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 The BBC Radio 4 UK Theme is a piece of music composed by Fritz Spiegl, played every morning on BBC Radio 4. In January 2006 it was announced the tune would be scrapped and be replaced with an extended shipping forecast and news briefing. The tune had its last regular playing at 5:30am on Sunday 23 April 2006. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...
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Image File history File links R4logo. ...
Fritz Spiegl (January 27, 1926 - March 23, 2003) was an Austrian-born musician, journalist, broadcaster, humorist and collector who since 1939 had lived and worked in England. ...
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station which broadcasts a wide variety of chiefly spoken-word programmes including news, drama, comedy, science and history. ...
April 23 is the 113th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (114th in leap years). ...
2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Context and usage
The UK Theme was created in 1973 when Ian McIntyre, the Controller of Radio 4, wanted the network to have a new sound. He chose Fritz Spiegl to produce an arrangement of traditional folk medleys to mark Radio 4 as a service encompassing all of Britain. Fritz Spiegl (January 27, 1926 - March 23, 2003) was an Austrian-born musician, journalist, broadcaster, humorist and collector who since 1939 had lived and worked in England. ...
The piece was played at 5:30am when Radio 4 begins broadcasting, taking over from the BBC World Service which provides overnight programming on Radio 4's frequencies. Radio broadcasts have been a popular entertainment since the 1910s, though popularity has declined a little in some countries since television became widespread. ...
World Service logo The BBC World Service is one of the most widely recognised international broadcasters of radio programming, transmitting in 33 languages to around 150 million people throughout the world. ...
Rough plot of Earths atmospheric transmittance (or opacity) to various wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, including radio waves. ...
In 2006 the Controller of Radio 4, Mark Damazer, announced that he was cancelling the broadcast. The decision caused much controversey but to no avail. The last broadcast of the UK theme was at 5:30am on 23rd April 2006. Mark Damazer (1955-) is the controller of Radio 4 and BBC 7 in the United Kingdom. ...
Austrian-born Fritz Spiegl, came to the UK as a refugee in 1939 after his parents fled Nazi persecution of Jews following the Anschluss. Fritz Spiegl (January 27, 1926 - March 23, 2003) was an Austrian-born musician, journalist, broadcaster, humorist and collector who since 1939 had lived and worked in England. ...
1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...
The term National Socialism has been used in self-description by a number of different political groups and ideologies, some of which have no connection with the Nazis; see National socialism (disambiguation). ...
German troops march into Austria on 12 March 1938. ...
The UK Theme and Sailing By are both used before the Shipping Forecast, and allow fishermen and sailors around the British Isles to tune to the correct frequency for the gale warnings and weather forecasts which are about to be broadcast; the continuity of the music is better than spoken words as a gauge of sound quality, allowing those tuning in to find the best frequency for their location. UK Shipping map Sailing By is a short piece of light music composed by Ronald Binge, which is famous amongst British radio listeners. ...
The Shipping Forecast is a regular feature of BBC Radio 4 and is provided by the UK Meteorological Office on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. ...
Categories: Stub ...
A sailor is a member of the crew of a ship or boat. ...
The British Isles consist of Great Britain, Ireland and a number of much smaller surrounding islands. ...
A gale is a wind of at least 28 knots, 32 MPH, or 51km/h; and up to 55 knots, 63 MPH, or 102km/h. ...
BBCs Alex Deakin presenting a weather report. ...
Sound quality generally is the quality of the audio output from various electronic devices. ...
They both also serve as programmes which can be cut short to ensure the forecasts start reliably at precisely 0048 and 0535; if the previous programme has overrun slightly, the tune is truncated to start the forecast on time.
Description The theme is a fantasia of traditional British tunes representing the four home countries of the United Kingdom as well the national maritime tradition. The fantasia (also English fantasy, German fantasie, French fantaisie) is a musical composition with its roots in the art of improvisation. ...
The word tradition, comes from the Latin word traditio which means to hand down or to hand over. ...
From the latin maritimus, maritime refers to things relating to the sea. ...
- 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".
The piece is exactly five minutes in length and was recorded in 1973 by the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra. Early One Morning is an old English Folksong. ...
Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the British Isles Languages None official English de facto Capital None official London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001...
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of tubing wrapped into a coiled form. ...
Never look at the trombones. ...
“Rule Britannia†is a patriotic British national song, originating from the poem Rule Britannia by James Thomson, and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740. ...
A woodwind instrument is a wind instrument in which sound is produced by blowing through a mouthpiece against an edge or by a vibrating reed, and in which the pitch is varied by opening or closing holes in the body of the instrument. ...
A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. ...
The Londonderry Air is an anthem of Ireland, especially Northern Ireland. ...
Dieu et mon droit (motto) (French for God and my right)2 Northern Irelands location within the UK Main language English Other recognised languages Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Hain MP Area - Total Ranked 4th...
A cor anglais The cor anglais, or English horn, is a double reed woodwind musical instrument in the oboe family. ...
