BBC Radio 4 Theme Music
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- Опубліковано 8 лис 2008
- / nsotd / nsotd
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 on BBC 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. - Розваги
We need to start a petition to have this wonderful tune returned to the BBC!
Before the start of Breakfast on BBC1
Where do I sign..
I heard on R4 a few weeks ago that it was actually under discussion.
are you drugged? The BBC hate this sort of thing. We love it of course. Thats why you will never hear it on what has become of the BB bloody C
I'd sign it, I was really sad when they stopped playing the UK Theme.
Back in 82 I was a young sailor on a german merchantman, sailing eastbound in the channel south of the Isle of Wight. I heard this tune while on morning watch steering the ship into the rising sun. I wont forget this moment for the rest of my life.
Michael König is that you uncle Albert?
Sorry, Charles, no, I´m just Michael König from Germany
Sorry, no, I´m just Michael König from Dortmund, Germany
What a wonderful memory
😀👍
As a French citizen, (living in France, thus), I have been listening to the BBC Radio 4 on the Long Waves for years. Also, this theme is just awesome, impressive, appealing, and....thrilling. Every morning, I wake up with this magnificient tune, saved on my cell phone. Brilliant ! Every time I listen to it, I feel like I was British, even though I'm not, unfortunately :/
Long wave still reaches out across Europe - long may it continue !
Being British means respecting democracy above all - we may be leaving the EU political project but we are not leaving Europe
I hope France will follow us
A trading bloc does not need an army
I foresee a new entente cordiale after Macron is kicked out
It’s about time the BBC brought back this theme music, I found it most inspiring to start my working day.
Fritz Spiegl was an Austrian Jew who fled to Britain in the late 30s after the rise of Nazism. He was of the generation of immigrants who fell in love with Britain and who did their best to become completely integrated, so it's no surprise that he should write a piece of music celebrating British patriotism.
+ None of this music was Spiegl's original composition - he simply arranged a series of extant, traditional UK melodies. I don't say he had no artistic input, but heck, these are all old British tunes.
Shame on the Beeb for removing this from R4 morning programme. On early morning drives, it reminded me of what a great country with a great heritage we still live in.
Such a shame that the UK became a fascist, failed state and will soon break up.
I used to wake up to this on my clock radio when I was a schoolboy in the 1980s. 0555hrs. Nostalgia!
Same! Although I was an undergraduate in the early 2000s!
And I did it in the 90s before school!
I woke up to this arrangement of music for years in London during the 90s. Loved it then and love it now.
Well done your pride in it is rightly placed.
Thank you. I feel sorry for the rural folk who began their day (at an unholy hour) to this beautiful ayre. Politic Correctness dumped it in the bin. Very sad. Still I occasionally fire it up on my mp3, sure I wince at the Rule Britiania but there is so much more in it. Greetings from Dublin.
This brings back affectionate memories of the days I had to get up at 6am for work. For 10 years I went to bed to the strains of "Sailing By" and awoke to the "UK theme" (much to the irritation of my partner) But at least I knew what the weather was doing in Strangford Lough....
legendary. this was great if you were slightly drunk at around 5 in the morning
In the early 2000’s I would set off for work on Monday morning in time to hear this. It always struck me as an emotional and ethereal summing up of the British Isles, as dawn was breaking across the land.
I was considered a sad child. I fell in love with Radio 4 in 1988 when I was 12 years old. There were so many nights when I fell asleep to sailing by only to be woken 15 minutes later by the National Anthem to then fall asleep during the world service broadcast only to be awoke. By the wonderful UK theme at 530. There really is no better way to start the day and even now I wish the BBC would reinstate this magnificent theme. I guess I should be grateful that Sailing By and the National Anthem are still there
I'm on one now! Whilst I am I would also reinstate Lillibolero to the World Service and the mono version of Barwick Green (along with the end of the piece for seriou last events)
Absolutely!
@@derekhorne8076 Vanessa Whitburn it was who took away the "doom music" from The Archers when something serious happened in it.
