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Archers Theme Music
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Message 1.Â
Posted by Cautious - Carry On London!!!! (U12137410) on Saturday, 4th October 2008
Barwick Green I think it's called. I am curious to know who owns the copyright as I've just heard it played in a TV commercial for canned soup. Surely it can't be owned by the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú? I hope not, as I would be disgusted to learn that the Corp was prostituting it for cheap profit in this way.
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Message 2
Posted by RosieT (U2224719) on Saturday, 4th October 2008
message 1
From FAQ
"What’s that dum-di-dum tune? It’s a ‘maypole dance’ called Barwick Green from the suite My Native Heath, written in 1924 by the Yorkshire composer Arthur Wood."
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú does not have the copyright. -
Message 3
Posted by Afan Argoll (U11565445) on Sunday, 5th October 2008
What intrigues me, though, is when TA actors advertise products - Debbie advertised some M&S food once clearly associating it with the Home Farm lifestyle - and yet the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú and therefore the public purse, gets none of the proceeds of increased sales...
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Message 4
Posted by Dragonfly (U2223700) on Sunday, 5th October 2008
I don't see how they could get any of the proceeds. An actor is free to do anything they like unless they're under a contract that forbids them from doing it. I understand that Jonathan Ross is under contract to the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú and gets some ludicrously large amount which he presumably has to 'earn' by doing a specified amount of work each year. I would imagine his contract would require him not to do any advertising work during the contract period because while he is so omni-present on the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú he is very clearly identified with it, and the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú isn't allowed to do commercial advertising.
However, as I understand it, not a single actor working on TA is under contract. They are all hired by the episode. The Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú would therefore find it very difficult to stop them doing anything else, even if it did seem to be capitalising on the actor's TA role with no financial reward for the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú. The only way the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú could get any money out of it would be if the character name or the series name were to be mentioned in some way that meant Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Enterprises or whatever it's called at the moment could do a licensing deal. 'The Archers Bridge Farm yoghourt', for example.
I'd be interested to know if any of the above is correct! -
Message 5
Posted by Lady Macbeϯh - not without mustard (U550479) on Sunday, 5th October 2008
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:55 GMT, in reply to Dragonfly in message 4
As far as I can see, all of the above is correct. -
Message 6
Posted by smarttedebear (U3614285) on Sunday, 5th October 2008
I heard the advert with the Archers signature tune. (I did not notice the product, just the tune, so much for the power of advertising!) I thought that the tune was slightly faster than is usually heard on TA. I could be wrong on this, but maybe it has been re-recorded. If not, then presumably the advertisers would have to pay the original orchestra.
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Message 7
Posted by Lady Macbeϯh - not without mustard (U550479) on Sunday, 5th October 2008
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:23 GMT, in reply to smarttedebear in message 6
It's for Heinz Farmers' Market soups.
Residuals would go to the composer's estate if it's a new recording. -
Message 8
Posted by Spartacus (U38364) on Sunday, 5th October 2008
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:49 GMT, in reply to smarttedebear in message 6
the tune was slightly faster than is usually heard on TAÂ
Ys, nowadays. I'm pretty sure it's the original "stock music" recording that the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú used until they re-recorded for stereo in the late '80s. The theme they use nowadays still sounds slightly "wrong" to me. -
Message 9
Posted by Cautious - Carry On London!!!! (U12137410) on Sunday, 5th October 2008
IRL farmers are upset that Heinz is using the name Farmers' Market Soup for something that's made in a factory so it's ironic that it has chosen the Archers theme to promote it.
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Message 10
Posted by Keri Davies (U2219620) on Tuesday, 7th October 2008
Yes, I can confirm everything that's been said in this thread. Thanks all.
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Message 11
Posted by Cautious - Carry On London!!!! (U12137410) on Tuesday, 7th October 2008
Just thinking about it, what a HUGE compliment it is to the programme; choosing the theme music for a radio 'soap'. They must have done some market research to prove that the music has an agricultural connection in the mind of the buying public. And yet the programme itself is probably listened to by only a small fraction of the population. I would say that it registers with many, many people; probably in th top ten most recognisable pieces.
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Message 12
Posted by mk_vii (U5457987) on Tuesday, 28th October 2008
The recording made by Sidney Torch in the 1950s is noticeably faster tempo than either the current (stereo) version or the old mono one made (I think) by the Midland Radio Orchestra. I suspect this was the one the ad used, as it is readily available on a CD, along with a number of other Torch 'Light Music' pieces. This Sidney Torch recording was never used by the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú.
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Message 13
Posted by Spartacus (U38364) on Tuesday, 28th October 2008
Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:14 GMT, in reply to mk_vii in message 12
This Sidney Torch recording was never used by the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú.Â
Wikipedia disagrees. -
Message 14
Posted by Bear in the Bull (U2265029) on Sunday, 2nd November 2008
PPPPMLPISCNZ says: the tune was slightly faster than is usually heard on TAÂ
Ys, nowadays. I'm pretty sure it's the original "stock music" recording that the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú used until they re-recorded for stereo in the late '80s. The theme they use nowadays still sounds slightly "wrong" to me.Â
There has been a trend over the last 100 years for recordings of "serious" music to be performed at tempi ever slower than those indicated by the composer on the score.
That factor aside, the "slower" - and thus less danceable - rendition used in recent years is still less "different" than the "French" [possibly synthesized?] accordion version used for the Omnibus - albeit that the latter seems to have a slightly faster tempo and a more danceable swing to it.
I wish the late John Baker had been afforded the opportunity to create a Radiophonic version with swing - this could have been exciting!
[Waits for Radiophonic Workshop Archive to lend me Delia Derbyshire's green lampshade, and a couple of DNFWs ...]
Bear -
Message 15
Posted by Spartacus (U38364) on Sunday, 2nd November 2008
Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:17 GMT, in reply to Bear_in_the_Bull in message 14
I wish the late John Baker had been afforded the opportunity to create a Radiophonic version with swingÂ
Back in the 1980s it was a bit of an "in-joke" to fit in Barwick Green as often as possible; I have a recording somewhere of a Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú "swing version" they played out on when Jeck was playing his old 78s collection to Peggoi. -
Message 16
Posted by Bear in the Bull (U2265029) on Sunday, 2nd November 2008
I may not remember that particular episode, but you're right - I remember various "alternate" versions being tried at the end of episodes around then.
I wonder if recordings were kept, and whether there ever was a Radiophonic version.
Methinks our good host, the most noble Mr Davies, might be able to help here.
Bear -
Message 17
Posted by Keri Davies (U2219620) on Monday, 3rd November 2008
This is complete news to me, I must say.
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Message 18
Posted by Keri Davies (U2219620) on Monday, 3rd November 2008
>the "French" [possibly synthesized?] accordion version used for the Omnibus
Not French or synthesized. It's by the Somerset band The Yetties, from their album "Upmarket". -
Message 19
Posted by Spartacus (U38364) on Monday, 3rd November 2008
Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:26 GMT, in reply to Keri Davies - Host in message 17
This is complete news to me, I must say.Â
If I can find the tape* I'll have a go at digitising the original excerpt and email you the MP3.
(*Don't hold your breath, though; I haven't seen it this Century.
) -
Message 20
Posted by Keri Davies (U2219620) on Tuesday, 4th November 2008
Thanks Peet, I'd be very interested, if it does turn up.
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