― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 21 October 2004 00:50 (nineteen years ago) link
― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Thursday, 21 October 2004 01:05 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 21 October 2004 01:09 (nineteen years ago) link
― don, Thursday, 21 October 2004 04:40 (nineteen years ago) link
great that the delia derbyshire website is back. nice to hear Moogies Bloogies again.
― koogs (koogs), Thursday, 21 October 2004 09:12 (nineteen years ago) link
http://www.delia-derbyshire.org for the real thing.
― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 21 October 2004 09:15 (nineteen years ago) link
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 21 October 2004 12:37 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ian Edmond (ianedmond), Thursday, 21 October 2004 15:28 (nineteen years ago) link
The Alchemists of Sound
Thu 8 Feb, 11:20 pm - 12:20 am 60mins
BBC FOUR on BBC TWO
Alchemists of Sound traces the rise and fall of the Radiophonic Workshop, an in-house department established in 1958 to provide extraordinary sounds and music for the BBC's TV and radio services. Best known for its theme tunes to Blake's Seven, Blue Peter, Open University and The Body in Question and, of course, Doctor Who, this documentary reveals the complex techniques deployed by the Workshop long before synthesisers were invented.
The programme is narrated by Oliver Postgate, the voice behind the childrens TV classics Ivor the Engine, The Clangers and Bagpuss. [AD,S]
― Koogy Bloogies (koogs), Monday, 5 February 2007 16:43 (seventeen years ago) link
http://delia-derbyshire.cvol.net/
Not sure I approve of mp3s encoded from still-available CD releases but there you go.
― zebedee (zebedee), Monday, 5 February 2007 17:26 (seventeen years ago) link
― JimD (JimD), Monday, 5 February 2007 17:33 (seventeen years ago) link
He used to appear on Swap Shop showing you how to make a Vorgon Cruiser out of washing up bottles etc. Matt something IIRC.
He was a bizarre parallel of the RWS, with the same aesthetic of economically-restricted grandiose futurisism
― Phil Knight (PhilK), Monday, 5 February 2007 21:51 (seventeen years ago) link
― Koogy Bloogies (koogs), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 09:41 (seventeen years ago) link
― Phil Knight (PhilK), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 17:23 (seventeen years ago) link
Can anyone identify this snippet? Sounds Radiophonic to me.
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=181C446376667DE0
― Alba, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 18:37 (sixteen years ago) link
Does anyone have a copy of the BBC doc mentioned upthread they'd be willing to share? I can trade for something like my DVD-R of "The Changes"(w/ Paddy Kingsland music. Quite awesome.) Really wanna see this!
― Capitaine Jay Vee, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 18:45 (sixteen years ago) link
Alba - hi, fairly certain your mystery tune is raymond scott- something off teh "manhattan research" 2cd set which is indeed very radiophonic
― bob snoom, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 19:37 (sixteen years ago) link
Fantastic, bob. Just checked the snippets on the Amazon page and it is indeed "Portofino" by Scott.
In the course of all that I found an ILM thread in which I noted that I really want to hear his stuff, about four years ago ...
Thanks.
― Alba, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 20:13 (sixteen years ago) link
Portofino 2, rather.
If the Radiophonic Workshop documentary is "Alchemists of Sound", the whole thing's on youtube in several chunks. (Not to discourage anyone from offering a better quality version or anything, but I watched it on there a while ago. Wonderful 60s footage of Delia Derbyshire in the studio speaking with one of those very precise/nervous accents that don't exist any more.)
― a passing spacecadet, Thursday, 25 October 2007 09:33 (sixteen years ago) link
I want this http://www.discogs.com/release/212869
Can't they re-press/release it on CD?
And you'd think they might notice that this goes for £40 and keep it in print! Or does BBC Records even exist still? http://www.discogs.com/release/173394
Did anyone hear BLUE VEILS AND GOLDEN SANDS, the Radio 4 play about Delia Derbyshire's life? I only heard about half of it at the time, but it was reallu good, as I remember. I wonder if you can listen to it anywhere still.
― Jamie T Smith, Thursday, 25 October 2007 10:25 (sixteen years ago) link
Well you can get it on this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-BBC-Plays-Audio/dp/1846070449
The other two plays sound dreadful, though!
― Jamie T Smith, Thursday, 25 October 2007 10:39 (sixteen years ago) link
there's a lot of overlap between the 4x10" and that cd. the vinyl is a couple of minutes too long to fit on a single cd, i ended up dropping the delia derbyshire bits because i had them on another cd somewhere.
i also have a copy of alchemists of sound but it's only a half-pal avi. must look out for a repeat and do it again properly.
the tomorrow people soundtrack is still available, the first white noise lp is just about to get a deluxe re-release and the first two doctor who at the bbc cds are still available, i think (yes, a tenner on amazon)
― koogs, Thursday, 25 October 2007 12:27 (sixteen years ago) link
i recorded "alchemists" earlier this year -- february, in fact -- and have just got round to watching it today.
it's probably one of the best documentaries, if not pieces of television, i've ever seen. i don't know where to begin with it: the aesthetic, the research, the anecdotes, the sheer levels of mind-boggling genius contained within. o, and sonic boom, too!
there's a certain aesthetic that absolutely fascinates me yet is hard to quantify -- if anyone can explain what ties together my love (for example) of british modernist and brutalist architecture, public-information films from the 1950s to early 1980s and the mkI human league, feel free -- and so much of the workshop's output fits into that perfectly. i have to get hold of some of their stuff ... i assume there are collections out there?
as for the documentary itself ... it's stuck on my bloody humax and i need to work out a way of getting it off, 'cos that's a keeper.
wow. just ... awesome.
