Classic BBC Radio Theme ~ Radio 4 UK Theme
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2009
- The BBC Radio 4 UK Theme is an arrangement of traditional British airs composed by Fritz Spiegl (and possibly Manfred Arlan) which was played every morning onBBC Radio 4 between 1978 and 2006. In 2006, an announcement that the broadcast was to be cancelled caused much controversy in the United Kingdom, including extensive discussion in the British media and even in Parliament. The last broadcast of the UK Theme was at 5:30am on 23 April 2006.
This version is a re-recording by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
As a police officer on early turn this used to play before 6 am . My shift started at 6. I would sit in the car listening to the end then run in.
They never understood why I arrived alwaysxat the same time . I never told them.
As a proud Cornishman I miss this piece so much.
What a shame to have lost this lovely theme, robbing so many of unforgettable memory.
Please reinstate this. It was what defined early mornings on Radio 4. I miss it, as do many others. 😢
It was a perfect way to begin my day. I often heard it towards my journey's end when the family and I had been travelling through the night to our holiday destination. Shame on you BBC for stopping this tradition of playing this glorious medley to begin your day's broadcasting
I am a 53 year old Captain. I command a pipe lay construction vessel now and look after 600 persons. I can remember being a 17 year old deck hand on old coasters listening to this with pencil poised ready to get the shipping forecast on the morning watch. Beautiful piece of music and typifies everything British. Made you proud to be under the Red Ensign, proud to say I am still under the Ensign all be it the Gibraltar one. It's a shame when your not allowed to be proud of your heritage anymore for fear of offending somebody.
A shame indeed sir. I play this to my kids so they understand what their culture is. They love it not because I play it to them, but because it is a masterpiece of music that any human can appreciate. One day though they'll know. This music represents the best of British. I just hope they can continue it's tradition and we are not lost.
@@michaelolver7684 Very true and thank you for your comment, I am a staunch believer that we need to standby our heritage and be proud of who we are especially in light of modern opinion!
I'm a retired captain and have fond memories of the tune at the opening of the station and the weatherforcast after that.
It's not 'all be it' it's 'albeit'.
My best wishes to you, your crew, and your ship, Captain.
These Folk Tunes represent the very soul & DNA of the country. They will never die. Thanks so much for liberating them again. Music, as well as actions, speak louder than words. Magnificent.
They are all but dead. I'm 24 and most of my generation could barely name one of these tunes.
It's a shame how far we've fallen.
As a kid, on the rare occasions that I was awake at 1am, I'd make a point of wandering out onto the landing and listening to this through my dad's closed door.
It wasn't *really* bedtime till the music had ended!
was one of the best "rewards" for getting up early
We should start a petition bring this back
Penny Mordaunt has sent a letter to BBC boss Tim Davie to bring it back, your prayer has been 'half' answered :D
@@ananda852003 Hope it's at a more reasonable time, if memory serves it was about 6am years ago
As an Irish man living in the UK for many years I desperately miss these tunes on the airwaves . Empire or not, music is universal to mankind. Let the British enjoy their musical and cultural pleasures!
This accompanied my drive home from night shifts most mornings
Why can't we have this now? It's beautiful.
It was banned due to political correctness.
How dare it's not political correctness
Just because it is so British?
If I recall correctly, the 'official' reason for not playing it was something to do with the costs of royalties, which I believe is also why they stopped playing 'Sailing By'. But I'm pretty sure the real reason was it was considered non-PC, too traditional and not suitable for the 'modern, inclusive, vibrant' Britain of the post-Blair years.
Sailing By is still played in the break between the book of the week and the late shipping forecast.
They should bring this back. I used to like this when I was a small child and woke up really early
i agree i was a milkman years ago and always looked forward to listing to this on my way to work
Scots porridge oats
The BBC are not for our tradition. I grew up listening to my little transistor radio aged 9, BBC were my go to, radio four especially. During my career I would travel to meetings very early in the morning and be treated to listening to this patriotic tune. I’m proud to be a Brit even though my parents were from Ireland. Born here, so proud, the Union is so important to the future of the country. God bless Blighty and let’s bring back this great motivational tune in the mornings.
