Around the Horn by Frank Downes: Chapter 15

Music & Conversation: The Podcast of English Composer Andrew Downes

Paula Downes reads her Grandfather and Andrew Downes' father Frank's book, Around the Horn, which tells the story of the Classical Music Industry from the point of view of a professional Horn player. Born 1921, died 2005, his fascinating orchestral career spanned the demise of the silent cinema, municipal seaside orchestras, the RAF Central band during World War II, orchestral playing in pre and post-war Britain, and the rise towards a Royal title for the Birmingham Conservatoire. Chapter 15 leads to Frank's appointment to Hornist of the BBC Midland Light Orchestra in 1953, with whom he recorded The Archers theme tune, to be broadcast on Radio 4 multiple times a week until 1992, when it was re-recorded. It also covers Frank's move into teaching at the Birmingham School of Music. Paula has chosen to end this episode with the third movement of Andrew Downes' Centenary Firedances, since the loud noises in this piece (originally composed to be performed with fireworks) evoke the loud noises Frank and his CBSO colleagues had to make on their instruments on their way back from a gig, in order to be rescued from a train carriage, which had been forgotten about and shunted down a dark tunnel late at night at Birmingham New Street Station! This work was written for the Centenary of Birmingham celebrations in 1989. Find out more here: https://www.andrewdownes.com/Orchestral.html#SYMPHONIC