Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Classical Music - Sunday 6 September 2015, 9pm

This week Catherine Bott delves into the delightful world of Light Music.

Originating in the 19th century, Light Music is hugely popular – and seems to becoming even more so. Usually short – always melodic – orchestral pieces composed to appeal to a wide audience, many have become timeless favourites through film, radio and TV. It's well worth discovering, as Catherine is doing so tonight.

For example, Ronald Binge's cascading string effect was later associated with the music of Mantovani. Binge's Sailing By became known for preceding the radio shipping forecast. But tonight we hear his piece Miss Melanie which has special resonance for at least one Classic FM listener.

But there are also pieces by Tchaikovsky and Elgar which seem to fit the genre and lead Catherine into further exploration of some remarkable composers, including the recently deceased Ernest Tomlinson.