GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA
Glenn Miller’s life and musical activities offered ample material for legends already during his lifetime. It therefore did not come as a surprise that ten years after his premature death, Hollywood brought “The Glenn Miller Story” to the big screen.
The film from 1954 is still worth seeing: James Stewart – one of the most well-known and popular actors, who became a superstar in the golden fifties – agreed to play the leading role. Of course the film slightly idealised Glenn Miller’s image. At the same time, the depiction of the protagonist is quite authentic. It recounts the material hardship of the young Glenn Miller. Unforgettable also the scene, where Glenn Miller, who had finally succeeded in founding his own big band, had to replace a sick trumpet player with a clarinet: the unmistakable Glenn-Miller-sound was born. Still today Glenn Miller and his music are known and loved. Following his early death during the war the orchestra initially performed without a conductor. But a classical big band needs a leader who is more than a conductor: someone, who guides the orchestra in musical terms, but who also motivates the musicians and inspires them to give their best.
Glenn Miller was succeeded by Tex Beneke, then several others helmed the big band. On March 3rd, 1990 a special moment happened on Broadway in New York: the president of Glenn Miller Productions, Inc., Mr. David Mackay, Jr. appointed Wil Salden leader of the Glenn Miller Orchestra of Europe. Wil Salden was born in Obbicht in the Netherlands on 14th June 1950. He studied at the Maastricht Academy of Music. During his studies he performed gigs with smaller bands and soon founded his own. In 1978 the arranger and bandleader began to focus on Glenn Miller’s music. On his tours he had witnessed time and again how Glenn Miller’s music enthused the audience of concerts and guests at balls. Wil Salden drew the consequences and gradually rearranged his repertoire. Being the perfectionist that he is, he looked at the sources and Glenn Miller’s story and struck gold. He found the original musical scores, which gave him access to Glenn Miller’s own arrangements, which he performs.