Ernest Tomlinson: Romantic Melody.

Ernest Tomlinson MBE 1924 – 2015. An English composer, particularly noted for his light music compositions He was born in Rawtenstall, Lancashire, England, into a musical family, one of four children to Fred Tomlinson Sr and May Tomlinson (née Culpan). His younger brother, Fred Tomlinson, also a musician, founded The Fred Tomlinson Singers and performed the music for Monty Python’s Flying Circus. At the age of nine he became a chorister at Manchester Cathedral, where he was eventually appointed as Head Boy in 1939. He later attended Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School and at sixteen won a scholarship to Manchester University and the Royal Manchester College of Music. He spent the next two years studying composition until in 1943 he left to join the Royal Air Force, where, although colour-blind, he became a Wireless Mechanic and saw service in France during 1944 and 1945. He returned to England in 1945 to resume his studies and graduated in 1947, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Music for composition as well as being made a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and an Associate of the Royal Manchester College of Music. His compositions were numerous and often based on folk music. He was commissioned by the BBC to write music including some television ’test card classics’, e.g. ’Capability Brown’ His first broadcast was on the BBC in 1949, and by 1955 Ernest Tomlinson had formed his own orchestra ’The Ernest Tomlinson Light Orchestra’ . We owe Ernest a tremendous debt of gratitude not only for writing but then also preserving much of the lovely, light classical music that almost defined an era. He subsequently established ’The Library of Light Orchestral Music’, containing more than 10,000 pieces of such music which is housed in a barn at his farmhouse near Longridge in Lancashire. We honour and respect the memory of Ernest Tomlinson, and we must also ensure that his legacy lives on. On the video a romantic ramble through some of our finest countryside from late Summer into a golden autumnal slendour and all seems in harmony with nature. Oh, if only! Enjoy the video. ’Romantic Melody’ - Ernest Tomlinson The New Concert Orchestra - Ernest Tomlinson Vocalion 2003. Apologies for any copyright issues, the making or uploading of the video is not for any profit or personal gain.