And before the Radiophonic Workshop has even opened its doors it gains its first television credit. Daphne Oram provides effects for a British production of a French take on a Roman play.
“Leo McKern and Jack MacGowran in ‘ THE OCEAN’”. Adapted for radio from a novel by James Hanley. The radio script and production were by Donald McWhinnnie who wrote in the Radio Times “The attempt to re-interpret Hanley’s vision has been one of my most exciting radio experiences and I hope that the sound-complex you will hear on Monday evening (Home) may prove to be one of yours.
Continue Reading 19th May 1958 – The Ocean broadcast (BBC Home Service)
Pub-emptying, appointment to view, sci-fi television event of the era with bravura scary effects from Desmond Briscoe
Continue Reading 22nd December 1958 – Quatermass and the Pit broadcast (BBC tv)
Following almost a year after their first television job (see Amphitryon 38, March 1958) Desmond is now teamed up with Maddalena Fagandini (with assistance form Dick Mills) for Outside, which may also be their first documentary.
Continue Reading 19th February 1959 – ‘Outside’ broadcast (BBC tv)
Science and Industry was the first electronic signature tune for a BBC radio programme, making it a landmark worthy of special attention. I say tune but this is quite a challenging sequence of musical scenes from Phil Young. Although there’s no information on when it was first used in a broadcast it was entered into the BBC Recorded Programme Permanent Library with this ‘rec’ (recording) date.
Maddalena’s other rhythm. “One of the many interval signals that filled the gaps between TV programmes” – Brian Hodgson, Radiophonic 21.
AKA The Splendour… Phil Young provides the theme music
Continue Reading 13th May 1960 – The Grandeur That Was Rome broadcast (BBC tv)
‘The most significant factor about this approach to painting and sculpture, completely free from representation, is that it provides a completely new and more dynamic relationship between the Work of art, the artist and the spectator… if it were large enough he could get into it’. (BBC Television film) “Abstract sound by: The BBC Radiophonic Workshop” […]
Continue Reading 15th August 1960 – The Artist Speaks: Victor Pasmore broadcast (BBC tv)
Also known as Time Beat, Maddalena Fagandini’s rhythm track had slightly less ‘fab’, and rather more obscure, origins.
Continue Reading 3rd October 1960 – Music for Party Political Conferences broadcast (BBC tv)
Desmond Briscoe with a fanfare for “A play in six episodes by Michael Kelly based on the book by Edwin Lester Arnold”. The book’s full title is The Wonderful Adventures of Phra The Phoenician from 1883.
Continue Reading 16th October 1960 – Children’s Hour: Phra The Phoenician broadcast (Home Service)
Music for travellators, or the BBC’s People Make Programmes Exhibit, by Maddelana Fagandini.
Continue Reading 6th March 1962 – ‘Ideal Home Exhibition’ event (Olympia, London)