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July 26

Music used on South Today

Hi. I was watching South Today when they played a piece of classical music that I recognised, but couldn't name. I found the show on the BBC iPlayer, so I'm hoping someone can help me out. The piece starts around 7:53 - [1]. - JuneGloom Talk 01:04, 26 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Depending on which computer I use, either (a) I can access the site but it only has selected clips, which it won't play for me anyway; or (b) I can't access the site at all because I'm outside the UK. With (a), the site does have a very user-unfriendly layout, so maybe I'm missing something basic. -- ♬ Jack of Oz ♬ ^{[your turn]} 08:14, 27 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Unfortunately, it looks like the programme only remains on the iPlayer for a day, so it's been replaced by the latest episode. Thank you for trying anyway and I agree that the site layout is not very user-friendly. - JuneGloom Talk 09:02, 27 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

That's OK. I'm frustrated since I like these musical challenges. Is there any other information you can give about the music you heard? What instrument(s)? Fast or slow? Was it like a march or a waltz or something else? Did it remind you of any other music? Any guesses as to the composer or the country? Was it baroque, classical, romantic or modern? -- ♬ Jack of Oz ♬ ^{[your turn]} 09:17, 27 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

The first word that popped into my head when I heard it was 'regal', which is probably why it was used on a segment about Queen Victoria's house. I would say it's fast and upbeat, definitely not a waltz and not very march-y either. I believe it's baroque and I'm sure it's been used as a theme in a film or period/costume drama. - JuneGloom Talk 19:29, 27 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Brideshead Revisited?Britmax (talk) 19:54, 27 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Unfortunately not. Thank you for trying to help though. - JuneGloom Talk 21:07, 27 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Zadok the Priest is used a lot. Was it anything like that? -- ♬ Jack of Oz ♬ ^{[your turn]} 21:44, 27 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

It was faster than Zadok and there was no choir. It did remind me of Handel, although I don't think it was one his pieces. - JuneGloom Talk 22:52, 27 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I just found one of the newsreaders on Twitter, I'll see if she can help. - JuneGloom Talk 23:14, 27 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

"Regal" and "Baroque" always makes me think of Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz_kODE6sU4 I know it's a shot in the dark, but I thought I'd offer it. [ Edited to add: Sorry, I missed your comment above that you don't think it's Handel. I'll leave this up on the off-chance your hunch was wrong. :-) ] Jwrosenzweig (talk) 04:55, 28 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Haven't managed to catch the piece myself, but reading the above - fast and upbeat, regal, faster than Zadok the Priest and no choir - sounds to me like the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel. --TammyMoet (talk) 09:34, 28 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I wonder if it was the same piece of music used at the beginning of this clip, where James Bond arrives at Buckingham Palace: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19020220 87.112.129.180 (talk) 10:40, 28 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

That's the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba that Tammy mentioned. -- ♬ Jack of Oz ♬ ^{[your turn]} 10:46, 28 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

It's definitely not the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, that one I would have recognised straight away. - JuneGloom Talk 17:52, 28 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

It certainly is the Queen of Sheba at the start; later on in the clip, when they're in the helicopter, it changes to the Dambusters March. AndrewWTaylor (talk)

I was talking about the piece I heard, not the clip mentioned above. - JuneGloom Talk 22:17, 28 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Ah, apologies, I misunderstood. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 23:52, 28 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

My guess is Spring from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. If not, Minuet by Boccherini. 86.161.208.94 (talk) 21:59, 28 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I wouldn't call either of those "regal". That word almost always implies something stately, solemn and majestic. I keep thinking of William Walton's "Orb and Sceptre" or "Crown Imperial", but they're out on three counts (marches; too slow; wrong time period). -- ♬ Jack of Oz ♬ ^{[your turn]} 01:05, 29 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

But on a different tack, how about Charpentier's Te Deum? -- ♬ Jack of Oz ♬ ^{[your turn]} 01:09, 29 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

To me, that piece sounds like you were along the right track. However, I do have some good news. The lovely newsreader replied to my tweet and she said the piece is Chasing Sheep is Best Left to Shepherds. I was right when I said it had been used in a film (The Draughtsman's Contract) and it is Baroque sounding (it is taken from a Purcell piece after all), with a modern twist I guess. You've all been so kind in trying to help me out, especially Jack of Oz, so thank you! - JuneGloom Talk 01:15, 30 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, June. I'm glad you got the answer externally, because there was no way I was ever going to come up with that piece. See, not so gloomy after all. -- ♬ Jack of Oz ♬ ^{[your turn]} 05:46, 30 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]