― grimly fiendish, Wednesday, 21 November 2007 17:58 (sixteen years ago) link
hmm! even despite mark ayres's re-releases in 2002, this stuff isn't exactly easy to get hold of :(
― grimly fiendish, Wednesday, 21 November 2007 18:16 (sixteen years ago) link
http://orpheusrecords.blogspot.com/2007/11/alchemists-of-sound-2003-documentary.html
― Milton Parker, Wednesday, 21 November 2007 18:22 (sixteen years ago) link
fantastic. thank you. i shan't do anything with it right now because, er, my bandwidth is rather tied up with something else :)
― grimly fiendish, Wednesday, 21 November 2007 18:24 (sixteen years ago) link
http://waxidermy.com/2006/06/06/j-matthews-electronic-music/
― Milton Parker, Monday, 7 April 2008 19:21 (sixteen years ago) link
http://www.mute.com/artists/publicArtistLoad.do?id=36105&forward=fullDiscography
release of 3 (2 reissues, 1 new compilation?) Workshop cds on 3rd nov.
no tracklistings given but the originals are here:http://www.discogs.com/release/173394http://www.discogs.com/release/173397
― koogs, Sunday, 5 October 2008 10:09 (fifteen years ago) link
hmm. i devoted many hours to downloading as much of that stuff as i could find. it wasn't easy. this is pretty joyous news.
― right, we all start when the drum machine starts, lads (grimly fiendish), Sunday, 5 October 2008 11:58 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.amazon.co.uk/BBC-Radiophonic-Workshop-Retrospective/dp/B001GISONU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1224156834&sr=8-3
Assuming that tracklisting's good, that's going to be worth getting hold of. Plenty of tracks from '21', and a selection of stuff from 'The Changes'.
Hope it's right.
― chad yellowhammer, Thursday, 16 October 2008 11:36 (fifteen years ago) link
that's blindingly good. i managed to get hold of 21, but i'd certainly shell out for that.
― easy, lionel (grimly fiendish), Thursday, 16 October 2008 21:36 (fifteen years ago) link
AWESOME
Sorry its only up for another day....
― Plaxico (I know, right?), Friday, 26 December 2008 20:58 (fifteen years ago) link
I love the Mastered By Guy at the Exchange-type stuff.
― Plaxico (I know, right?), Friday, 26 December 2008 21:21 (fifteen years ago) link
New Tristram Cary lp out on trunk.http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=281201
― koogs, Friday, 26 March 2010 13:19 (fourteen years ago) link
"new"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jetzY-W78gg
love this, needs more rapping tho.
― Sir Chips Keswick (Merdeyeux), Saturday, 30 July 2011 23:09 (twelve years ago) link
...who?
http://www.mimaroglumusicsales.com/artists/frederick+charles+judd.html
― Milton Parker, Wednesday, 25 January 2012 23:19 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00g15x3
Sat 14 Jul 2012 09:00 BBC Radio 4 ExtraSat 14 Jul 2012 19:00 BBC Radio 4 Extra(it's a repeat from 2008)
Richard Coles tells the BBC's Radiophonic Workshop's extraordinary story.
In 1958 an extraordinary musical laboratory opened at the BBC. It was called the Radiophonic Workshop and provided music and sound for a wealth of BBC programmes, from The Goons to Dr Who.
With contributions from Coldcut, Dick Mills and Mark Ayres, Richard Coles explores the achievements of the unit and presents a carefully chosen selection of programmes showcasing the department's work:
The Dreams (05/01/1964)The Goons (02/02/1959)Inferno Revisited (17/04/1983)Relativity (1974)Electric Tunesmiths (30/12/1971)Bath Time (1976)
― koogs, Tuesday, 10 July 2012 23:35 (eleven years ago) link
This is SUCH a tune:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ121_LBW0E
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Tuesday, 10 July 2012 23:48 (eleven years ago) link
the Daphne Oram exhibit runs just a few more months at the Science Museum in London -
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/ORAMICS
― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 00:17 (eleven years ago) link
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/62842000/jpg/_62842046_matthewherbert.jpg
― Mark G, Wednesday, 12 September 2012 08:36 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19568120
The BBC's Radiophonic Workshop, which created theme tunes and sound effects for programmes including Doctor Who and Blake's 7, is to reopen after 14 years.Composer Matthew Herbert, known for his use of "found sounds", has been appointed creative director.One of his first commissions is a "sonic memorial" to the BBC's Bush House building which, until recently, was the home of the World Service.The original workshop was known for its pioneering use of electronic sounds.Founded in 1958, it was best-known for creating the eerie swoosh of the Doctor Who theme tune, but its compositions were also used in numerous radio dramas, The Goon Show and The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.As well as music, the workshop created sound effects - from champagne corks popping to the distorted, strangulated voices of the Daleks.While the first workshop was based in the BBC's Maida Vale studios, the new incarnation will live online, at The Space, a new digital arts service developed by the Arts Council and the BBC.Herbert will lead "seven fellow cutting-edge collaborators" in making new sounds and music
Composer Matthew Herbert, known for his use of "found sounds", has been appointed creative director.
