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BBC Radiophonic Workshop Revived Online

Posted by timothy on from the what-the-british-sound-like dept.

New submitter ratbag writes with this snippet from BBC News: "The BBC's Radiophonic Workshop, which created theme tunes and sound effects for programs including Doctor Who and Blake's 7, is to reopen after 14 years. 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."

8 of 32 comments (clear)

  1. TARDIS by markian · · Score: 3, Informative

    How could you leave out the TARDIS sound? They started with a coin and an open string on a[n upright?] piano.

    1. Re:TARDIS by Jaffa · · Score: 3, Informative

      How could you leave out the TARDIS sound? They started with a coin and an open string on a[n upright?] piano.

      It was a house key on a piano string; although Wikipedia claims "house keys":

      The distinctive accompanying sound effect – a cyclic wheezing, groaning noise – was originally created in the BBC Radiophonic Workshop by Brian Hodgson. He produced the effect by dragging a set of house keys along the strings of an old, gutted piano. The resulting sound was then recorded and electronically processed with echo and reverb.

      I'm sure I remember hearing a programme where they described it - not only was reverb and echo added, it was also played backwards.

  2. Ziwzih Ziwzih OO-OO-OO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Delia Derbyshire!

    1. Re:Ziwzih Ziwzih OO-OO-OO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      For those who don't get the title of the above post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jetzY-W78gg.

      It is the soundtrack of a short story by Isaac Asimov about robots worshipping their power generator.

    2. Re:Ziwzih Ziwzih OO-OO-OO by Hazel+Bergeron · · Score: 3, Informative

      And for those who keep modding down this fine AC, Derbyshire was one of the most well-known and innovative workers at the Radiophonic Workshop, and both are links to her work. Sigh.

    3. Re:Ziwzih Ziwzih OO-OO-OO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Ms Derbyshire led an exciting and tragic life. Some time ago BBC Radio 7 - now BBC Radio 4 extra - had a long look at the history of the Radiophonic Workshop. Everyone should look up her biography (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delia_Derbyshire) and elsewhere. A mathematics grad of Cambridge University, she suffered the discrimination heaped on women who were brighter than their male supervisors. She suffered from breast cancer an botched medical care so much that when illness returned, she refused to be treated and died as a result. Tragic. When Radio4 Extra repeats theses programs (probably available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4extra/) tune in. BBC Radio 4 Extra keeps their programs up for listening for 7 days after first broadcast.

  3. THGTTG, hurray! by John+Bresnahan · · Score: 3, Informative

    Amazingly, most of the Hitchhiker's Guide fans I know have never heard the original radio production. Many of them didn't even know that it was a radio production first.

  4. Re:Wet Sock Filled With Custard by drkim · · Score: 3, Informative

    Being a radio show, the Goon Show was absolutely breathtaking in their use of sound and music to construct their crazy world. (Having Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan didn't hurt either!) Without them, we wouldn't have the whole absurdist comedy movement. (Think: Pythons, Marty Feldman, Firesign.)

    Here's a great moment:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JtCuxbrAu8&feature=related