For the record. Fritz Spiegl had very little to do with the arranging of this music. My Dad wrote the arrangement and I delivered the finished score to Fritz on completion. I have the original score in my possession .
Robert, your father was a genius! I spent 35 years in the Royal Navy and have heard a number of Royal Marines Bands play this arrangement at various functions around the globe and every time I heard it, it brought me closer to home.
Eric. Thanks for that. My Dad would strongly disagree about the "genius" quote...but I understand the context in which you say this He quite enjoyed the UK Theme project. I remember him asking me about the songs before he started writing. I disliked them all as I was only interested in Buddy Holly and Paul Anka etc at the time. Have changed my views somewhat since now I'm older :-)
Robert Arlan Well he made a lot of homesick sailors feel a little closer to their loved ones and that counts for something. Music is a strong memento of life's major events, I always remember the BBC World Service News theme being played over the ship's Tannoy system during the Falklands War then listening to the newsreader telling us what we had done the previous day, it was a little strange to be sure!
Robert Arlan what is your dads name?
Lap Gong Leong Was Manfred David Aronsohn, but changed to Fred Arlan prior to joining HM forces in WW2
Thank you for providing this tune.
You made me 40 years younger.
I remember myself when, as a young French man, I started working and getting up early. I used to start my day by shaving and listening to BBC World Service on shortwave.
It was an introduction to different traditional British tunes that I was able to enjoy separately afterwards.
This used to wake me up every morning, in my last job I woke at 5.30.
Losing it was typical of the BBC attitude to Britain (negativity)
CONTROLLED BE EU TRAITORS
Shame imagine waking to this now so patriotic 😊😊
@@MrDaiseymay Will you stop shouting?!!! (this is the fourth time of asking)
@@andrewguest467 set it as an alarm
I really miss the UK Theme. I wish the BBC hadn't dropped it when they did. Maybe one day they'll relent and bring it back for our daily listening.
How beautiful and elegant, it seems we have lost our way these passing days, how i yearn for better times.
Such good tunes. Bring it back. From a German immigrant. ;-)
Never leave, please just never leave us
Thanks for posting this. As a total bbc radio 4 nut, I used to listen to this every morning half asleep...and i really miss it.
As a kid/teenager, I used to listen to this very regularly before getting off to sleep. It's a damn shame that it's no longer on - I always found this piece of music comforting and quite beautiful.
I want this, a peal of 8 bells and the shipping forecast at my funeral.
Are you being buried at sea?
This music always meant going on holiday to my growing up as that was the only time I'd be up at 5.30am waiting to get in the car to go. I miss it.
i know what you mean, my father worked at the Royal Mail so often had early starts, one of my joys was eating grilled cheese on toast and listening to this meledly with him.
I have to admit, the only times I heard this song before it was canceled is when we went on holiday to France as a child... but there was a pleasure waking up in the car a few minutes before this theme. It was wonderful, a glory, a revelment in my nation; the patriotic music, the folk music, all combined together with the biting cold as I opened my window. It was glorious. And I have to ask, why not bring it back? A bit of national unity would be good right now. As a man who looks to Wales, England and Scotland for his ancestry, can I not ask that? Or has that been determined wrong?
Even appreciated over here on the other side of the pond..
So, you want to hold a British Passport. Then you have to name most of these melodies.
Rule Britannia, Londonderry Air, Drunken Sailor, Men of Harlech, Scotland the Brave, in that order?
@@handlesarecringe957 You missed Greensleeves!
I only came to enjoy Radio 4 recently, and have already fallen in love with the shipping forecast theme (thanks Mark, for putting on here). I found this on a search of themes online. I never even knew this existed! Its wonderful! Let's start a campaign to bring this back!
Why the hell would they get rid of this for five minutes extra news is beyond me
Money?
It should be bright back; but less of the conspiracy theory nonsense.
Never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity.
At the time they stopped playing this, it was leaked to the press that the BBC Hierarchy thought it "Too British" and not inclusive enough!.
@@sapper82 The radio 4 UK Theme was just part of the radio 4 day, Just like sailing by, just like the shipping forecast, just like prayer for the day & thought for the day, and the cherry on top was the National Anthem played at 00:58. If you were genuinely offended by that then you had the choice to listen to something else, but if you were part of, or had strong sympathy with those who wanted it removed on political grounds - then we need to talk.
