Born
in Port Talbot in 1892
Lionel Falkman gave his
first broadcast on 14th
April 1923 from Cardiff,
where he was Musical
Director of the Capitol
Cinema. His was the first
cinema orchestra to
broadcast. Like many
musicians of his
generation, he had gained
his early experience
playing for silent films,
having received his
education at the Royal
College of Music,
becoming an accomplished
violinist. Even at the
age of 12 he was leading
a music hall orchestra in
Abertillery, confident
that as long as he stayed
there he wouldn't be sent
to follow his father and
work in the mines. At 16
he was playing the fiddle
in the Covent Garden
Orchestra under Hans
Richter, was first violin
in the New Symphony
Orchestra under Sir
Landon Ronald and first
violin in the Royal
Philharmonic Society
Orchestra. Over the next
few years, he tried his
hand at various types of
music and formed the
Newport (Mon) College of
Music, at the same time
working as Director of
Music at the Lyceum
Theatre, Newport. He
later gave up the college
and formed his own
orchestra at a cinema in
Reading, moving in the
early twenties, to the
Capitol Cinema in
Cardiff, where he was
destined to spend the
next ten years.
In
the early thirties,
Lionel became conductor
of the Paramount Theatre
Orchestra in Manchester
and, from 1932 for around
four years, broadcast
every Friday afternoon at
2.00 p.m. on the London
Regional Service. His
leader was the well-known
Reginald Stead and his
percussionist was Thomas
Kaye.
It
was in the mid-thirties
that Lionel formed the
combination for which he
is best remembered by
radio listeners
Falkman and his Apache
Band. Initially a septet,
this orchestra soon grew
to 12 players. They
played in an authentic
Parisian style and, not
surprisingly, French
music dominated their
repertoire. When playing
programmes requiring a
wider range of light
music, however, they
would include pieces such
as 'Down South'
(Myddleton), 'Belle of
the Ball' (Anderson), and
selections from shows and
films such as 'Belle of
New York' and 'Easter
Parade.'
During
the late thirties, in
addition to broadcasting,
Falkman and his Apache
Band were to be found
playing at the Lyons'
Corner House, Oxford
Street, London (The
Brasserie).
On
16th October 1940, the
Apache Band made the
first of their 142
appearances in 'Music
While You Work',
when it was their
practice to link the
items with a few bars of
their signature tune,
which, appropriately was
The Apache Dance by
Offenbach, played on the
celeste.
In
later years the Apache
Band was led by Sidney
Bowman and included such
famous names as Bernard
Monshin
and Jacques
Vallez,
all MWYW bandleaders.
Jacques Vallez was a
Professor of Music and an
accomplished cellist. He
was regularly featured as
soloist with the
orchestra but on
the musical saw an
'instrument' with which
he often performed on
television in the
fifties.
By
way of a second string to
his bow, Lionel Falkman
formed another orchestra
for broadcasting in the
fifties. This was called
The Troubadours and
consisted of 16 musicians
playing a wide range of
British and Continental
light music. Although
often used in late-night
programmes it frequently
appeared in 'Morning
Music'
as well as 'Music While
You Work.'
The
last few years of
Falkman's broadcasting
career were marred by
illness. It was during
this time that Sidney
Bowman stepped in to
conduct when necessary.
Falkman, however, always
managed to bounce back.
At the close of 'Music
While You Work' on
Saturday 13th April 1963
the announcer said
'Tomorrow, Lionel Falkman
celebrates the fortieth
anniversary of his first
broadcast on April 14th
1923'. It was fortunate
that this announcement
was made because it
turned out to be
Falkman's last programme.
He died a few weeks
later.
Listen
to Music While You Work
played by Falkman and his
Apache Band
BBC Light Programme on
12th. January 1961 at
3.45pm
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Falkman and his
Apache Band
on 12th January 1961
(Partial
Programme)
The
Happy Wanderer
J'Attendrai
Vieni,Vieni
Torero
Golden Earrings
Primero
Lazy Pete
Vienna Dash
Selection: Can-Can
Que Sera Sera
Gay Paree
Can-Can (Orpheus in the
underworld)
Calling All Workers (Sig)
|
Moller
Olivieri
Vincent Scotto
Carasone
Victor Young
Malando
Werner-Kersten
Johann Strauss
Cole Porter
Livingstone
Offenbach
Offenbach
Eric Coates |
Listen
to Falkman and his Apache
Band
playing 'Belle of the
Ball' by Leroy Anderson
(60 second
clip)
7.15
a.m. on 19th. December
1950
Falkman and his Apache
Band
Forward
Amigos
The Girl in the Taxi
Je tire ma reverence
Mademoiselle Hortensia
Toda la Vida
Offenbachiana
Macapa
In chambre separee
Let's dance the Hora
Midnight in Paris
La Petite Valse |
Pana
Gilbert
Bastia
Louiguy
Blanco
arr.Herman Finck
Cecil Norman
Heuberger
arr. Ronald Hanmer
Conrad
Joe Heyne |
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK at 10.31
a.m. on 29th December
1962
played by Falkman and his
Apache Band
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
Can Can Polka
Tyrolean Holiday
Moonlight over Tahiti
Haifa Festival
Love's Last Word is
Spoken
Chez Maxim
The Maigret Theme
The Sound of Music
Under the Bridges of
Paris
Gay Paree
Finale from the Overture
to
Orpheus in the Underworld
Calling All Workers (Sig)
|
Eric
Coates
Louis Mordish
Gerald Gentry
Leslie Bridgmont
Isra
Bixio
Franz Lehar
Ron Grainer
Richard Rodgers
Vincent Scotto
Offenbach
Offenbach
Eric Coates |
|