Morton Gould was a phenomenally talented composer, pianist, conductor, arranger and orchestrator. A child prodigy, he eventually became one of the most influential and prolific American composers, writing in a wide variety of musical forms, from ballet to Broadway and from classical orchestral works to film and television scores. Gould’s music uses American musical or visual themes; American Salute, based on the melody When Johnny Comes Marching Home, brought him world-wide popularity. Even in his ‘serious’ vein, Gould’s music is full of easy-listening melody, his orchestral colours vivid and atmospheric.