@@sapper82 the song is intentionally inclusive. Londonderry Air for Northern Ireland, Drunken sailor for England, Men of Harlech for Wales, Scotland the brave for Scotland.
They even included Danny boy for Northern Ireland. This piece of music is probably one of the most inclusive uniting and uncontroversial songs I've ever heard. So patriotic. Makes you proud
Well said. Shame they got rid of UK Theme. Early mornings on Radio 4 are not the same without it.
Ewan, a fellow McNeill! With the inherited good taste too!
It was a shame the powers that be at Radio 4 dropped the Radio 4 theme. It was such a fine beginning to each day. Please reinstitute it Radio 4
It is not 'Danny Boy' it is the 'Londonderry Air'.
Even Ian Paisley liked Danny Boy
I can't believe they got rid of this. It was so lovely to hear this early in the morning. Reminds me of years ago.
I was from 1997 - 2000 a Yank living and working in Belgium. A highlight of my commute each morning from Waterloo to the office in Braine-le Comte was listening to BBC4 and this opening. Sorry to hear that this traditional opening is no longer used.
This is what I used to wake up to every morning, for thirty years. I know it was a struggle to keep it. The most bizarre thing is it was written by a German :) I am in Hungary as permanent resident, and this always makes me think of Home..... right now we are doing Danny Boy then we will go into the Irish... thank you for making this public. Siangy var, god bless, Siante and all that. In Hungarian, kossyonom szepen.
Oh by the way I do it at the proper time by GMT. Now we are doing "as I woke up one morning". I am no racist. Now Rule Brittania then out. I am very pleased that all the Hong Kongers with overseas passports are allowed into the UK. They will do it only good. That is what we should have done in 1999. P J O Rourke says so in Eat The Rich.
I would play this in my car going to work every morning
God I miss this. It was such a GREAT way to wake up.
This theme makes me cry...absolute classic xx thank you for posting...
This was a wonderful start to the day, wonderful starts to the day are gone from our radios now....bring it back!
This fine orchestration of traditional tunes from all over the UK should never have been taken off BBC R4. But maybe the Beeb could be persuaded to put it on at the Last Night of the Proms: it would need little re-composition to extend the 'Rule Britannia' episode long enough to enable the Prommers to sing as lustily as is their wont.
At 2:08 a nice mixing of "Greensleeves" with "The Drunken Sailor". Thanks for posting!
bring it back please!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, do!!!!!!!
a beautiful piece of music. sadly missed.
I'm Irish and think this is wonderful. especially the Londonderry air in there also. nothing wrong with British people wanting to hear British themed tunes that British people feel proud of. if this was removed because the BBC were concerned about it offending some people, then those people need to realise they live in Britain, and this is what British people like. simples.
Surely immigrants would expect the BBC to play British music in Britain?
Irishman here, we, the home nations are family, despite what people say, we need to stick together and we can't let anyone else break us apart! Here's to the British Isles and the Anglosphere! 🇮🇪🇬🇧🇳🇿🇦🇺🇺🇸🇨🇦🇮🇳🇫🇯🇹🇻🇿🇦
@@keithwatson1384 I'm english with Irish ancestry, mum is irish, father english, theyve been married now for 51 years. Love both sides of family. Don't ask me to take sides though. Caught in the middle..lol
Maybe they could rename the tune Danny Boy. That should settle matters.
I'm irish too and I loved this theme. It was as if being up that early you shared something with just a few people (even though of course thousands were listening). Sometimes i think the greatest enemies of the BBC are actually well meaning but wrong headed people inside the BBC itself.
I started off playing stuff from the pirate radio era & I've ended up back here ! Thank goodness for UA-cam !
i used to listen to this on my car radio when i was a milkman going to work
On the longwave or medium-wave feed?
Awesome I love you BBC I am British but also now American and have lived in Florida last 25 years but listen to BBC Radio 4 all the time and bare in mind that my Adopted Uncle LANCE PERCIVAL took me several times to meet all the stars in the BBC
Ah wonderful! They remembered the cymbal crash after "Rule Britannia" in the chorus. Why they allways forget it at the RAH I cannot understand. That cymbal crash is absolutely vital.
