Publisher Description

Just a Little From the Top is an autobiography of a lifetime in music. Roderick Elms' love of music throughout his childhood and secondary school at The City of London School led to the Royal Academy of Music, and a full time career at the highest level of music-making in London. It includes a multitude of anecdotes, many humorous, and reveals some of the workings of the music profession, including occasions when things have gone wrong, as a result of practical or mechanical failures, or due simply to incompetent leadership.In addition to his freelance performances for the BBC from the late seventies until the present, Roderick Elms describes the periods he spent with the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.There is a chapter about his work and travels as pianist with the eminent cellist Mstislav Rostropovich.He has made numerous solo recordings with the London orchestras and these are detailed together with the many film soundtracks to which he has contributed, notably the complete The Lord of the Rings, trilogy.Composing and arranging has also been a big part of his life and there is a chapter about this and the CD recordings made of his music (including 'A Little Fall-ish!'; 'Festive Frolic'; 'Moody Moves'; 'A Windy Christmas').A little early biographical information takes the reader through the wonderful experiences gained by many from musical opportunities provided by the Redbridge Music Service and its music advisor, Malcolm Bidgood OBE. It also takes a trip through some of the Redbridge-based musical groups which played such a big part in the lives of young musicians living in that area in the late-sixties, seventies and eighties. Not least, the internationally unknown Gnaff Ensemble.

Author Biography

Roderick Elms studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He appears in concerts and recordings with most of Britain's major orchestras as both a principal keyboard player and soloist. He has broadcast regularly for the BBC for more than forty years and has made many solo recordings with the Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, London Symphony and BBC Concert orchestras. His recording of Warsaw Concerto with the RPO remains a Classic FM favourite. For several years he was London pianist to the eminent cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and organist to the London Symphony Orchestra. As an organist, he has recorded an extensive list for EMI and Chandos. This includes all the major oratorios of Elgar and the award-winning recording of Britten's War Requiem with the LSO. A recording of organ music by Percy Whitlock was released by Herald in 2010. Television and film scores on which he has performed include Poirot, Aliens, Dangerous Liaisons and the epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Roderick Elms' compositions are widely performed, both in this country and North America, and are published by Camden Music, London. In 2006 Dutton-Epoch released an album of his instrumental music (A Little Fall-ish!) with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and an album of his Christmas music (Festive Frolic) was released on the Naxos label in 2007 performed by the RPO and the Joyful Company of Singers. Roderick Elms is married to the pianist Joanna Smith, for whom he wrote Paper Dances - a concert piece for piano duet and orchestra which was recorded and broadcast by the BBC in September 2008. A CD of his chamber music (Moody Moves) was released by Herald in 2012 and a new Christmas CD (A Windy Christmas) was released for Christmas 2019. More information is available at

Table of Contents

Prelude v1. Early Years 12. Big School 83. The Redbridge Youth Orchestra 164. In and Around Redbridge 235. The Royal Academy of Music and Beyond 296. The Redbridge Youth Choir 387. The BBC 448. Auditions 659. Gnaff Days 7010. The London Symphony Orchestra 7511. Slava 8612. The London Philharmonic Orchestra 9113. When Things Don't Go According to Plan 10414. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 12515. This 'n That 14216. Ongar Music Club 15017. Writing and Recording 15318. Family 16819. Coda 17420. Photographs 184Abbreviations and Other References 186Index 187

Review

"A truly enjoyable account of Roderick Elms' life in music, peppered with stories, from the hilarious to the educational! This lively account of the life and times of a valued friend includes plenty of entertaining anecdotes, plus details of musical mishaps and triumphs along the way. A great read for anyone interested in the workings of today's classical music world." Aled Jones

Long Description

Just a Little From the Top is an autobiography of a lifetime in music. Roderick Elms' love of music throughout his childhood and secondary school at The City of London School led to the Royal Academy of Music, and a full time career at the highest level of music-making in London. It includes a multitude of anecdotes, many humorous, and reveals some of the workings of the music profession, including occasions when things have gone wrong, as a result of practical or mechanical failures, or due simply to incompetent leadership. In addition to his freelance performances for the BBC from the late seventies until the present, Roderick Elms describes the periods he spent with the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. There is a chapter about his work and travels as pianist with the eminent cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. He has made numerous solo recordings with the London orchestras and these are detailed together with the many film soundtracks to which he has contributed, notably the complete The Lord of the Rings, trilogy. Composing and arranging has also been a big part of his life and there is a chapter about this and the CD recordings made of his music (including 'A Little Fall-ish!'; 'Festive Frolic'; 'Moody Moves'; 'A Windy Christmas'). A little early biographical information takes the reader through the wonderful experiences gained by many from musical opportunities provided by the Redbridge Music Service and its music advisor, Malcolm Bidgood OBE. It also takes a trip through some of the Redbridge-based musical groups which played such a big part in the lives of young musicians living in that area in the late-sixties, seventies and eighties. Not least, the internationally unknown Gnaff Ensemble.

Review Quote

"A truly enjoyable account of Roderick Elms' life in music, peppered with stories, from the hilarious to the educational! This lively account of the life and times of a valued friend includes plenty of entertaining anecdotes, plus details of musical mishaps and triumphs along the way. A great read for anyone interested in the workings of today's classical music world." Aled Jones

Details