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By the sleepy lagoon

Composer: Eric Coates
Performer: Kathryn Rudge (Mezzo)
Performer: Christopher Glynn (Piano)
Recording date: 11 August 2017
Date of broadcast: 24 January 2018

'By the sleepy lagoon' is a light-orchestral valse serenade which became a 1940s popular song when songwriter Jack Lawrence added lyrics to the work. Coates was inspired to write the work while overlooking a beach in West Sussex. It is an elegantly orchestrated slow waltz for full orchestra which has been the theme music to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4's 'Desert Island Discs' since it began in 1942, and also featured in the oscar-winning 1977 film 'Annie Hall'.

Composer: Eric Coates
Performer: Kathryn Rudge (Mezzo)
Performer: Christopher Glynn (Piano)
Recording date: 11 August 2017
Date of broadcast: 24 January 2018

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3 minutes