Announcement on R4 this morning's Today programme that it might be brought back - now that's a cause for great happiness.
I used to get up to it every morning. Feeling shivers even today.
This was the Charter, the Charter of the land.
CFCN Calgary,, and that concludes another broadcasting day, dear friends thanks for listening. 📻
God keep you till we meet again.
Time to turn the lights down low and get a bit of rest. 🕯
They should bring it back, a day started with this couldnt go wrong, it also complements Sailing By at the other end of the night--I know if I've not got to sleep by the time Sailing By comes on then its going to be a long night
When I occasionally had to be at work at 6am years ago, I would make sure I got in the car in time for this to be on the radio.
This is the best👍🇬🇧
Now that we’ve had Brexit we need to bring this back
I’m an American...What say you, Brits?
Definitely
Absolutely. So many times I was out of home really early and had this to start my journey. I knew the day would go well.
I still miss this. It always triggers memories of hearing it on very early starts to long holiday drives - on the way to the West Country or Scotland or The Lake District with the family.
When I was between St Cuthberts and Newcastle Poly I used to read all night then push off to bed before my parents caught me. This meant bed time. Later, when I kept horses, this was time to get up, and there was no denying that when this had played through Britain had started a new day. Gorgeous theme, thank god for the Internet.
I am from the ethnic minority. But I always find it extremely enjoyable and not at all offended whenever they played these tuneful and joyful music.
I'm an ethnic minority too ....white British
Please feel free to emigrate whenever you like, perhaps you haven't, but your group's being here in such numbers ruins the country for those who have no other to call home.
@s Selamat I think this is a lovely comment, unlike those below. Please ignore these people, they don't truly speak for the country we all share and love.
@@colinclarke4285 No sir, that's not the minority group in Britain. That is the overwhelming majority.
Why would anyone be offended anyway?
For better or worse, this beautiful arrangement takes on a special meaning as Britain looks forward along a new path.
Explain.
It reminds me of being a boy, we moved house in about 1977 and all of a sudden i had to get up at the crack of dawn to be driven to my old primary school with dad, when he set off to work
, we used to have porridge with salt, butter and golden syrup. When I was about 4 and half, I love this. Its the anthem for people who had to get their asses out of bed in the morning, something that still applies to me now
Christ man!
Spell "arse" the British way would you?
TheYopogo the London way you mean
Great British music, wonderful.
I have never lived in the UK nor have I heard this live on radio but even as a German I can see why people were upset to see this being dropped.
so wonderful.
I once considered using this in a quiz to see who would recognise all the tunes. I abandoned the idea because so few people ever listen to anything other than pop music that few could name the various themes even if they had the patience to listen, which is doubtful.
Great piece of music,
Thanks so much for putting this up. Memories. I used to be a crew member and navigator on a yacht. Early morning, to the sound of shrouds clattering in the wind, I'd enjoy this delightful medley with pencil at the ready for the forecast.
Thanks again. The BBC isn't what it used to be - alas.
Fantastic to hear this again,it is for the early risers
This should be brought back IMMEDIATELY! It is such a "call to arms" for everyone in the UK. We always used to play it on our cruising sailing ketch touring the west coast of Europe. Full volume - esp the last bit "Rule Brittania"
heh Drunken Sailor & Greensleeves playing on top of one another. Quite a clever counterpoint
For me, they clashed so badly that the whole song was rendered ridiculous
I used to listen to this most mornings for thirty years, it became a lovely ritual start to my work. I don't listen to or watch the BBC propaganda channels any more.
The Bolshevik Broadcasting Corporation became the Brussels Broadcasting Corporation.
We need this back more then ever
This needs to be brought back.
Bring this back please give the United kingdom back this lovely melody... why ever was it taken awsy .... come people of the UK proud and passionate for all the world welcome one and all to this land ...
This was my daily "wake up now".
The "welcome to Radio 4, shipping forecast and News Briefing" is not the same as the Radio 4 UK Theme.
Bring it back tomorrow BBC.
I miss waking up to this
Download it onto your phone and you can have it as your alarm wake up tune. No need for early rises!
