Ron Grainer: 3 pieces from 'Meet Ron Grainer at the Piano'

* The Maigret Theme
* That Was The Week That Was
* The Flying Swan
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The Australian composer Ron Grainer (1922-81) is particularly remembered today for the work he did in the UK as a composer of music for TV series. Perhaps the best known of his themes today (because of the renaissance of the TV series) is the 'Dr. Who' theme, in its realisation by Delia Derbyshire of the BBC Radiophonics Worshop. For much more Grainer's life and career see:
http://www.rongrainer.org.uk/index.php
The pieces on this video are from a book of various early Grainer themes published by Erle Music in the early 1960s. All my choices are from BBC TV shows. I have played them as published, except that I have inserted tremolando effects into the Maigret theme, to give more of an accordion 'valse-musette' feel. Incidentally, I think this theme comes over far better as a waltz than in the Joe Loss big band version. The 'That Was The Week That Was' theme evokes, as much as any other piece of music, the 'zeitgeist' of Britain in the early 60's, and it was sung on the TV show by Millicent Martin. I must admit to having no memory of ever having seen 'The Flying Swan', but the theme makes an effective piece.
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Played by Phillip Sear
http://www.psear.co.uk

Category:

Music

Tags:

• piano
• light
• popular
• British

[twamley]

very well played love the tremble in the right hand, in the Maigret theme.

[PSearPianist]

@twamley Thank you very much!

[Doctortrek1]

next time put doctor who in there

[PSearPianist]

@Doctortrek1 Thanks. If I can find a good piano arrangement of the Doctor Who theme I will certainly record it!

[pianodudeler]

Lovely, may we have more film music?

[PSearPianist]

@pianodudeler Thank you - you will have some more if I can get the scores!

[PSearPianist]

@peggymount Thank you for that. It's a shame he isn't around to enjoy the success of the revived Dr Who format.

[peggymount]

Thanks for that. Well played sir.

Always love his comment to Delia Derbyshire on hearing the finished Dr Who theme 'Did I write that?'

[PSearPianist]

Thank you!

[jpstenino]

Grand technique!!!