Light music is orchestral music, which originated in the 19th century and continues until the present day. The style is a less "serious" form of Western classical music, featuring usually shorter orchestral pieces of mood music or concert music. Light music is often grouped with 'Easy Listening". On our stations playlist you will hear a mix of instrumental light music and excerpts from traditional forms of music. (beautifulmusic.uk, beautifulinstrumentals.com and classicalmusic.network)
the music
Before Late Romantic orchestral trends of length and scope separated the trajectory of lighter orchestral works from the Western Classical canon, classical composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart or Joseph Haydn won as much fame for writing lighter pieces such as Eine Kleine Nachtmusik as for their symphonies and operas. Later examples of early European light music include the operettas of composers such as Franz von Suppé or Sir Arthur Sullivan; the Continental salon and parlour music genres; and the waltzes and marches of Johann Strauss II and his family. The Straussian waltz became a common light music composition (note for example Charles Ancliffe's "Nights of Gladness" or Felix Godin's "Valse Septembre"). These influenced the foundation of a "lighter" tradition of classical music in the 19th and early 20th centuries...from the likes of Binge and Coates to Farnon.
Light music is a less-serious form of Western classical music, which originated in the 18th and 19th centuries and continues today. Its heyday was in the mid‑20th century. The style is through-composed, usually shorter orchestral pieces and suites designed to appeal to a wider context and audience than more sophisticated forms such as the concerto, the symphony and the opera.
Light music is a less-serious form of Western classical music, which originated in the 18th and 19th centuries and continues today. Its heyday was in the mid‑20th century. The style is through-composed, usually shorter orchestral pieces and suites designed to appeal to a wider context and audience than more sophisticated forms such as the concerto, the symphony and the opera. Light music was especially popular during the formative years of radio broadcasting, with stations such as the BBC Light Programme (1945–1967) playing almost exclusively "light" compositions. Occasionally also known as mood music and concert music, light music is often grouped with the easy listening genre. Light music was popular in the United Kingdom, the United States and in continental Europe, and many compositions in the genre remain familiar through their use as themes in film, radio and television series.
American composer. Victor Herbert, (born Feb. 1, 1859, Dublin, Ire.—died May 26, 1924, New York, N.Y., U.S.), Irish-born American composer of operettas and light music.
Bernie Wayne was best known for "Blue Velvet," which was recorded as a hit by numerous artists, and "There She Is," the song long associated with the Miss America pageant, as well as songs written for Elvis Presley, Broadway musicals and Hollywood productions. He also wrote the tune featured in commercials for Chock full o'Nuts which portrayed it as the "heavenly coffee".
He also created some of the more memorable instrumental novelty melodies in the Easy Listening genre. Examples include "The Magic Touch" from the film More About Love, "Port-au-Prince" (a Nelson Riddle single), and "Vanessa" (recorded by Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra, and used as a theme song for several 1950s TV series.)
The song "There She Is" became the theme song of the Miss America pageant starting in 1955. The pageant had stopped playing the song in 1981 after an argument over royalties for the song and had tried to bring back Bert Parks to sing this trademark song at the 1986 pageant, but he declined.
WIKIPEDIA
Acquaviva was a graduate of the United States Military Academy and served in the Army's orchestral division from 1944 to 1948. As a struggling young musician in New York, he roomed with singer Guy Mitchell, sleeping on the floor for lack of furniture and once admitted to the press that the refrigerator there contained only one jar of mustard.
WIKIPEDIA | Joni James
He married Joni James in 1956 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and served as her manager and conductor.
He recorded for MGM Records (notably the LP album "Music of Acquaviva", MGM E3226), and his works include "The Cavalier's Ball" and "My Love, My Love", the latter of which was recorded by his wife and reached Gold Record status at its release.
Acquaviva later fell into bad health, and Joni James retired from performing to care for him (and their two children, adopted from Italy) for the last 18 years of his life.
In recent years several authors have confused Tony Acquaviva with his younger brother Nick, who is the cowriter of "My Love, My Love" and numerous other Joni James hits. Tony Acquaviva did not compose songs which Joni James recorded, however, uncredited, he reportedly according to Joni James did write the bridge for the English version of the standard "That's All," a song he also successfully recorded.