The harp is a stringed instrument which has its strings positioned perpendicular to the soundboard. ...
Annie Laurie is a old Scottish song based on poem by William Douglas (1672?-1748) of Dumfries and Galloway. ...
Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...
The violin is a bowed stringed musical instrument that has four strings tuned a perfect fifth apart, the lowest being the G just below middle C. It is the smallest and highest-tuned member of the violin family of string instruments, which also includes the viola and cello. ...
In musical terminology, tempo (Italian for time) is the speed or pace of a given piece. ...
What shall we do with the Drunken Sailor? is a famous traditional sea shanty also known as Drunken Sailor or What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor?. It is now rarely called by its other name Sailor’s Holiday. ...
The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ...
This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
Greensleeves is a traditional English folk song (or tune), basically a ground of the form called a romanesca; the widely believed legend is that it was composed by English King Henry VIII (1491 - 1547) for his lover and future Queen, Anne Boleyn. ...
Men of Harlech is a song and military march describing events at the battle for Harlech Castle in 1408, which pitted the forces of Owain Glyndŵr against the future Henry V of England. ...
For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom and England, see British Isles (terminology). ...
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose tone is produced by vibration of the lips as the player blows into a tubular resonator (mouthpiece). ...
Percussion instruments are music instruments played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped, hence the percussive name. ...
Scotland the Brave is, along with Flower of Scotland and Scots Wha Hae, an unofficial national anthem of Scotland. ...
Trumpeter redirects to here. ...
The Prince of Denmarks March, commonly, though erroneously known as the Trumpet Voluntary, is a work for keyboard (later adapted to trumpet) by Jeremiah Clarke, composed around 1700. ...
1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ...
The BBC Philharmonic is a professional symphony orchestra based in Manchester, United Kingdom. ...
It has echoes of Jack Byfield's Fantasia on National Airs, known colloquially as "Nat. Airs", which was written as a startup theme for the BBC Television Service in the mid-1950s. Both pieces open with Early One Morning. Viewing Figure History BBC One (or BBC1 as it was formerly styled) is the oldest television station in the world. ...
Controversy On 23 January 2006, the BBC announced that by April 2006 the UK Theme would be scrapped, the station opening instead with a news briefing and extended shipping forecast.[1] Explaining the decision, Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer said: "I know there are some people who will regret the passing of the UK Theme, but I believe the bulk of the audience will be better served by a pacy news briefing, read by one of Radio 4's team of news readers." January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...
2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Mark Damazer (1955-) is the controller of Radio 4 and BBC 7 in the United Kingdom. ...
The announcement led to mass coverage in the British media and even to comments in its support by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown. On the 24th of January, several British MPs submitted Early Day Motions about the theme [2], which led to a question being asked at Prime Minister's Questions, with Prime Minister Tony Blair referring to the "strong feeling" around the country.[3] Also, BBC Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman played the UK Theme to end the programme on a number of occasions and several British orchestras and institutions have also pledged to play the theme.[4] These include British supermarket chain ASDA, and London speech radio station, LBC. ASDA said: "We are going to be playing the UK Theme at 10am every morning on ASDA FM, our in-store radio, so that our customers will be treated to this rousing musical medley as they do their weekly shop." David Lloyd, the managing director of LBC, said: "We’re with [Jeremy] Paxman on this. If our friends at Radio 4 don’t want the theme tune anymore, then we would seriously like to acquire it [for our breakfast show]."[5] Fritz Spiegl's widow, Ingrid, added her support, saying: "I feel the voice of the people should be heard."[6] James Gordon Brown, Ph. ...
Early day motion is a phrase used in the Westminster system for motions tabled by Members of Parliament for debate on an early day. In practice, they are never debated but are mostly used for MPs to publicise and express support for their own pet projects. ...
Prime Ministers Questions is a Parliamentary practice in the United Kingdom where every Wednesday when the House of Commons is sitting, the Prime Minister spends half an hour answering questions from MPs. ...
Newsnight is a British daily news analysis, current affairs and politics programme broadcast between 22. ...
Jeremy Paxman hosting BBC Newsnight Jeremy Paxman (born 11 May 1950) is a BBC journalist, news presenter and author. ...
Following the announcement of its departure, an internet-based campaign to save it was initiated by web designer Tim Hatton, who had collected 18,384 signatures in support of the theme as of the 21 April 2006.[7]In an online poll on the Save the Radio 4 Theme website, the vast majority of people (90%) have said they believe the theme should be retained, with 72% saying it should simply played at the new Radio 4 start time of 5.20am.[8] April 21 is the 111th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (112th in leap years). ...
2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
On 31 March 2006 the BBC issued a press release [9] confirming that the new Radio 4 schedule will begin on Monday 24 April, suggesting that the UK Theme will be played for the last time on Sunday 23 April. In it the Controller of Radio 4, Mark Damazer, said: "I'm sorry that part of the audience is upset by the removal of the UK Theme. They may like to know that we will be offering the UK Theme as a stream on the Radio 4 website, where it will be available from Friday 21 April." The following day, the Daily Telegraph carried a short piece saying that the campaign to save the theme had "failed." March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ...
