Sounding Brass was a pioneer phone-in programme presented by Gloria Hunniford on BBC Radio 2. [1] Listeners were invited to choose a Christmas carol or hymn while a Salvation Army band, which included the famous Chalk Farm Band, stood by in the studio to play their requests live. [2] [3]
The brass bands had a wide repertoire and were usually able to play a hymn tune within forty seconds of the request being made. A guest hymnologist was on-hand to explain the origin of the music and the background to the composition of the words. Among the regular Bandmasters who appeared was Ray Steadman-Allen, the famous Salvation Army band composer. The programme was devised and first presented by Owen Spencer-Thomas on BBC Radio London in 1977. [4] The programme ran until the mid-1990s.
Its sister programme Sounding Brass Strikes Again, which featured top brass bands from across London, was broadcast on BBC Radio London from 2 August 1978. [5]
References
- ^ "What is Sounding Brass? - Blurtit". Archived from the original on 1 January 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2008. Blurtit website. URL accessed 2 January 2008.
- ^ [1] BBC London Homepage. URL accessed 10 June 2007.
- ^ BBC Radio Times Genome Accessed July 21, 2015
- ^ Radio Times 17-23 December 1977
- ^ BBC Radio Times Genome Accessed July 21, 2015
See also
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