The Glenn Miller Orchestra

Glenn Miller and His Orchestra was active between 1938 and 1942. The orchestra’s short existence led to a cult following. Miller developed his own style of swing music through clarinet, saxophone and harmony, performed with three additional saxophones.

Miller’s distinct style and persistence led to the original orchestra securing 70, top 10 singles and releasing a staggering 22 top records in just four years.

Miller’s brilliant career was cut short. He died in 1944 at the age of 40. His death remains a mystery, with Miller disappearing. Military documents suggest that the plane he was traveling in may have crashed due to fuel intakes freezing. An Army major, Miller was in route to perform in front of Allied troops when he disappeared.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra, as fans know it today, was put together by Ray McVay, veteran band leader. The Orchestra’s UK presence was formed through the Glenn Miller Productions. The orchestra is said to meet the standards that Miller himself would be proud of if he were alive.

McVay’s career led him to want to work with big bands. He has always wanted to direct Glenn Miller music, and he always wanted to create a Glenn Miller Orchestra that didn’t disappoint. He is the brainchild of the UK orchestra, having called the American office for Glenn Miller to discuss his ideas.

The office was happy to allow the Orchestra to perform, and it took just six months from the initial meeting for the orchestra to begin performing in Britain.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra keeps everything the same as it was when he was alive: 5 saxophones, 4 trumpets and trombones and 3 rhythms. There is a band leader as well as a female and male vocalist, which perform with the band.

Singers will perform individually.

Audience members are in for a night of fun, with the track list spanning over 200 scores and many of them from the orchestra’s original library. There are contributions from the world’s most famous arrangers, including Billy May and Jerry Gray.

Glenn Miller’s tune remains during the performance: Moonlight Serenade. The tune is a standard among popular music.

The orchestra keeps much of the same production as Miller did with slight changes. The orchestra reassures fans that the sound and style remain true to Miller’s style, yet new songs have been added into the mix.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra has performances from October 2017 through April 2018.