The Simon May Collection
Encyclopedia
The Simon May Collection is a 2010 compilation album of television and film music written by Simon May
.
The album was released to coincide with the departure of the character Peggy Mitchell
, played by Barbara Windsor
, from the BBC soap opera EastEnders
. May, who composed the original EastEnders theme in 1984, was commissioned to rework "Julia's Theme", a slow, piano version of the main theme traditionally used at "the end of episodes featuring intense emotion or drama". The track, "Peggy's Theme", was made available to download following the broadcast of the character's departure.
May appeared playing numbers from the collection in a concert at the Corn Exchange in Devizes
on September 22 2010.
Simon May
Simon May is a British musician and composer, best known for composing some of British television's best known theme tunes, including EastEnders and Howards' Way, and for composing the music for the 1988 film The Dawning....
.
The album was released to coincide with the departure of the character Peggy Mitchell
Peggy Mitchell
Margaret Ann "Peggy" Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Peggy was initially played by Jo Warne when she first appeared on 30 April 1991, featuring in the series on a recurring basis over several weeks. Peggy was reintroduced in 1994, recast and was then played by...
, played by Barbara Windsor
Barbara Windsor
Barbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders....
, from the BBC soap opera EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
. May, who composed the original EastEnders theme in 1984, was commissioned to rework "Julia's Theme", a slow, piano version of the main theme traditionally used at "the end of episodes featuring intense emotion or drama". The track, "Peggy's Theme", was made available to download following the broadcast of the character's departure.
May appeared playing numbers from the collection in a concert at the Corn Exchange in Devizes
Devizes
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
on September 22 2010.
Track listing
- "Peggy's Theme" (variation of "Julia's Theme" from EastEnders) performed by Simon May
- "Always There" (from Howards' WayHowards' WayHowards' Way is a television drama series produced by BBC Birmingham and transmitted on BBC One between 1 September 1985 and 25 November 1990. The series deals with the personal and professional lives of the yachting and business communities in the fictional town of Tarrant on the South Coast of...
) performed by Susie Webb & The Simon May Orchestra - "More to Life" (from BBC TV series TrainerTrainer (TV series)Trainer is a British television series transmitted by the BBC between 1991 and 1992.Filmed in and around the village of Compton near Newbury, the series is set in the world of horse racing. It starred Mark Greenstreet as Mike Hardy, an aspiring horse trainer keen to set up his own stables...
) performed by Cliff RichardCliff RichardSir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide.... - "Holiday Suite" (from BBC TV Holiday '86) performed by the Simon May Orchestra
- "I'm Drowning" performed by James Keogh
- "Summer of My Life" performed by Simon May (2010 version duet with Rosie May)
- "Eldorado" (theme from BBC TV series EldoradoEldorado (TV series)Eldorado was a British soap opera that ran for only one year, from 6 July 1992 to 9 July 1993. Set in Coín on the Costa Del Sol and based around the lives of British and European expats, the BBC hoped it would be as successful as EastEnders and replicate some of the sunshine and glamour of imported...
) performed by the Simon May Orchestra - "Howards' Way Theme" performed by the Simon May Orchestra
- "One More Chance" performed by Jack Duxbury
- "The Dawning Suite" (1st Movement) performed by The Simon May Orchestra
- "Every Loser WinsEvery Loser Wins"Every Loser Wins" is a song written by Simon May for the BBC television soap opera EastEnders. It was performed by Nick Berry.Written and produced by Simon May, Stewart James and Bradley James the song was heavily featured in the BBC soap opera EastEnders throughout the summer of 1986, sung by...
" performed by Nick BerryNick BerryNicholas "Nick" Berry is a British television actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Simon Wicks in the British soap opera EastEnders from 1985 to 1990 and as PC Nick Rowan in the British drama television series Heartbeat from 1992 to 1998.-Career:Berry started acting at the age of... - "All of Me" performed by Charley Rouse
- "Barracuda" (from Howards' Way) performed by the Simon May Orchestra
- "Abbey's Theme" (from Howards' Way) performed by the Simon May Orchestra
- "Frere" (from Howards' Way) performed by the Simon May Orchestra
- "Wolfgang" performed by Simon May (May) Moncur Street Music
- "Anyone Can Fall in LoveAnyone Can Fall in Love"Anyone Can Fall in Love" is a song, released in 1986, by EastEnders actress Anita Dobson, who played the character of Angie Watts. The song was released as a single, reaching #4 in the UK Singles Chart....
" performed by Anita DobsonAnita DobsonAnita Dobson is an English television actress and singer. She gained her highest profile while playing Angie Watts in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders...
& The Simon May Orchestra - "By the River" performed by James Keogh
- "Parents"/"Better Off The Way I Am" (from the musical SmikeSmikeSmike is a pop musical adaptation of a small part of Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby, that was televised for the BBC in 1973. The musical is based on the character Smike from that novel. The TV production starred Beryl Reid as Mrs Squeers, Andrew Keir as Mr Squeers, Leonard Whiting as Nicholas,...
) performed by Matthew Padden & The Simon May Orchestra - "I'll See You Again" (School Leavers' Song) performed by the Simon May Orchestra & Choirs
- "EastEnders ThemeEastEnders theme tuneThe EastEnders theme tune was composed by Simon May in 1984. He was assisted by Leslie Osborne.The theme is largely based upon percussion, strings and the piano, it is widely known for its dramatic use of sound, particularly the drums that begin at the end of an episode – which adds a sense...
" (new BBC TV version 2009) performed by the Simon May Orchestra - "Glory Be (To God on High)" (EastEnders Hymn) performed by the Simon May Orchestra & Choirs
- "Bless This Moment" performed by Susie Webb
External links
- The Simon May Collection at Music on Screen
- Peggy's Theme Official site