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Ronald Binge, Accordion, Composer, and Orchestrator |
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Ronald Binge, Accordion, Composer, and Orchestrator |
RONALD BINGE 1910-1979
Born in Derby (UK), Binge was one of the most respected and successful English composers of his generation. His father, a capable pianist, died in 1920 of wounds received during the war, leaving the family in straitened circumstances, without money to pay for Binge to attend music college. Instead, he obtained work as a cinema organist, which enabled him to learn a great deal of light repertoire and to develop his skill as an arranger (the cinema had a small orchestra, for whom he wrote).
After a stint as an orchestral pianist with the high-caliber light orchestra at Great Yarmouth, he left for London and in 1935 his association with Mantovani began - from this time. Binge did many of the Mantovani orchestra’s arrangements, as well as writing much music of his own, some of which was recorded and broadcast.
He joined the RAF on the outbreak of the Second World War and took charge of the choir at his station in Blackpool, where Sidney Torch (also a theatre organist) conducted the orchestra. They became lifelong friends.
The war over, Binge earned his living as an arranger and orchestrator for the broadcasting orchestras - in the 1950s, the BBC had eight light orchestras on staff, each with several programmes a week - and scored more than fifty television and feature films. Working with Mantovani, he devised the famous Mantovani "cascading strings" sound in 1951, inspired by the acoustics of large cathedrals, which was shown to greatest effect in the song Charmaine and became an instant success. Mantovani secured the sponsorship of London (Decca) Records for an orchestra with a large string section.
Binge's Elizabethan Serenade and Sailing By were very popular.
The photo to the right of Ronnie Binge, 1975, is owned and copyrighted by Mister George Pollen, a copyist for Mister Binge. We really appreciate the photo and the kindness of Mr. Pollen.
A SECOND GARLAND OF BRITISH LIGHT MUSIC COMPOSERS
by Philip L. Scowcroft
As with our previous garland, the presentation is alphabetical, which means we start with Ronald Binge, who was born in Derby on 15 July 1910 and was largely self taught, though he did have early lessons in piano, organ and harmony. His first job was as composer, arranger and organist to a silent cinema that had a small orchestra.
He moved to London in 1930 and played in theatre, cafe and dance ensembles. His "breakthrough" came in 1934-5 when he became the arranger for Mantovani's orchestra. After war service in the RAF he returned to Mantovani; the once very popular Charmaine was his arrangement and the even more popular Elizabethan Serenade was composed for Mantovani in 1952. By this time Binge had gone freelance and was concentrating on composition. His first big compositional success had been the orchestral piece Spitfire in 1940. He had his own radio series with String Song between 1955 and 1963; he conducted his music both abroad and on records.
His compositions were varied. Many were for light orchestra, novelty items like Entry of the Robots, the march Brief Case and Bowler Hat, Red Sombrero, Farewell Waltz, Coffee Cup Chatter, Mischievous Mac, Summer Madness, High Stepper, Flash Harry, Fugal Fun, Madrugado (Daybreak) (1947) - which featured four saxophones as well as the usual orchestra, - the serenade Love in a Mist, for harp and strings, Dance of the Snowflakes, Venetian Carnival, the prelude, The Whispering Valley, for piano and strings, Paramariba, Snakes and Ladders, Las Castanuelas, String Song, Miss Melanie, Faire Frou-Frou, Scherzo, the nursery fantasy Tales of the Three Blind Mice (1949), Trade Winds (1949), sets of variations on The Carnival of Venice (1957), Cockles and Mussels (1956) and The Keel Row and, probably the best known, after the Elizabethan Serenade, that charming miniature for oboe and strings The Water Mill. Rather longer items, though still light in character were Thames Rhapsody, A Scottish Rhapsody, the Concerto for alto saxophone which has a gorgeously warm Romance as its slow movement, (the complete Concerto was performed in Doncaster with orchestra, during November 1990), the Saturday Symphony (1966-8) and Duel for Conductors for brass band and orchestra (1976). The Water Mill was also arranged as a solo for cornet and band and this was not Binge's only connection with band music. Apart from Old London and Trumpet Spectacular for military band and the novelty item for trombones and brass band Trombonioso, his Cornet Carillon for four cornets and brass band was one of the most popular items ever composed for brass band (there is also a version for orchestra but this is not half as atmospheric). Binge indeed, who died in 1979, is not one of those composers remembered for just one work. Some of his music was published for piano like the Toccata Vice Versa of 1948 and arrangements of Caribbean Calypso and The Red Sombrero, originally for orchestra, and the rumba serenade Siesta, originally for dance band. Chamber works included The Windmill, for oboe and piano, and Upside Downside, "a musical palindrome" for descant recorder, violin and cello. He composed very little for voice apart from a late Festival Te Deum, although the Elizabethan Serenade was inevitably arranged for both SATB and women's voices almost as soon as it appeared and he published Sailing By also for women's voices and a solo song The Story of Cock Robin. His film scores included Desperate Moment (1953) and The Runaway Bus (1954). Marco Polo Records issued a representative selection of Binge's pieces in 1994.
Note: Most of the Scowlcroft section was stolen from J. W. Music Publishing - Composer Biographies. The paper was not copyrighted, and I believe it contained some inaccuracies that I have taken the liberty to remedy or trash (depending upon your point of view). While I am certain that J. W. Music Publishing may resent the changes, I am sure Mr. Binge wouldn't have minded, nor would Mantovani, and it is my website! WWS
Note: A copy of the Ronald Binge biography "Sailing By" by Mike Carey includes a lot of information on the relationship between Binge and Mantovani can be had by writing to Mike Carey, 5 The Square, Darley Abbey, Derbyshire, DE22 IDY, England. Paperback is currently £10.00 and hardcover is £15.00.
Email wstillwagon1@earthlink.net
