"DASHING
AWAY WITH THE SMOOTHING IRON" by LEON YOUNG ... JOHN PIGNEGUY, HORN with the BBC RADIO ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY THE COMPOSER. |
http://www.exroyalmarinesbandsmen.net/LeonYoungpartone.htm Former Royal Marines Bandsman Bryan Walker recently played in a concert directed by the Head of Music at Ashford School, Malcolm Riley. The programme included an arrangement of "Murder on the Orient Express" by Leon Young and it transpired that Malcolm knew Leon's son who had access to all his father's compositions, arrangements and recordings including, to Bryan's amazement, this fun piece. Knowing that John Pigneguy and I are old friends and townies, Bryan asked me to quiz John for any more interesting information. John promptly sent me a CD of the piece for me to rip and distribute to those interested and I, in turn, sent Adrian's article to John which he found fascinating as it gave another aspect on "Leon - nice man, good arranger and film composer who wrote well for the horn" ... as can be heard here with it's references to Mozart's and Strauss's 1st concerto.
I hope you enjoy Adrian's affectionate biography of Band Corporal Leon Young RM and appreciate that these seemingly disparate strands of musical life actually tie us together in our lives. Best wishes to you all, Willi Watson
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