@G6JPG yes it was and since she is long gone (she used to be referred to as 'the beetle' on the old message boards), then they could reinstate it - though Tbf they did play it after the verdict in Helen's trial
@@derekhorne8076 "The old message boards" - or at least UMRA - lives and thrives!
I am Ghanaian and I used to wake up to this every morning when I was visiting in the UK. It was a sad moment for me when it was announced that the song was being replaced ostensibly for political correctness. Luckily I was to leave the UK before the song was scrapped so I did not miss the travesty of justice that this decision was.
Nothing to to do with political correctness, just penny pinching neoliberals.
I'm Irish and I love this arrangement.
Me to
and me too
Me too.
Good.
I remember it coming off the night ferry,early in the morning, from France and driving over the Sussex Downs,thank you! I really miss hearing it!
I'm from France but for years I woke up with this theme... Great memories. thanks.
For now, I'm not interested in personal politics, left or right.
What matters to me personally, is that I used to (on the rare occasions I was up at the time) listen to this on my dad's radio, as far back as I can remember, even when I was a small child.
Just to hear it again brings a proud and happy smile to my face :).
Andy B Me too! It reminds me of my days as a full-time student, when I'd wake up early during summer holidays just to hear this theme! I remember it always came around the time of the morning shipping forecast.
+Andy B And me! It takes me back to waking up early on many occasions to do my paper round!
to me this was what i listened to just before the shipping forecast
pen at the ready for the area i was in
I really miss this. It was great hearing this after a long night on the road, just before Farming today :)
....this used to mark the time I woke up in the early bath I had and went to work in an office on a fish market....fond memories....probably fonder now than at the the time. Still...what a tune....
I miss this terrific arrangement - used to enjoy listening to it over breakfast.
I moved to the UK just a year ago, but as a child I always heard this on TV and other forms of media. It certainly sounds regal!
I'm Irish (Republic) and I loved this compilation so sad it is gone. Shame on BBC. It showed our shared heritage in these islands but it means nothing to those now at the reins who's sense of history amounts to the memory of a fly.
Spot on. Everything that's wrong with Britain encapsulated in three sentences.
It’s a song on the radio guys, Jesus Christ this kind of shit is tiresome.
@@MarkPentler It's not just a song on the radio unless you have a shallow materialistic view of the world.
@@MarkPentler it's a British thing... you wouldn't understand...
I love this tune,I was travelling to work listening to radio 4. Working in Halewood Liverpool Fords now Jag land rover ,in 80s. I love it.
Hearing this every morning used to set me up for the day. I miss it still.
Reminds me of many sleepless nights, imagining myself in that land so far away. The history, the pomp, the pageantry. One day I'll get there.
On arising this was my roll call...It always made me feel interlinked within our home nations...alas no more! so please, please bring it back radio four.
Please, bring it back... We LOVE England. Greetings from sunny Florianópolis, Brazil.
the whole point of this peice of music is that English music is only a small par of its charms. It celebrates all parts of the UK.
It's more than political, more than just music. It's more than a compilation. It's a culmination of treasured musical elements, that journey you, in time. Enjoy the blessed music that is ours; ours to enjoy forever. Britton at his best!
I really miss this early in the mornings.
Bring it back! Makes me proud to be British.
i'm left wing and i've always loved it. Bring it back
Harry Brown Whereas you are merely a very large twunt....
Drew Lawrence at least im not a terrorism supporter
Having just been diagnosed with crones disease I'm lying in a Hospital bed watching the sun rise over the city of Liverpool. Back in the 80s and 90s, After a night of altered perceptions and hedonistic night clubbing we would often tune in to Radio 4 to hear this wonderful music. An indication that all was well across the realm and an opportunity to reset the phyche. Wonderful. Please can we have it back? The Radio 4 theme that is, not the hedonistic night clubbing 😎
get well soon
@@heatedpants8437 thank you I've made a complete recovery and looking forward to Christmas 🎄🎅
@@barnyification Great!
I think they should play this at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics in London.
It clearly demonstrates the constituent parts of Great Britain in music form.
Used to wake up to this every morning when I lived in Brussels. I note it was stopped on 23 April which is my birthday - such a shame 😢😊
Love it, brings a smile to my face every time. Reminds me of waking up in a very cold Coggershall to get my hubby to train station. London bound..True Blue British...always be proud!
