BBC Northern Dance Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The BBC Northern Dance Orchestra was a big band
run by the BBC
and formed in 1951 as the successor to the BBC
's Northern Variety Orchestra. Known to listeners as the NDO, it broadcast on the radio daily from the Playhouse Theatre in Hulme
before moving to the BBC studios in Oxford Road. Many well-known musicians played with the orchestra over the years including trumpeter Syd Lawrence
, who left the NDO and formed his own very successful big band in 1967.
Using a standard big band line-up of five saxophones, a flute, four trombones, four trumpets, solo violin and a rhythm section of piano, double bass, guitar, drums and percussion, the orchestra was conducted by its musical director Alyn Ainsworth
, who also wrote a great deal of the band's arrangements. He was succeeded by flautist and arranger Bernard Herrmann (not to be confused with the American film score writer Bernard Herrman). As well as its radio broadcasts, the orchestra also appeared regularly on BBC television in shows such as Six-Five Special
, Pop North, and Here we Go.
The band was threatened with closure in 1969, as much of its work was by then being carried out by the London-based BBC Big Band
, the successor to the BBC Dance Orchestra and BBC Showband, which functioned as part of the larger BBC Radio Orchestra
. A public outcry about the closure of the NDO followed, and the band was retained. But under a shake-up of musical policy, the orchestra was slightly reorganised by the BBC in 1975 as the BBC Northern Radio Orchestra. Under the leadership of Neil Richardson, it continued until the BBC closed many of its in-house orchestras in 1985.
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
run by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and formed in 1951 as the successor to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Northern Variety Orchestra. Known to listeners as the NDO, it broadcast on the radio daily from the Playhouse Theatre in Hulme
Hulme
Hulme is an inner city area and electoral ward of Manchester, England. Located immediately south of Manchester city centre, it is an area with significant industrial heritage....
before moving to the BBC studios in Oxford Road. Many well-known musicians played with the orchestra over the years including trumpeter Syd Lawrence
Syd Lawrence
Syd Lawrence , was a British bandleader from Chester, England, who became famous in the UK for his orchestra's Big Band sound, which drew on the 1940s style of music of Glenn Miller and Count Basie amongst others....
, who left the NDO and formed his own very successful big band in 1967.
Using a standard big band line-up of five saxophones, a flute, four trombones, four trumpets, solo violin and a rhythm section of piano, double bass, guitar, drums and percussion, the orchestra was conducted by its musical director Alyn Ainsworth
Alyn Ainsworth
Alyn Ainsworth was a singer and dance band conductor in the late 20th century-Education and early career:...
, who also wrote a great deal of the band's arrangements. He was succeeded by flautist and arranger Bernard Herrmann (not to be confused with the American film score writer Bernard Herrman). As well as its radio broadcasts, the orchestra also appeared regularly on BBC television in shows such as Six-Five Special
Six-Five Special
The Six-Five Special is a British television programme launched in February 1957 when both television and rock and roll were in their infancy in Britain.-Description:...
, Pop North, and Here we Go.
The band was threatened with closure in 1969, as much of its work was by then being carried out by the London-based BBC Big Band
BBC Big Band
The BBC Big Band, originally known as the BBC Radio Big Band is a British big band run under the auspices of the BBC. Widely regarded as the UK’s leading and most versatile jazz orchestra, the band broadcasts exclusivley on BBC Radio, particularly on BBC Radio 2's long running series Big Band Special...
, the successor to the BBC Dance Orchestra and BBC Showband, which functioned as part of the larger BBC Radio Orchestra
BBC Radio Orchestra
The BBC Radio Orchestra was a broadcasting orchestra based in London, maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation from 1965 until 1991....
. A public outcry about the closure of the NDO followed, and the band was retained. But under a shake-up of musical policy, the orchestra was slightly reorganised by the BBC in 1975 as the BBC Northern Radio Orchestra. Under the leadership of Neil Richardson, it continued until the BBC closed many of its in-house orchestras in 1985.