Ronald Binge facts for kids

Ronald Binge (born July 15, 1910, died September 6, 1979) was a talented British musician. He was a composer and arranger of 'light music.' He helped create many famous songs for the Mantovani Orchestra. Later, he wrote his own popular pieces like Elizabethan Serenade and "Sailing By".

Ronald Binge's Early Life and Music Journey

Ronald Binge was born in Derby, England. His family lived in a working-class area. As a child, he sang in the choir at Saint Andrews Church. This church was known as 'the railwaymen's church.'

Starting as a Musician

Binge studied music at the Derby School of Music. He learned to play the organ there. Early in his career, he played the organ at movie theaters. He also played in orchestras during the summer. These orchestras performed at British seaside towns like Blackpool. He learned to play the piano accordion for these shows.

Binge was very good at playing the organ. He played the organ in Mantovani's first band, called the Tipica Orchestra. During World War II, Binge served in the Royal Air Force. He was often asked to organize fun events for the soldiers.

Working with Mantovani

After the war, Mantovani asked Binge to arrange and compose music for his new orchestra. Binge helped Mantovani with music for plays. These included Pacific 1860 (1946) and Ace of Clubs (1950).

In 1951, Binge's arrangement of "Charmaine" became a huge hit worldwide. This made both Binge and Mantovani very famous. However, Binge wanted to write his own music. He started composing original songs and music for movies.

Mantovani's orchestra played Binge's light orchestral pieces on the radio. In 1952, Binge even had his own BBC radio show. It was called "String Song." He played many of his own compositions on the show. He also wrote music for TV shows and commercials.

Later Life and Legacy

Ronald Binge married Vera Simmons in 1945. They lived in Purley, London, during the 1950s. Binge passed away in 1979 in Ringwood, Hampshire. He was 69 years old. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Ronald Binge's Musical Creations

Binge was very interested in how music was made. He is famous for inventing the "cascading strings" sound. This special sound became the signature of the Mantovani orchestra. It was first heard in the hit song Charmaine (1951).

The "cascading strings" sound made the music seem to echo. It sounded like music played in a large building, like a cathedral. This sound later became popular in 'easy-listening' music.

Famous Compositions

Binge wrote hundreds of musical pieces. Most of them were light orchestral works. His first big success was an orchestral piece called Spitfire (1940). He wrote it while still serving in the Royal Air Force.

His most famous piece today is probably Elizabethan Serenade (1951). The British Broadcasting Corporation used it as a theme song for a 1950s TV series. It also won an Ivor Novello Award in 1957. Later, words were added to the tune, and it was even turned into a reggae song.

Binge is also well-known for "Sailing By" (1963). This song plays before the late-night Shipping Forecast on BBC Radio 4. Other popular pieces include Miss Melanie and The Watermill (1958). He also wrote a Concerto for Alto Saxophone in 1956.

His longest and most complex work is the Symphony in C. It is also called the "Saturday Symphony." He wrote it between 1966 and 1968. He even conducted a recording of it himself.

Selected Works by Ronald Binge

Film Scores

Ronald Binge also wrote music for several movies. Some of these include:

• 13 Men and a Gun (1938)
• Once a Sinner (1950)
• Desperate Moment (1953)
• Our Girl Friday (1953)
• The Large Rope (1953)
• Adventure in the Hopfields (1954)
• Dance Little Lady (1954)
• The Runaway Bus (1954)