music identification please

[mercia]

Radio 4 is currently reading CS Lewis's The Screwtape Letters and each "episode" starts with a snatch of what sounds to me like a Baroque violin concerto (Vivaldi ?) or perhaps pastiche-Baroque - I was wondering if anyone could identify it for me please - you only get a few seconds worth - with thanks in advance.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03j4y80

[Dave2002]

Radio 4 is currently reading CS Lewis's The Screwtape Letters and each "episode" starts with a snatch of what sounds to me like a Baroque violin concerto (Vivaldi ?) or perhaps pastiche-Baroque - I was wondering if anyone could identify it for me please - you only get a few seconds worth - with thanks in advance.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03j4y80

There are some devilish trills a few bars in, which makes me suspect Tartini, but it's not the Devil's Trill sonata, which could well be appropriate for the programme. It could perhaps be another work by Tartini, or a pastiche work.

[Sir Velo]

Talking of which: does anyone know what that rather ubiquitous piece for violin & orchestra which sounds like a twee Lark Ascending is that one hears on every rural, English landscape style programme? I can't stand it, but I want to know what it is so I can instruct all the rellies under no circumstances to ever buy it on a CD for me!

[mercia]

There are some devilish trills a few bars in, which makes me suspect Tartini, but it's not the Devil's Trill sonata, which could well be appropriate for the programme.

having listened to the Devil's Trill on youtube [never having heard it before], actually I think that's exactly what it is - so well done Dave - an obvious choice as you say

[ardcarp]

Talking of which: does anyone know what that rather ubiquitous piece for violin & orchestra which sounds like a twee Lark Ascending is that one hears on every rural, English landscape style programme? I can't stand it, but I want to know what it is so I can instruct all the rellies under no circumstances to ever buy it on a CD for me!

You couldn't possibly be referring to one of Britten's Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes could you? If so, I love it (one of the greatest pieces of atmospheric music written) but it is being overdone at the moment. It was even on the R4 afternoon drama one day last week.

Sorry if I'm barking up the wrong tree.

[Sir Velo]

You couldn't possibly be referring to one of Britten's Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes could you? If so, I love it (one of the greatest pieces of atmospheric music written) but it is being overdone at the moment. It was even on the R4 afternoon drama one day last week.

No,'fraid not! This is a piece which is for violin and orchestra; it sounds very Classic FM smooth classics - a bit of a twee pastiche of the Lark. It's not a piece I have knowingly encountered except as I say it seems to have become almost ubiquitous on television programmes whenever the English landscape is evoked. I'll see if I can get a link to it on YouTube to see if anyone here will dare to admit to recognising it!

[Serial_Apologist]

What gets me is the music which has been continually repeated on all TV channels as background to scenes of tragedy and sadness for several years now, whether on documentaries or ads by animal charities asking for donations, consisting of open parallel minor chords transposed over open fifths strings, eg a D minor chord voiced as F-D-A moved around modally on the white keys in the manner of certain English pastoral composers, for instance EJ Moeran, and of course worked to death by Arvo Part in his Fratres (is it that??). It's been making something of a comeback recently after several months of merciful silence, and every time I think, oh no,, not that bloody theme yet again!!!

[Dave2002]

having listened to the Devil's Trill on youtube [never having heard it before], actually I think that's exactly what it is - so well done Dave - an obvious choice as you say

Well maybe, but it's been orchestrated and tinkered with if so, surely. There's also some even more elaborate music at the end of the programme. Perhaps closer listening will confirm your/our suspicions.

[Richard Tarleton]

almost ubiquitous on television programmes whenever the English landscape is evoked.

OT, but it's the same with bird songs and calls. Currently every ITV drama involving outdoor upland scenes includes the same recording of a peregrine falcon calling. Every lowland woodland scene (eg Lewis, Endeavour) includes the same recording of a willow warbler, and (usually) a great spotted woodpecker drumming.

[Serial_Apologist]

OT, but it's the same with bird songs and calls. Currently every ITV drama involving outdoor upland scenes includes the same recording of a peregrine falcon calling. Every lowland woodland scene (eg Lewis, Endeavour) includes the same recording of a willow warbler, and (usually) a great spotted woodpecker drumming.

Serialised?

[Ferretfancy]

OT, but it's the same with bird songs and calls. Currently every ITV drama involving outdoor upland scenes includes the same recording of a peregrine falcon calling. Every lowland woodland scene (eg Lewis, Endeavour) includes the same recording of a willow warbler, and (usually) a great spotted woodpecker drumming.

Whenever we dubbed a night scene at the Beeb, I tried to persuade the director not to put in an owl. Similarly, whenever there was a shot of a spacecraft in orbit, up popped the slow movement of Bartok's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta. Of course, nowadays it's all electronic whooshes and rumblings

Even now, some programmes have become Spot the Tune, sometimes it's more fun than the content.

[Sir Velo]

No,'fraid not! This is a piece which is for violin and orchestra; it sounds very Classic FM smooth classics - a bit of a twee pastiche of the Lark. It's not a piece I have knowingly encountered except as I say it seems to have become almost ubiquitous on television programmes whenever the English landscape is evoked. I'll see if I can get a link to it on YouTube to see if anyone here will dare to admit to recognising it!

Well, finally tracked this musical miscreant down! As I surmised, it was strongly Classic FM related, with its "composer" featuring strongly on their playlist. Its shameless debt to the Lark is even acknowledged in the track (sic) description as featuring a "soaring violin line and large orchestral strings".

[Serial_Apologist]

What gets me is the music which has been continually repeated on all TV channels as background to scenes of tragedy and sadness for several years now, whether on documentaries or ads by animal charities asking for donations, consisting of open parallel minor chords transposed over open fifths strings, eg a D minor chord voiced as F-D-A moved around modally on the white keys in the manner of certain English pastoral composers, for instance EJ Moeran, and of course worked to death by Arvo Part in his Fratres (is it that??). It's been making something of a comeback recently after several months of merciful silence, and every time I think, oh no,, not that bloody theme yet again!!!

I have finally discovered what this piece of music is, and by whom!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDOXxa1U7Oc

I wonder how it is that the opening snatch of this piece has been finding itself used as background music to said images in news programmes, nature programmes and TV dramas for the best part of the decade since it was composed?

[Pianoman]

Its from American Beauty, but no idea why its been commandeered for other purposes..