' (Desert Island Discs), or Trevor Duncan's 'A Little Suite' (Doctor Finlay's Casebook), and Johnny Pearson's 'Sleepy Shores' (Owen MD).

Matthew Sweet reflects across a broad selection of these much loved themes, many of which are only familiar from their first forty seconds.

Matthew Sweet on light music in the world of radio and television signature tunes.

With music including Coates, Farnon, Tomlinson, and Gilbert and Sullivan

Presented by Suzy Klein

The Central Band of the Royal Air Force is regarded as one of the finest military bands in the world. In this concert forming part of Radio 3's Light Fantastic Weekend, it celebrates the wind band music of Britain's finest light music composers.

Eric Coates is the quintessential composer of light music, and 'Springtime in Angus' was written in honour of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Haydn Wood is another important composer of the age, and his tone poem is inspired by the Isle of Man, where he grew up.

Many of the composers featured today had connections with the RAF: Ernest Tomlinson served in as a wireless mechanic and saw action in France; Ronald Binge, who began his musical career as a cinema organist, served in the RAF during the Second World War; Gilbert Vinter was a bandmaster and played in the Central Band; and Walford Davies was the RAF's first Director of Music. Walton O'Donnell also had military connections, as Musical Director for the Royal Marines.

Walton O'Donnell: At the Pattern (from 2 Irish Tone Sketches)

Gilbert Vinter: Hunter's Moon (with solo horn)

Ernest Tomlinson: Suite of Old English Folk Songs

Ronald Binge: Las Castaကuelas orch. George Pollen

Eric Coates: Spring time in Angus

Haydn Wood: Mannin Veen (A Manx Tone Poem)

Walford Davies: RAF March Past

Director: Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs.

The Central Band of the RAF plays light music for wind ensemble.

With music including Coates, Farnon, Tomlinson, and Gilbert and Sullivan

Live from the Clore Ballroom of the Royal Festival Hall, presented by Suzy Klein

The John Wilson Orchestra led by their charismatic conductor perform tea dance favourites from the golden age of British dance bands. With music made popular by bands like those of Geraldo, Ted Heath and Joe Loss.

Suzy Klein presents the John Wilson Orchestra in a performance of tea dance favourites.

With music including Coates, Farnon, Tomlinson, and Gilbert and Sullivan

Share your experiences of Light Fantastic with them:

Email: radio3lightfantastic@bbc.co.uk

Text: 83111 [Texts are charged at standard network rate (10 to 12p). These are not covered by free text message bundles.].

Suzy Klein and Petroc Trelawny presents reflections on the Light Fantastic weekend.

With music including Coates, Farnon, Tomlinson, and Gilbert and Sullivan

They trace their instruments' history, and the impact the theatre organ had on the nation's musical heart. Roger Fisher, from the Theatre Organ Heritage Centre, joins in to describe the history and development of the instrument, and walks us through the Robert Hope-Jones Museum, the designer of the original 'unit orchestra', the forerunner of the theatre organ.

Three organists describe the theatre organ's place in Britain's musical history.

With music including Coates, Farnon, Tomlinson, and Gilbert and Sullivan

Once, classical music had a natural home in holiday resorts across the country: 'Hastings and New Brighton had their own symphony orchestras; the young Malcolm Sargent started out as conductor of the orchestra in Llandudno; Wagner was played in Whitby.' (The Times). But Scarborough Spa Orchestra led the way, based in their magnificent Victorian building on the town's sweeping South Bay.

As they enter their 99th year they're still there. At a time when orchestras struggle for audiences, conductor Matthew Rowe goes to Scarborough to experience for himself the unique connection between this small group of musicians and the thousands of tourists who come each summer just to hear them play.

The leading musicians, conductors and singers of the twentieth century all performed at Scarborough, with names such as violinist Max Jaffa and conductor Alick Maclean drawing huge crowds through the decades. The orchestra plays nine concerts a week, and still generates that kind of anticipation and interest among the audience members.

Matthew believes that a conductor must do more than simply turn his back to the room and perform; he must break down barriers and make classical music less daunting for those who are not aficionados. He's intrigued to know the secret of the Spa Orchestra's warm relationship with their audience.

Recorded on location in Scarborough during the orchestra's summer season, Matthew Rowe traces this musical survival story.

Producer: Serena Field.

Conductor Matthew Rowe explores the unique appeal of Scarborough Spa Orchestra.

With music including Coates, Farnon, Tomlinson, and Gilbert and Sullivan