Wendy and Clive
this should definitely be brought back, as should the theme music of "PM" at 5:00.
The piece opens with the first few bars of "Early One Morning" (English, horns and trombones), before the main theme of "Rule, Britannia!" (British, woodwind and strings) is played.
In the second section, the mood changes as "A Londonderry Air" (Northern Irish, cor anglais and harp) combined with "Annie Laurie" (Scottish, violin) are played at a slower tempo.
The faster third section begins with "What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?" (Royal Navy, piccolo) combined with "Greensleeves" (English, strings), then "Men of Harlech" (Welsh, brass and percussion) combined with "Scotland the Brave" (Scottish, woodwind).
The finale of the piece, after alluding again to "Early One Morning", ends with a full orchestral version of "Rule Britannia" over which a solo trumpet plays the "Trumpet Voluntary".
It's the Derry Air. B
This fills me with happiness.
I hope it returns!
reminds me of driving the Capri up the A23 with a cutlass and a half bottle of Glenfiddich under the seat, 'just in case...'
Happy memories of hearing this in the cockpit whilst waiting for the shipping forecast as we headed south through Biscay. Steaming mug of coffee and a bacon butty, the rest of the crew still asleep, watching the dawn.
Coming home on the Bank Line ships we started to pick up 'home' about Finisterre.
Actually, I could get quite angry about it being discontinued if I allowed myself to dwell on it. I'll bet no one ever complained!
Listing to this thinking how bright the future will be for the uk out of the eu this should be our independence day theme from now on 24/06/2016
And look where we are now!
I was really sad when Radio 4 stopped playing the UK Theme, I used to love listening to it each morning. The BBC have a bad habit of stopping theme tunes that listeners like, like when they stopped playing the lilliburlero at the top of the hour on the World Service, I'd love to see that back as well as the UK Theme.
Couldn't agree more. It marked the point between night and day - especially at the time of year when dawn was breaking as it played. 'Erlie in the mornin'.
At least we've still got the trio Sailing By-Shipping Forecast-National Anthem at 12:45am. But for how long..
Yours kindly an old bugger who misses the good old stuff that used to keep us all together.
brings back memories of listening to radio 4 at night when at school during the early 70's
The sound of Britain. So many memories of setting off on early morning journeys.
Do we really know why this was binned. It's so clever .. and it would change slightly from time to time .. come on guys ... put it back. Please.
Every morning before i went to work. Wonderfully recalled. We were all together then.
I've spent a total of 5 days in England in my life but I loved it. I would love to go back but I'm not sure I'll ever have the money. I loved seeing the real BBC without Americanizing filters. Yes, I use a "z" for a "z" sound, I am a Yank.
When things like this are binned in connection with controversy, you really need to start worrying about your culture being strangled out.
The second-best thing about this compilation is the fact that that it was done by a brilliant Austrian-Jewish 'migrant' (as the Daily Express would have it). The best thing, of course, is that Fritz Spiegl did such a wonderful job. Yes do bring it back.
I used to wake up to this during the Summer holidays when I was a teenager.
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.
Makes you feel great to be British
Quite true. A piece of music written by an Austrian-Jewish refugee that we welcomed with open arms, along with thousands of others.
Why would any sane human being remove this?
zchen27 "Why would any sane human being remove this?"Because our 'leaders' - both in government and media - are career politicians and the ultimate rationalists in a globalised world who have taken to heart the concept (derived from a branch of English political philosophy particularly popular in America - and with Friedmanites and Thatcherites everywhere) of taking care of their own happiness.
The globalised world is terrified of patriotism, lest it deprive businessmen and investment bankers (and, to grasp the significance of the latter, remember that your Mum's pension is dependent on investments). Businessmen and bankers need as many new markets as possible - free from the arbitrary control of the local voters who pay politicians' salaries - in order to maintain the illusion of continuous growth.Solution? Make sure the 'leaders' (political and CEOs) are paid fifty times more in "business" kickbacks over the course of their lives than they could ever earn serving their own public.
