Reverie - George Melachrino

 

Reverie

Interlude For Dreaming

George Melachrino

His Orchestra And Strings

His Master's Voice DLP 1083 (10 inch LP)

Made In England For RCA Victor Limited

From the back cover: George Melachrino was born in London in 1909, of Greek parents. At four years of age, George was the proud processor of a miniature violin and upon this, with the help of his step-father, he learned to play. In due course he entered the Trinity College of Music, specializing in chamber music and string instruments.

In 1927, with radio gaining ground in home entertainment, George was, at the age of 18, winging and playing at the Savoy Hill Studios, London. In the ensuing twelve years he played in many different bands and orchestras, becoming an accomplished player of the violin, viola, oboe, clarinet and saxophone. He also became a competent arranger and composer.

In 1939, he formed his own dance band and secured a contract at the Cafe de Paris, broadcasting from there many times.

Volunteering for the army, he was posted to the Corps of Military Police with whom he went through all the usual training and later became a P.T. instructor. At last it was decided that George Melachrino's peacetime experience might be useful on the entertainments side. He was posted to the Army Broadcasting department, as Musical Director for the recording of entertainment for overseas forces. When the British Band of the AE.F. was formed R.S.M. George Melachrino, as he then was, became Musical Director. This band became known throughout every theatre of war either on recordings for the forces, or on live broadcasts. The name Melachrino became synonymous with music that was quiet, sweet and melodious.

On demobilization in November 1945, he formed with the cream of his musicians the George Melachrino Orchestra, an orchestra now acknowledged as a body of stings without superior in the field of light music.

George Melachrino and his orchestra have been featured in many times, and he has composed and arranged music for both films and theatrical shows. – Note by Melvyn Douglas

Serenade

Greensleeves

Liebestraum

Clari de lune

Romance

Intermezzo

Le cygne

Air on the G string