Of
the many 'speciality
orchestras' featured on
radio since the Second
World War, Bernard
Monshin and his Rio Tango
Band must surely be
amongst the best
remembered and most
popular.
Born
in the East End of London
on 2nd July 1914, Bernard
Monshin took up the
violin at the age of
five, winning an open
scholarship to the Royal
Academy of Music at 14.
He formed his first band
at the Kit Kat Restaurant
in 1931 playing opposite
such famous names as Roy
Fox and Joe Loss. At a
mere 17 years of age he
was London's youngest
bandleader. Calling his
group Renaldo's Tango
Band, Bernard soon
commenced broadcasting,
but was forced to drop
the name after just one
broadcast following a
complaint by one Gerald
Bright (Geraldo) that the
name could be confused
with Geraldo's Gaucho
Tango Band! For a short
while he changed the name
to D'Monshin's Tango Band
before reverting to his
own name. Incidentally,
Bernard told me that the
European origin of his
name was Mondscheine
meaning 'moonshine'.
During
the mid-thirties, Bernard
Monshin toured the
country with his tango
band, playing in variety
theatres until 1937, when
he was invited to take
the band to Reykjavik,
Iceland, for a year.
Weekly broadcasts were
made from the Hotel Borg
until 1938, when the band
returned to London to
become the resident tango
and Latin-American
orchestra at the
newly-opened Casini Club
in Regent Street.
The
Second World War meant a
break in Monshin's career
and from 1940 to 1944 he
served with distinction
in the Royal Air Force.
After the war he
re-formed his orchestra
for radio under the title
of Bernard Monshin and
his Rio Tango Band, a
14-piece orchestra of
strings, two pianos, two
accordions (played by Henry
Krein
and Gerald
Crossman),
guitar and percussion. In
1951, as part of the
Festival of Britain
celebrations, the band
gave concerts on London's
South Bank, as did
several other
broadcasting light
orchestras. It was around
this time that Bernard
Monshin formed his
Concert Tango Orchestra,
which varied in size
according to requirements
(and no doubt BBC
budgets), numbering
anything from 19 to 34
players. Inevitably, its
size meant that the
orchestra was not used as
frequently as the smaller
combination. The Rio
Tango Band, however, was
quite adequate and not
only had one of the most
original styles on the
air, but it also had a
freshness and sparkle,
the like of which is
rarely heard today. They
didn't just play tangos,
of course, although there
were usually three or
four in a programme. The
full range of Latin
rhythms was used:
sambas, paso dobles,
beguines, joropos,
rumbas, cha-chas and
boleros, plus the
occasional waltz or
novelty number for
contrast.
In
the fifties, at the
suggestion of Bernard
Monshin, the BBC
commissioned a series of
Sunday morning shows
entitled 'Tango Time',
for which Bernard wrote
the signature tune. The
series was a great
success, considerably
boosting the listening
figures for this time.
The orchestra's normal
signature tune was 'Hear
My Song, Violetta' and
when it broadcast
programmes of continuous
music, such as 'Music
While You Work',
a few bars of this were
played on the celeste
between items.
It
must not be overlooked
that, in addition to his
talents as a violinist
and conductor, Bernard
Monshin achieved
considerable success with
his Latin-American
compositions, amongst
which were 'Fascinating
Tango', 'Bravo, Bravo',
'Mi Linda', 'Caracas',
'Tango Time', 'Blue
Sapphire', 'Last Tango'
and 'Tango Yvonne', which
was dedicated to his
daughter.
Bernard
Monshin told me the story
behind one of his pieces,
a joropo entitled
'Caracas', composed under
the nom-de-plume of
Antonio Alma. One day he
was sitting in his car,
waiting for his wife to
return from shopping,
when a tune came to him
in its entirety. He
hurriedly took a piece of
manuscript paper and
jotted it down. That
evening he took it to a
club where he was
appearing with a small
group and, together with
the pianist, hastily
produced an arrangement.
