Alan Langford
Encyclopedia
Alan Langford is the pen name of Alan Owen (b. 1928), a British radio producer and composer of light music
.
Born in London, he studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
with Benjamin Frankel
. For many years he was a BBC music producer for programmes such as Matinée Musicale and Friday Night is Music Night
, and thus used his pseudonym to disguise his sideline in composition. He is no relation of fellow light composer Gordon Langford
.
He is known for works such as the Three Amusements, Little French Suite, Riding High, Petite Promenade, the Waltz for String Orchestra, the Concertante for Harmonica and Strings (written in 1981 for Tommy Reilly
), the Two Worlds Overture and the Pastoral Scherzetto. Many of his pieces were written for the recorded music libraries, and according to Philip Lane
, his compositions were frequently used for the crime serials of Edgar Lustgarten
in the 1950s and 1960s.
Light music
Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music, which originated in the 19th century and had its heyday during the early to mid part of the 20th century, although arguably it lasts to the present day....
.
Born in London, he studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
with Benjamin Frankel
Benjamin Frankel
Benjamin Frankel was a British composer. Frankel's most famous pieces include a cycle of five string quartets and eight symphonies as well as a number of concertos for violin and viola; his single best-known piece is probably the First Sonata for Solo Violin, which, like his concertos, resulted...
. For many years he was a BBC music producer for programmes such as Matinée Musicale and Friday Night is Music Night
Friday Night is Music Night
Friday Night is Music Night is a long running live BBC radio concert programme featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra, broadcast most Fridays on BBC Radio 2 at 8.00pm. It is the world's longest-running live music radio programme....
, and thus used his pseudonym to disguise his sideline in composition. He is no relation of fellow light composer Gordon Langford
Gordon Langford
Gordon Langford is an English composer, arranger and performer. Although well known in the brass band community as a composer and arranger, he is less well known as a composer of orchestral music, despite winning an Ivor Novello award for his March from the Colour Suite in 1971.Born in Edgware,...
.
He is known for works such as the Three Amusements, Little French Suite, Riding High, Petite Promenade, the Waltz for String Orchestra, the Concertante for Harmonica and Strings (written in 1981 for Tommy Reilly
Tommy Reilly
Thomas Rundle Reilly MBE was a Canadian classical harmonica player. He began studying violin at eight and began playing harmonica at aged eleven as a member of his father's band...
), the Two Worlds Overture and the Pastoral Scherzetto. Many of his pieces were written for the recorded music libraries, and according to Philip Lane
Philip Lane (composer)
Philip Lane is an English composer and musicologist. He is noted for his light music compositions and arrangements, as well as his painstaking work reconstructing lost film scores.-Biography:...
, his compositions were frequently used for the crime serials of Edgar Lustgarten
Edgar Lustgarten
Edgar Marcus Lustgarten was a British broadcaster and noted crime writer.His books included crime fiction, but most were accounts of true-life criminal cases. The legal justice system and courtroom procedures were his main interests and his writings reflect this...
in the 1950s and 1960s.