Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2012 July 26

Welcome to the Wikipedia Entertainment Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

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)

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)

Unfortunately, it looks like the programme only remains on the iPlayer for a day, so it's been replaced by the latest episode.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)

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)

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)

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

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

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

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)

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

"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)

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)

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)

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

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)

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)

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

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)

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)

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

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)

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)