During the evening the
group played it several
times and within a
fortnight it received its
first broadcast with the
Rio Tango Band.
Bernard
Monshin participated in
many light music
programmes over the years
including 'Melody
Hour',
'Caf? On The Corner',
'Serenade In The Night',
'Tango Time', 'Morning
Music',
'Breakfast Special' and
of course 'Music
While You Work',
for which the Rio Tango
Band played 146 editions.
Bernard also vividly
recalled a broadcast
which took place around
1964, when he was asked
to provide an
experimental stereophonic
broadcast of light music
using the Concert Tango
Orchestra. Nineteen
musicians took part in
this broadcast, which
could only be heard in
stereo by tuning in to
television's BBC2 as well
as the radio. The
programme consisted of 25
minutes of continuous
music with celeste links.
Although
Monshin was not known as
a recording artist, he
did make a few 78s and
four pieces
subsequently reappeared
on a Pye/Nixa EP.He
also made one LP for the
Oriole Record Company, on
their 'Realm' label
entitled 'Sway Like
Latin'. As a violinist,
he played in the
orchestras of Isy
Geiger,
Anton,
Lionel
Falkman
and in Wynford
Reynolds'
Raeburn Orchestra. It was
in 1958 that Wynford
Reynolds became seriously
ill and Bernard Monshin
offered to conduct the
orchestra so that their
dates were not lost to
another combination.
Consequently, Monshin
conducted the Raeburn
Orchestra for a number of
editions of 'Marching
and Waltzing'
and a couple of 'Music
While You Work'
programmes prior to
Reynolds' untimely death
later that year.
The
Rio Tango Band continued
to broadcast until the
late sixties, their final
appearance being in an
early Sunday morning
programme. This programme
was badly edited and some
of the rehearsal was
actually heard on air,
including Monshin's
instructions to the
orchestra! The announcer
found this amusing but it
made for a rather
inauspicious final
broadcast. Although the
Rio Tango Band didn't
broadcast again, Bernard
Monshin continued to
broadcast with what the
BBC considered to be a
more commercial style of
orchestra, which he used
in 'Breakfast Special,
'Roundabout' and a series
called 'Time For Latin
Tempo' that incorporated
studio dancing in a
similar manner to Sidney
Bowman's 'Time For Old
Time'. The Bernard
Monshin Latin-American
Orchestra, which by now
had been augmented with
woodwind and brass,
continued to broadcast
until the mid-seventies.
Bernard Monshin
and his Rio Tango Band.
This
orchestra also included a
number of well-known
musicians. Henry Elman
(second from left); Louis
Voss (partially
obscured); guitarist
Billy Bell behind Bernard
Monshin (centre); Alec
Firman (fourth from
right); Edward Rubach
(third from right) and
Gerald Crossman (extreme
right)
Fortunately
for Bernard Monshin, he
had another string to his
bow in the form of
orchestral management,
otherwise known as
'fixing'. For some years
he had successfully
provided orchestras for
television and films, and
one of his last
assignments was a James
Bond film.
During
the 1983 season of 'Music
While You Work', Bernard
organised and played in
the Geoffrey Brand
Orchestra and it was at
one of these sessions
that I persuaded him to
approach the Producer
with a view to getting
his own orchestra back on
radio. He went into the
control box saying, 'I'm
Bernard Monshin and I
haven't broadcast for
seven years.' Apparently
the Producer's reaction
was to wrap a newspaper
round his head. The
message was obvious
he didn't want to
know! Sadly, Bernard
Monshin never succeeded
in getting his orchestra
back on the air, He died
in March 1988 aged 73.
