Light music is a musical style that might often be called "easy listening". It started in the United Kingdom in the 19th century and became very popular in the middle of the 20th century.
Light music was often played at seaside resorts. It often consisted of arrangements for orchestra of popular songs. It was music that was supposed to be popular, music that a wide audience would be able to enjoy.
In the 1930s, when the BBC started broadcasting music on the radio (which they then called "wireless"), light music became very popular. In 1945 the BBC Light Programme was started. One very popular programme was called Friday Night is Music Night, with music played by the BBC Concert Orchestra. and Music While You Work was also a very popular programme.
Today Light Music is sometimes seen as not in fashion. Film music is more popular today, and music from musicals.
Eric Coates is a good example of a composer of Light Music. His piece "By the Sleepy Lagoon" became the signature tune of a radio programme called Desert Island Discs. Arthur Wood's "Barwick Green" became the theme of The Archers.
In the United States popular light pieces were written by people such as Leroy Anderson and George Gershwin.
Light Music is similar to what is called Salon Music (German: Salonmusik) in Europe.
- Ronald Binge
- Eric Coates
- Frederic Curzon
- Trevor Duncan
- Robert Farnon
- Albert Ketèlbey
- Billy Mayerl
- Angela Morley
- Ernest Tomlinson
- Sidney Torch
- Edward White
- Charles Williams
- Haydn Wood
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