Eric Coates natural melodic gift earned him a reputation as a composer of light music and was a highly successful composer of film music. His Three Bears Phantasy was dedicated to his son as a fourth birthday present.

Joaquin Rodrigo was an indefatigable champion of the music of his native Spain. Rodrigo composed the concerto at the request of guitar virtuoso Andres Segovia, who was evidently the ‘Gentleman’ referenced in the title.

Copland’s Third Symphony is regarded as one of the most significant and demanding in the orchestral genre. His ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’ is one of his best-known works and Copland chose to insert the fanfare into the last movement of this Symphony.