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
by Bernard Monshin and
his Rio Tango Band
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at 3.31pm
on 4th September 1962.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Bernard Monshin
and his Rio Tango Band
on 4th September 1962
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
Fiesta
Tango Time
Mexican Carnival
Bolero Triste
Heather on the Pampas
Luna Rossa
Josita
Portuguese Party
A Media Lux
Ay Ay Ay Baio
Madonna
Poverino Mio
El Gato Montes
Primero
Under the Bridges of
Paris
Viva Villa
Calling All Workers (Sig)
Eric
Coates
Simon Krapp
Bernard Monshin
Harold Geller
Nino Ravasini
Sidney Del Monte
Vian
Philip Green
Gilbert Vinter
Donato
Luis Gonzaga
Eddie Casson
Gerald Crossman
Manuel Panella
Malando
Vincent Scotto
Jack Leon
Eric Coates
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
by Bernard Monshin and
his Rio Tango Band
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at 3.31pm
on 6th July 1962.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Bernard Monshin
and his Rio Tango Band
on 6th July 1962
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
El Novillero
Crepuscule
Mexican Carnival
Heather on the Pampas
Spanish Harlem
Masquerade in Madrid
Josita
I have lost my heart in
Budapest
Under the bridges of
Paris
Sway
Sicilia
Windows of Paris
Tiptoe Tango
Caracas
Luna Rossa
Festa Valesta
Calling All Workers (Sig)
Eric
Coates
Edward Rubach
E.Bianco
Harold Geller
Sidney Del Monte
Phil Spector
Louis Voss
Phil Green
E.Mihaly
Vincent Scotto
P.Ruiz
Apollonio
Tony Osborne
Eric Jupp
Bernard Monshin
Vian
J.Mendoza
Eric Coates
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
by Bernard Monshin and
his Rio Tango Band
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at 3.31pm
on 11th September 1962.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Bernard Monshin
and his Rio Tango Band
on 11th September 1962
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
Sombreros and Mantillas
Baion de Santos
Lavoona
Llama de Amor
El Novellero
Blauer Himmel
A Night in Montmartre
Tango al Amor
Morning Glory
Windows of Paris
Under the Linden Tree
Red Sombrero
Revenge
The Proud Matador
Fascinating Tango
Fiesta
Calling All Workers (Sig)
Eric
Coates
J.Vaissada
Eric Jupp
Maurice Arnold
Vincenso Torrega
Edward Rubach
Joe Rixner
Gerald Crossman
P.Emmaz
Wynford Reynolds
Tony Osborne
H.Felix
Ronald Binge
George Scott-Wood
E.Horan
Bernard Monshin
S. Krapp
Eric Coates
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
by Bernard Monshin and
his Rio Tango Band
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at 3.31pm
on 3rd December 1965.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Bernard Monshin
and his Rio Tango Band
on 3rd December 1965
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
El Novillero
Bolero Triste
The Proud Matador
Revenge
Bravo Bravo
Tango Caballero
El Pandero
Soleado
Carnival
It had better be tonight
El Gaucho
Scarlet Rose
Jangle Jingle
Cavaquinho
Port-au-Prince
Viva Villa
Calling All Workers (Sig)
Eric
Coates
Edward Rubach
Ravasini
Horan
George Scott-Wood
Bernard Monshin
Edward Kassner
Lanjean
Malando
N.Bonfa
Henry Mancini
Malcolm Lockyer
Tate
Muston
Nazareth
Bernie Wayne
Jack Leon
Eric Coates
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
by Bernard Monshin and
his Rio Tango Band
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at 3.31pm
on 2nd January 1964.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Bernard Monshin
and his Rio Tango Band
on 2nd January 1964
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
Bravo-Bravo
Port-au-Prince
Cheeky Chico
Cumana
Callela
Portuguese Party
Pasion
Antonella
Dancers of El Paso
La Cannebiere