Now - yes - all of those folk songs are stirring stuff for patriotic English, Welsh, Scotts (and, I suppose, Northern Irish - though I didn't identify that tune) people of a certain age. And, being easily stirred, we could easily have been persuaded that our way of doing things was better than, say, that of the Coca Cola Corporation (who, famously, would like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony). Nothing, of course, is more threatening to the business plan of Coca Cola, MacDonalds, and all the other Corporate immortals, than a bunch of mortals who think their local way of doing things is better than the businessmen who want to use our consumption and willingness to work for ever less money to swell shareholdings in Shanghai.
So, as long as corporations need to eliminate patriotism in order to guarantee growth, they will pay shedloads to our self-serving 'leaders' to ensure that nationalism stays bottom of the media agenda and that stirring music is not played to the nation every morning at 5am. In that light, the cancellation of a theme of odious, non-inclusive folk-music, is perfectly sane - and the guarantee of a comfortable retirement.
Simples.
Because in the UK the main political parties despise anything or anyone who is vaguely patriotic or traditional and doesn't fit in to their liberal globalised multi-culti world view.
+Eric Colvin I think this is a very good analysis. I'm interested in how you think resurgent nationalism such as that in Scotland, Wales, Catalonia etc fits in with this. Presumably this is tolerated by supranational organisations such as the EU, because a host of small nations would be actually more dependent on a European superstate, rather than free of it?
I think the keyword is sane! It is up to the voters to make this issue important enough matter at the voting booth, period.
+Eric Colvin
The Northern Irish tune is the Londonderry Air (Danny Boy is sung to the same tune).
I completely doubt that anyone who could possibly object to this piece of music ever was awake at 5.30 in the morning and listening to radio 4.
Bring it back!
Should never have been taken away!!
I used to wake up to this every morning for years
I so miss this
I now have it!! It's slightly longer than the later version (5 minutes and 45 seconds) but misses out Greensleeves and Drunken Sailor (my favourite part!). I'll see if I can upload it on here - although I've never uploaded an audio file before, so it might take a while for me to figure out how to do it. Bear with me!
Reminds me of the days I was installing software at Rovers in Cowley. I needed to be crossing the bridge in Stratford-on-Avon when this came on to be sure of being on time.
still think they should reinstate this it is truly British culture
LONG LIVE BBC RADIO 4!!!!
Should have been "if it's not broken - don't fix it"! Instead, a controller who had to make his mark IMO by changing something for the sake of changing it. It wasn't doing any harm, a few minutes in the early morning - I too grew up with it. And now that controller has left his "monument" by getting rid of this, what great achievement shall we remember him for? The medley should be returned. Just a few minutes in the morning for heaven's sake!
I absolutely love this!
Don't get me started on all the PC rubbish about why it was dropped!
I just smile and feel proud to be British whenever I hear this
Love this :-)
theses comments show the best and worst of youtube. people brought together by a amazing peice of music, and all i read are arguments about which newpaper they read. just sit back and enjoy!
Brilliant
I remember being out all night the last time the UK theme was played on radio 4. And i rushed home to make sure i could hear it for the last time.
Sad i know, but it was good just listening to the rubbish response the BBC gave for scrapping it, the explanation of what will happen tomorrow. Then the song playing as it just started to get light outside
Good times !
The discarding of this wonderful selection of British airs by the BBC shows just how divorced that corporation is from the British people and what makes them who they are. Shortly after Mr Damson ditch this epic arrangement he was invited onto Desert Island Discs. His selection of music showed up what type of person he was. Not a true patriot at all when it came to his musical tastes. More in keeping with an alien. How such people come to be in charge of a BBC station is the biggest conundrum of all.
17 APRIL 2005. Last time they played it, right? I was lying abed, about to get up for the marathon.
Who would want to stop and why this music on a daily basis?
Because, sadly, Auntie doesn't have the pride in us that we have in her
Apparently news is more important,
News IS more important.
The Beeb would rather cover up child abuse within house and is run by a bunch of tossers, used to rate the BBC now detest it. Radio 4 used to be great now it bores me with it's mindless dross and the news coverage is a joke.
