Quintessentially English. Having read Laurie Johnson's fascinating autobiography (Noises in the Head [2000]), I learned how much the composer of the music for The Avengers (1969), The New Avengers (1976), The Professionals (1977) and the film Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter (1974) (among many others), was influenced by his years in the Armed Forces. I grew up with Jonny Morris's Animal Magic (orig. 1962) - whose theme music was by Mr Johnson and was lucky enough, like Laurie, to have composition lessons at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama, as part of my course at City University.

Laurie Johnson's concerthall music is very interesting. I love his Symphony (Synthesis) (1969) for combined jazz and symphony orchestras. The CD liner notes by Christopher Palmer say: to explain [his symphony] would take us into areas of technical analysis which Laurie Johnson prefers to keep firmly sealed off with NO TRASSPASSING signs. - This intrigued me, and I uncovered the organicism of the 2nd movement: all based on a symmetrical arrangement of minor thirds and semitones. Wonderfully effective.