Heather on the Pampas
Rhumbalinda
Carnival
A Media Lux
La Mattchiche
Llama de Amor
Viva Villa
Calling All Workers (Sig)
Eric
Coates
Bernard Monshin
Bernie Wayne
Woods
Allen
Johnny Douglas
Gilbert Vinter
Michelo
Louis Voss
Harold Geller
Raymond Agoult
Sydney del Monte
Eric Jupp
Luis Bonfa
Emilio Donato
Charles Borel-Clerc
Terrega
Jack Leon
Eric Coates
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
by Bernard Monshin and
his Rio Tango Band
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at 3.31pm
on 25th April 1963.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Bernard Monshin
and his Rio Tango Band
on 25th April 1963
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
El Pandero
Tiptoe Tango
Mexican Carnival
Carnival
Calella
A Media Lux
Cumana
My heart in Portugal
Heather on the Pampas
Blue Tango
Dancers of El Paso
Under the Linden Tree
El Novillero
The Last Tango
Mexico
Tango Caballero
Fiesta
Calling All Workers (Sig)
Eric
Coates
Lanjean
Eric Jupp
Harold Geller
L.Bonfa
Johnny Douglas
Donato
Allen
Louis Gaste
Sydney del Monte
Leroy Anderson
Harold Geller
Hugo Felix
Edward Rubach
Bernard Monshin
Boudleaux Bryant
Cassen
Krapp
Eric Coates
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
as broadcast
by Bernard Monshin and
his Rio Tango Band
on the BBC Light
Programme at 3.31pm on
25th September 1962.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Bernard Monshin
and his Rio Tango Band
on 25th September 1962
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
Sombreros and Mantillas
Llama de Amor
Mexican Carnival
Ecstasy
Mountain Carnival
Antonella
Castanets of Granada
Fascinatin' Tango
Heather on the Pampas
Tango Al Amor
Cafe Bonheur
Man who plays the
Mandolino
The Parrot
Spanish Mule Dance
Forever Mine
Tango Caballero
Masquerade in Madrid
Calling All Workers(Sig)
Eric
Coates
J.Velscada
J.Torrega
Harold Geller
J.Belmonte
Geoff Love
Louis Voss
J.Garcia
Bernard Monshin
Sydney del Monte
P.Emmez
Henry Krein
Fanciulla
Abreu
Jack Coles
A.Lara
E. Cassen
Louis Voss
Eric Coates
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
as broadcast
by Bernard Monshin and
his Rio Tango Band
on the BBC Light
Programme at 10.31am on
28th December 1964.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Bernard Monshin
and his Rio Tango Band
on 28th December 1964
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
Fiesta
Tango Time
Portuguese Party
Two Guitars
The Red Sombrero
Love's Last Word is
Spoken
El Relicario
Poverino Mio
Baion de Santos
El Gaucho
Calling All Workers(Sig)
Eric
Coates
Krapp
Bernard Monshin
Gilbert Vinter
Martin
Ronald Binge
Bixio
Padilla
Gerald Crossman
Eric Jupp
Malcolm Lockyer
Eric Coates
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
as broadcast
by Bernard Monshin and
his Rio Tango Band
on the BBC Light
Programme at 3.31pm on
17th July 1962.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
on 17th. July 1962
played by Bernard Monshin
and his Rio Tango Band
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
Fiesta
Spanish Violins
The Proud Matador
Antonella
Morning Glory
Tango Time
Lavoona
Garden in Granada
El Gato Montes
Revenge
Ay Ay Ay Baio
Under the Linden Tree
Poverino Mio
Love's Last Word is
Spoken
Rio Chambira
Viva Villa
Calling All Workers(Sig)
Eric
Coates
Simon Krapp
Helmut Zacharias
Horan
Louis Voss
Wynford Reynolds
Bernard Monshin
Maurice Arnold
Sam Lewis
Manuel Penella
George Scott-Wood
Luiz Gonzaga
Hugo Felix
Gerald Crossman
Cesare Bixio
Werner Muller
Jack Leon
Eric Coates
Listen
to Bernard Monshin and
his Rio Tango Band
Playing his own
composition 'Blue
Sapphire'
(45 second
clip)
Listen
to Bernard Monshin and
his Rio Tango Band
Playing his own
composition 'Caracas'
(60 second
clip)