My childhood!
Thanks very much, I love it
Bring it back
Doesn't the getting rid of this from Radio 4 sum up what is wrong with UK and what is wrong with radio! I miss this. Like the shipping forecast's Sailing By it reminds me of years ago.
Absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately I moved here after they made the disastrous decision of removing this from the airwaves, but what can one do? Merely be thankful to people like you for sharing it with everybody else. So yeh, thanks! :)
Bravo! Cheers from Brazil
Tweet of the day does not match up! Over a decade now without this lovely broadcast. What a shame.
Great - used to listen to this every morning for 6 years when living in Brussels. Bring a new version back BEEB!
Garry Parker
Funny that I occasionally randomly listened to Radio 4 all these years since before 1978 and have never once heard of this. _Sailing By_ , the themes from _The Archers_ , _Desert Island Discs_ , _Test Match Special_ , _Just a Minute_ , yup I know all of those. But never heard this once. Funny that.
I have an evening playlist which includes 'Across the border ' by Linda Ronstadt and a morning playlist which consists solely of this wonderful medley, especially the counterpoint, which I play drinking my morning 'cuppa' in the conservatory. I hasten add that it's Normally later then when I used to listen to it on R4 just before 6 a.m. but I'm retired now. Beautifully stirring and patriotic music.
Bring it back, God save the Queen and long live the United Kingdom.
Radio 4 is broadcasting and all is well in the British Empire. Wonderful music. It's while listening to this medley when I really miss Elizabeth our Sovereign Lady The Queen.
Got this as a ring tone cheers people up
If you've enjoyed this lovely piece, check out ' BBC Television Start Up from 1956 '.Called ' National Airs ' , I'm sure some inspiration was taken from it for the Radio 4 UK Theme .I recall it as a child starting at 4.55 p.m before the start of ' Children's Television ' at 5.00.It is a beautiful piece of music and deserves to be re-recorded and featured more .I remember reading in 2006 that the 'UK Theme ' was dropped from R4 to make the news feel ' more pacey ' . Typical BS from the BBC which was a taste of things to come !.
Oh dear how we have slipped since then
I like this.
I nicknamed this "EMS" a term from very early computing standing for Early Morning Start, mainly because it was amongst the first bit of music on my clock radio alarm in the morning. Reminded you of who you were and where you were, nothing wrong with that as a start to the day.
What a wonderful sound this was to start each day. Destroyed by someone who clearly had no understanding of the typical R4 listener and probably advised by focus groups. Ah, well.
It's all very well to criticise the BBC for getting rid of this, but let's not forget that it was the BBC who put it on in the first place. The BBC, although it missteps sometimes, is proudly patriotic and is one of our great institutions.
ah how i loved Radio 4. The Archers, the Play for Today, the Shipping News. It was like a surrogate family to me.
Hi I´m Germany. It´s great.
I remember listening to this before the BBC shipping forecast , happy days being at sea .
Its a piece called 'Sailing By' that precedes the late night shipping forecast. This was played regularly at the start of Radio Four in the early morning. Sadly no more but 'Sailing By' continues every night - they wouldn't dare stop it !
BBC World Service should bring back the classic Lillibulero, like I used to hear it during the 90s after R4 closedown for the night. 👍
Just commenting now about a Tory wanting to have the BBC play the National Anthem every day now. I think they still do on radio 4, but got me to thinking about this lovely piece of music. I was a bad sleeper when I was young, then I was a Mother feeding babies through the night, and then I was abroad - it was a lovely thing. I've only ever written to the BBC once to complain in my life, and it was about abandoning this. Thanks for the info about Fred Arlon (Unsung hero, I think.....)
Does anyone actually know why this was removed by the BBC? Beautiful, patriotic, proud, uniting the nations of the UK.
19adam87 So. they could pack another 5 minutes of blah blah into their morning schedule
And that is WHY it was removed: because i was beautiful, patriotic, proud, and united the nations of the UK.
Is this not on anymore? Is it now JUST sailing by? I love this, brings back so many memories.
This would make a great alarm tone.
Should be played at the last night of the Proms (I now some pieces of the songs are played in full but this be at the start of the show.