2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Monday (pron. ...
April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). ...
Sunday is the first or seventh day of the week, between Saturday and Monday, and the second day of the weekend in some cultures. ...
April 23 is the 113th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (114th in leap years). ...
Friday is the fifth day of the week, falling between Thursday and Saturday. ...
April 21 is the 111th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (112th in leap years). ...
This article deals with The Daily Telegraph in Britain, see The Daily Telegraph (Australia) for the Australian publication The Daily Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper founded in 1855. ...
On 1 April 2006, the Today Programme transmitted a piece claiming that the UK Theme would be replaced by a new "EU theme". This was later confirmed as an April Fool. [10] April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ...
2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Today, commonly referred to as the Today programme to avoid ambiguity, is BBC Radio 4s long-running early morning news and current affairs programme, which is now broadcast from 6am to 9am from Monday to Friday and from 7am to 9am on Saturdays. ...
To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...
The BBC has released no official figure for the number of complaints it has received on the matter of dropping the UK Theme. However, a MediaGuardian article dated 29 March put it at "more than 6,000"[11] - although the actual figure is likely to be higher than this. As the online petition continues to receive signatures on a daily basis, it is not unreasonable to assume that complaints are still being made to the BBC, and will surely continue to be made long after Radio 4's new early morning schedule begins on 24 April. 29 is my favourite colour!!!!!!!! Events Romans captured Sofia. ...
Look up March in Wiktionary, the free dictionary March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ...
Events Roman Empire Roman war against Numidia and Mauritania ends. ...
For other uses, see April (disambiguation). ...
On Friday 21 April, the UK Theme officially went online on the Radio 4 website.[12] Friday is the fifth day of the week, falling between Thursday and Saturday. ...
Events Revolt of the Aedui under Julius Florus and Julius Sacrovir, supressed by Gaius Silius Tiberius is a Roman Consul for the fourth time. ...
For other uses, see April (disambiguation). ...
The Single On Friday, 17 February 2006, the piece was re-recorded by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia under the direction of Gavin Sutherland and was released as a single on Monday, 27 March, also featuring Ronald Binge's Sailing By, the BBC Radio 4 late night Shipping Forecast theme. The original manuscript was restored by the notable light music composer Ernest Tomlinson after it was discovered in the loft of Fritz Spiegl's widow, Ingrid. Image File history File links Radio_4_UK_Theme_cover. ...
Image File history File links Radio_4_UK_Theme_cover. ...
February 17 is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...
2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
The Royal Ballet Sinfonia is the Orchestra of Birmingham Royal Ballet. ...
March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in Leap years). ...
Ronald Binge (1910 - 1979) was a British composer of light music. His best known compositions are probably Elizabethan Serenade and Sailing By - the latter notably from its use as the music which to this day is played at 0045 each morning, before the Shipping Forecast on BBC Radio 4. ...
UK Shipping map Sailing By is a short piece of light music composed by Ronald Binge, which is famous amongst British radio listeners. ...
The Shipping Forecast is a regular feature of BBC Radio 4 and is provided by the UK Meteorological Office on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. ...
Light Music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of light orchestral music, which began post-World War One and had its heyday during the mid-20th Century, although arguably lasts to the present day. ...
Ernest Tomlinson (born September 19, 1924) is an English composer, particularly noted for his Light music compositions. ...
During the first week of its release, it charted at number 15 in the Woolworths Singles Chart. On Sunday, 2 April 2006, the single entered the Tesco Singles Chart at number 8 and the UK Singles Chart at number 29. The top-ten placement at Tesco resulted in the single featuring prominently in the store's display area, while its entry into the UK Singles Chart led to an on-air explanation of the campaign by the presenters of the Radio 1 Chart Show. By the second week of its release, it had dropped to 39th in the UK Singles Chart. In its third week, it fell to number 75. April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ...
2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
The UK Singles Chart is currently compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the British record industry. ...
The UK Singles Chart is currently compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the British record industry. ...
The same team behind the single are planning a full-length album of pieces selected from the British light music tradition. The album, provisionally titled "Early One Morning: British Light Music and Broadcasting Classics", is expected to include Country Gardens and Lilliburlero (the BBC World Service theme), as well as the re-recorded UK Theme and Sailing By.[13] Light Music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of light orchestral music, which began post-World War One and had its heyday during the mid-20th Century, although arguably lasts to the present day. ...
Lillibullero is a march that sets the words of a satirical ballad generally attributed to Lord Thomas Wharton to music by Henry Purcell. ...
World Service logo The BBC World Service is one of the most widely recognised international broadcasters of radio programming, transmitting in 33 languages to around 150 million people throughout the world. ...
UK Shipping map Sailing By is a short piece of light music composed by Ronald Binge, which is famous amongst British radio listeners. ...
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