One of his first commissions is a "sonic memorial" to the BBC's Bush House building which, until recently, was the home of the World Service.
The original workshop was known for its pioneering use of electronic sounds.
Founded in 1958, it was best-known for creating the eerie swoosh of the Doctor Who theme tune, but its compositions were also used in numerous radio dramas, The Goon Show and The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
As well as music, the workshop created sound effects - from champagne corks popping to the distorted, strangulated voices of the Daleks.
While the first workshop was based in the BBC's Maida Vale studios, the new incarnation will live online, at The Space, a new digital arts service developed by the Arts Council and the BBC.
Herbert will lead "seven fellow cutting-edge collaborators" in making new sounds and music
― Mark G, Wednesday, 12 September 2012 08:37 (eleven years ago) link
REPLACE MURRAY GOLD WITH THE SOUND OF A DEAD PIG
― ┐(´ー`)┌ (sic), Wednesday, 12 September 2012 09:27 (eleven years ago) link
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/62842000/jpg/_62842046_matthewherbert.jpgI imagine this is what Kraftwerk's accountant looks like.
― Emeritus Professor of LOLology (snoball), Wednesday, 12 September 2012 10:42 (eleven years ago) link
Anyone going to this:http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/events/talks/electronic_music.aspx ?
― Jeff W, Wednesday, 12 September 2012 11:55 (eleven years ago) link
Just for fun:http://webaudio.prototyping.bbc.co.uk/
― Zweitgeist (doo dah), Friday, 21 December 2012 01:49 (eleven years ago) link
haha, there's a konami code on the ring modulator that lets you use a live input.
― wk, Friday, 21 December 2012 02:32 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.factmag.com/2014/02/18/the-radiophonic-workshop-announce-substantial-uk-tour/
― night boat to mega therion (NickB), Tuesday, 18 February 2014 14:33 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA6Fb0nuAYw
1/7
― OutdoorFish, Tuesday, 18 February 2014 18:49 (ten years ago) link
Ugh, I just turned on BBC4 and this was on, why don't I pay more attention to the Proms (answer - 'cuz it's usually shite)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ebzcd4
― Father Ted in Forkhandles (Tom D.), Friday, 27 July 2018 22:52 (five years ago) link
It's very good.
― Mark G, Monday, 30 July 2018 11:24 (five years ago) link
The Proms usually throws up something worthwhile. Loved the Ravi Shankar / Philip Glass prom from 2017.
― millmeister, Monday, 30 July 2018 12:52 (five years ago) link
The songs of Scott Walker was a nice one last year, too
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 30 July 2018 12:54 (five years ago) link
I just heard that David Cain passed away :(
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvAcUHSWEGw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WNLG7xZbeE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMZkRB1-5ek
― Maresn3st, Sunday, 6 October 2019 11:45 (four years ago) link
Richard Yeoman-Clark just died as well.
"More sad news reaches us of the passing of another colleague, Richard Yeoman-Clark, who apparently left us on September 16th after a short illness. Richard spent seven years at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, starting in 1971. He (like Dick Mills) was more technician than composer but took to the EMS Synthi 100 like a duck to water, creating many memorable works such as 'Waltz Antipathy' and 'Mysterioso' – the latter created for the first season of Blake’s Seven, perhaps his greatest claim to fame, for which he created all the initial signature sounds before Elizabeth Parker took over part way through season two."
― Jeff W, Sunday, 6 October 2019 17:52 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74qzbKBe5wA
― Jeff W, Sunday, 6 October 2019 17:53 (four years ago) link
that david cain lp is 50p for the download from trunk records website.
(they have a bunch of other radiophonic stuff of course, the tristram cary lp, the two john baker, the tomorrow people soundtrack, some delia things... website navigation not the best though)
― koogs, Tuesday, 8 October 2019 10:05 (four years ago) link
Aired today, and up for download currently, a new radio feature about and interviewing Workshop members.
― Steppin' RZA (sic), Thursday, 6 August 2020 11:49 (three years ago) link
Live lockdown show using internet latency as a tape delay, coming up on November 22
― edited for dog profanity (sic), Friday, 30 October 2020 23:41 (three years ago) link
Whoa!
― Li'l Brexit (Tracer Hand), Saturday, 31 October 2020 00:09 (three years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjiSkR6di9k
― huge rant (sic), Monday, 23 November 2020 23:37 (three years ago) link
Stumbled across Daphne Oram being featured on one of those Mr. Cholmondely-Warner style documentaries (from 1960) on Talking Pictures.
― Renaissance of the Celtic Trumpet (Tom D.), Friday, 16 June 2023 19:37 (ten months ago) link