Light Music, also known as Palm Court music, was especially popular during the 40’s-60’s and could be heard on programmes such as the ‘BBC Light Programme’, and ‘Music while you work’, or on your seaside holidays with the local ‘Spa Orchestra’. The music usually consists of short pieces, with an uplifting and joyful feel, and very catchy melodies.

British composers such as Eric Coates, Ronald Binge and Ernest Tomlinson and the American Leroy Anderson, were particularly popular, as were Franz Lehar and Johann Strauss II for their wonderful waltzes. Edward Elgar also wrote several beautiful Light popular works, including Salut d'Amour and Chanson de Matin.

Many compositions became familiar as theme music on radio and TV, for example: Trevor Duncan's theme to Dr. Finlay's Casebook or Eric Coates's By the Sleepy Lagoon which was the theme to Desert Island Discs.

Very sadly, during the 1960’s many of the small orchestras were disbanded in the hotels and seaside resorts, and this style of music became less well-known.