I have no pride in auntie, none at all.
Last time I heard this was the very last time it was played, while I was getting up for the London Marathon in 2006. Only a few weeks later did I learn that this was its finale, and it had now been dropped "in the interests of time." What idiocy.
god - i love this tune - it evokes that sense that fills the chest with pride
very good！
I would much rather hear tis than the national anthem which Radio 4 still insists on playing every night!
i play the percussion for this piece. its quite hard.
Cool x
This truly was a fine symbol of Britain first thing in the morning it reminded us that we lived on THIS island & not on ANOTHER! but then some do gooder slack jaws would see it in the view of those who would love to pick this bright red cherry off the top of the tree, AY?
I never heard of this until after they'd stopped playing it.
I will never forgive John Prescott for axing this. It used to wake me up as a kid in the '70's, to send me off on my paper round. Again in the '80's, prior to Reville in the Guards.
It was John Prescott who said that the Royal Tournament should be replaced by an event with less British involvement and involvement of EU armed forces. The Royal Tournament, and its successor the British Military Tournament, are now both gone. Now doubt it was an embarrassment for our Government to celebrate our own heritage.
Well I think with the Tournament that was a different thing entirely. From what I remember, the thing was generating some serious losses towards the end-which is hardly the best thing for a charitable event to do. The Tournament couldn't have lasted. It had nothing to do with "celebrating heritage" or not.
because they can't find any one else to blame perhaps?
it was the only reson to wake up in the morning, bring it back immediately or I'll sleep forever.
Also still appreciated on the other side of the pond.
Just want to pick you up on a point there, the first concentration camp was put up by the Spanish during the Cuban uprising of 1878 (not sure about the date). And the British concentration camps were not meant to be so, it was just a human-factor error in calculating the food and space needed...
Respect from the US!
bring it back now
If we were an equal United Kingdom - this would be our 'National' anthem.
such a very appropriate and civilised comment. from somebody well educated no doubt. thank you.
I'm setting this as the alarm on my phone
Well who did it offend then, and if so,.... so what get it back on please it is a great piece of BRITISH CULTURAL expression which should be expressed
I wonder if Mark Damazer will ever read these comments.
I have a feeling that this erosion has been going on for some near 30 years & that when this lot of NO BALLS leaders GO We may still stand a chance to bring ourselves off our knees financially & morally.
Y'know, Coxswain255, a thought just occurred... perhaps what we need is a radio station dedicated to the average Briton, a station which would reflect the values, likes and culture of the great mass of British people; folks whose strength of feeling should not be underestimated simply because they are decent enough not to rant and rave about what they want.
Perhaps we could call it... the British Broadcasting Corporation????
I used to like the opening theme from the 90s,it was the one before the one on UA-cam,don't know the title
I think the BBC should be required to reintroduce the UK Theme - maybe the day we officially leave the EU.
Would be very appropriate I think. Given that it was written by an Austrian-Jewish refugee, it'd be a great way of confirming our commitment to being good citizens of Europe even without our official ties... what d'you reckon?
I agree - and Brexit is not meant to mean we are abandoning Europe - just divesting ourselves on the organisation called the EU.
A great idea . The UK Theme becoming the UK Independence Theme .
It should be not only reintroduced to start Radio 4 . But it should be played on the 31st Jan as we exit the EU along with the National Anthem.
The BBC and ITV channels should play both .
Well, it's not happening
the BBC might not play it what stops you listing to it or a very long long ring tone
Most British theme song ever
Please explain to me how even 2 people can dislike this.
5am!!!
Thank You for this. From a more civilised age.
Taken off so as not to offend the EU. Our poor wee island no longer rules the waves but waives the rules.
...No it wasn't. It was taken off for no reason. It contains nothing that can offend the EU, especially not Rule Britannia - If it really offended the EU so much as to make a radio stop broadcasting it they would go as far as to getting a new Royal Anthem.
Radios have the right to free speech, therefore can broadcast anything, as long as it isn't personally discriminatory, and patriotism is not forbidden in the EU, if anything, it's endorsed. United in Diversity.
No it wasn't, the EU had nothing to do with it.