Library Music Themes
General Sharing & Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Bruton Music on May 19, 2025, 06:58:15 PM
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Please forgive this bit of conspicuous self-promotion, but since so many people on the board have said such nice things about my book The Mood Modern, I’d like to mention that I have a new book coming out shortly.
It’s called Sophisticated Harmony, and it’s about the lives and music of six great British arrangers: Ronnie Hazlehurst, Trevor Bastow, Dick Doerschuk, Anthony Isaac, Peter Knight, and Steve Gray. (Admittedly, Dick Doerschuk was American by birth, but he spent more than 20 years in London arranging for TV and radio. He also contributed a clutch of superb compositions to the KPM and Amphonic libraries.) The accent here is largely on commissioned television music – especially for the BBC’s prodigious light entertainment output of the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s – but the book also takes in music for radio, documentaries, and libraries, as well as commercial albums and singles.
Most of the reference to library music occurs in the chapters on Trevor Bastow and Steve Gray, while Trevor’s chapter chronicles the decline of ATV Music, the subsequent sale of Bruton, and the story behind Music House’s formation. And there's a lovely Foreword by Dick Walter – a name that’ll be familiar to many of you.
I hope the above sounds interesting, and my thanks again to those of you who’ve supported The Mood Modern.
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Thank you for bringing your latest book to our attention Oliver. I have just ordered a copy!
And what a coincidence. I'm currently reading The Mood Modern having bought it from the Dutton Vocalion site earlier this year. It's packed full of fascinating information about the development of production music libraries. Being one of the more senior members of this forum the coverage of KPM in the 60s especially came to life for me. I'd certainly recommend the book to members of this forum.
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Sold!!!!
Fantastic to see Anthony Isaac getting some attention in particular, as so little's been written about him and he died far too young - very much looking forward to this!