Biography
British composer and arranger George Melachrino earned recognition for his Moods in Music collection, intended to furnish background sound for ordinary activities such as dining, working, and romance. The records stood apart through their opulent and densely layered strings, which lent the music a sumptuous, amorous atmosphere. Apart from those mood-oriented albums, he released a succession of popular singles together with full-length collections devoted to film themes, current songs, and selections from stage musicals.
Melachrino took up music in childhood after his Greek parents presented him with a violin at the age of five; he promptly produced his first composition. At fourteen he entered Trinity College of Music, where his studies centered on strings and chamber music. Two years later, while still enrolled, he completed a work for string sextet that received performances throughout London. Before finishing his training he resolved to master every orchestral instrument, and upon graduation he had achieved that objective except for piano and harp.
His professional engagements began in 1927 when he participated in a British Broadcasting Company session. As his playing continued he broadened his interests beyond classical repertoire, exploring jazz and popular music. He performed with dance bands led by Ambrose, Harry Hudson, Carroll Gibbons, and Bert Firman. In 1939 he organized his own dance band, which appeared at the well-regarded London venue Cafe de Paris before disbanding the next year.
At the start of World War II Melachrino enlisted in the British forces as a military policeman. He later rose to the rank of Regimental Sergeant-Major and then joined the Stars of Battledress company. During the war he also directed the British Band of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, led the British Orchestra in Khaki composed entirely of serving soldiers, and served as musical director of the Army Radio Unit. In addition he sang with the American and Canadian Allied Expeditionary Forces ensembles. The large string sections featured in these wartime groups would later shape the character of the music he created once hostilities ended.
After the war Melachrino conducted two closely related ensembles, the George Melachrino Orchestra and the Melachrino Strings. Both delivered sentimental arrangements dominated by strings and lightly accented by brass and woodwinds. He simultaneously founded the Melachrino Music Organization, which supplied music for films, radio, and recordings. In the late 1940s he composed scores for the films Woman to Woman, No Orchids for Miss Blandish, Code of Scotland Yard, Story of Shirley Yorke, and Dark Secret, as well as the musical Starlight Roof.
Melachrino began recording for RCA and eventually issued more than one hundred 78s and over fifty LPs. Among his many successful albums the most prominent were those belonging to the Music for Moods series, including Music for Dining, Music to Help You Sleep, Music for Two People Alone, Music for Faith and Inner Calm, Music for Daydreaming, and Music for Relaxation. Ethel Gabriel produced every entry in the Music for Moods series and helped determine their sonic direction.
Melachrino remained active into the 1960s after moving to ABC Paramount for new recordings. In 1965 he suffered a fatal accident at his home. He was still enjoying success at the time of his death, and the Melachrino Strings and Orchestra continued under the direction of Robert Mandell.
Melachrino took up music in childhood after his Greek parents presented him with a violin at the age of five; he promptly produced his first composition. At fourteen he entered Trinity College of Music, where his studies centered on strings and chamber music. Two years later, while still enrolled, he completed a work for string sextet that received performances throughout London. Before finishing his training he resolved to master every orchestral instrument, and upon graduation he had achieved that objective except for piano and harp.
His professional engagements began in 1927 when he participated in a British Broadcasting Company session. As his playing continued he broadened his interests beyond classical repertoire, exploring jazz and popular music. He performed with dance bands led by Ambrose, Harry Hudson, Carroll Gibbons, and Bert Firman. In 1939 he organized his own dance band, which appeared at the well-regarded London venue Cafe de Paris before disbanding the next year.
At the start of World War II Melachrino enlisted in the British forces as a military policeman. He later rose to the rank of Regimental Sergeant-Major and then joined the Stars of Battledress company. During the war he also directed the British Band of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, led the British Orchestra in Khaki composed entirely of serving soldiers, and served as musical director of the Army Radio Unit. In addition he sang with the American and Canadian Allied Expeditionary Forces ensembles. The large string sections featured in these wartime groups would later shape the character of the music he created once hostilities ended.
After the war Melachrino conducted two closely related ensembles, the George Melachrino Orchestra and the Melachrino Strings. Both delivered sentimental arrangements dominated by strings and lightly accented by brass and woodwinds. He simultaneously founded the Melachrino Music Organization, which supplied music for films, radio, and recordings. In the late 1940s he composed scores for the films Woman to Woman, No Orchids for Miss Blandish, Code of Scotland Yard, Story of Shirley Yorke, and Dark Secret, as well as the musical Starlight Roof.
Melachrino began recording for RCA and eventually issued more than one hundred 78s and over fifty LPs. Among his many successful albums the most prominent were those belonging to the Music for Moods series, including Music for Dining, Music to Help You Sleep, Music for Two People Alone, Music for Faith and Inner Calm, Music for Daydreaming, and Music for Relaxation. Ethel Gabriel produced every entry in the Music for Moods series and helped determine their sonic direction.
Melachrino remained active into the 1960s after moving to ABC Paramount for new recordings. In 1965 he suffered a fatal accident at his home. He was still enjoying success at the time of his death, and the Melachrino Strings and Orchestra continued under the direction of Robert Mandell.
Albums
Orquestas del Mundo, George Melachrino
2024
George Melachrino
2024
Las Mejores Orquestas del Mundo Vol.9: George Melachrino
2011
The Music of Victor Herbert & Sigmund Romberg
2011
Vintage Dance Orchestras No. 211 - EP: Paris Promenade
2010
Our Man in London & Lisbon at Twilight
2007
Christmas In High Fidelity
1954