The London Studio Players

Reginald Leopold and the Palm Court Orchestra rehearsing for 'Grand Hotel'

With the country at War during the early 1940s it was inevitable that with so many musicians unavailable due to military service, the BBC 's commitment to provide quality musical entertainment was becoming more difficult to attain, as only orchestras and ensembles comprising musicians ineligible for service were available. So, in order to maintain standards and to discourage top players from free-lancing, the BBC formed the London Studio Players in 1941, comprising the finest players available, many of them, like Reginald Leopold and Albert Sandler (pictured left), big stars of their day. Combinations already established such as the Fred Hartley Sextet and the Albert Sandler Trio automatically became part of this pool. According to BBC files, Fred Hartley (pictured below right) was appointed Artistic Director of the players on 14th July 1941 - Actually, it might be more accurate to say that he appointed himself - as he was already Head of Light Music!

Although the new orchestra regularly performed as the London Studio Players (often under the direction of Albert Sandler) it's main raison d'etre was to provide a nucleus for larger combinations such as the London Theatre Orchestra or the London Light Concert Orchestra or to provide musicians for the many smaller ensembles such as the Novelairs, The Harlequins or The Palm Court Orchestra (for Grand Hotel).

When originally established, the orchestra's broadcasts were intended to be predominently for overseas consumption with a ratio of 8:3 (overseas to home) but after the war, the balance changed in favour of Home broadcasts. Initially, 18 players were retained on part-time contracts, although by 1954 this had grown to 23 (five of whom were employed on a full-time basis.) In 1955 the 'Unit', as the London Studio Players came to be known, was increased to 29 part-time players. With the increase of pop music broadcasts in the early sixties came the first signs that light music was not immortal. With less broadcasts allocated to this type of music the BBC came to the conclusion that they had more staff orchestras than they needed and sought to disband the Studio Players. However, recommendations to this effect were turned down following vigorous complaints from the Musicians' Union. Nevertheless, the orchestra's complement was reduced to 26 in 1962 and 18 in 1965, by which time the orchestra was basically of strings. Some readers will recall a delightful series in which the London Studio Strings were featured - Strings by Starlight - which was conducted by cellist Reginald Kilbey (pictured left). The number of personnel remained static at 18 or 19 until the early eighties when the BBC decided to discard most of its light orchestras plus the Scottish Symphony Orchestra. The prolongued industrial action which followed, saved the Scottish Symphony but the light orchestras were not so lucky. The Scottish Radio Orchestra, Midland Radio Orchestra and Northern Radio Orchestra were all disbanded and the Northern Ireland Orchestra was absorbed into the Ulster Orchestra. The axe also fell upon the London Studio Players; the only consolation was that the musicians displaced were given a contract which guaranteed a stipulated number of engagements for five years. With all of the 'outside' light orchestras long removed from the airwaves, the BBC had effectively declared light music a dead art form, with complete disregard for those for whom it had given so much pleasure.

There were dozens of ensembles, groups and orchestras drawing on the London Studio Players. In some cases, they formed the nucleus of a larger combination, but the majority of ensembles were comprised entirely of 'Unit' musicians.

The following list of 'Unit' based combinations is probably far from complete but does at least give the reader some idea of the London Studio Players' importance in broadcasting for over forty years:

---

The following are examples of programmes by combinations based on the London Studio Players or utilising them as a nucleus for a larger orchestra:

---

8.18am Home Service, Sunday 21st. June 1959
LIGHT MUSIC
played by
The London Theatre Orchestra
Conducted by Reginald Kilbey

---

8.00am Light Programme, Monday 19th. November 1962
MELODY ON THE MOVE
London Light Concert Orchestra
Conducted by Michael Krein

---

5.30pm Light Programme, Wednesday 14th. October 1953
SOUTHERN SERENADE
Southern Serenade Orchestra
directed by Lou Whiteson

---

11.15am Light Programme, Friday 24th December 1954
REGINALD LEOPOLD AND HIS PLAYERS

---

6.33am. Home Service, Tuesday 1st January 1957
BRIGHT AND EARLY
The Chameleons
Directed by Ron Peters

---