h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: BBC Sporting Themes - A6201992
Author: Ðiscõ Stu - U816232

I had this in Writing Workshop for a while, but I'm still not sure if the subject deserves a Edited Guide Entry.

Any opinions/suggestions for more content?

"The Formula 1 theme, which is called 'Motor Sport', was written by Roger Barsotti. "

Hmm, I suppose you could argue over the 'written by' bit... As all you ever heard was an extended version of the Fleetwood Mac-written intro, maybe 'arranged by' would be better.

Yep, that's a much better way of putting it Whisky. I'll change that now.

Stu, I think it's a fascinating piece.

It's good to see someone highlight the achievements of composers of light music. Are there any plans to tackle other popular themes?

As for more examples, there's the Mozart piece which the BBC use for equestrianism...

Icy

The Mozart piece is called 'A Musical Joke'

Brilliant! I've added a bit about that now, and a bit about the arranger.

I've had a think, and these are the other sporting themes which I can recall:

Athletics,
Pot Black (some Scott Joplin rag, I think)
Horse Racing,
and the London Marathon.

I imagine there must be themes for Rugby, Darts, Boxing and the Olympics too, but they're not so memorable.

Also, for completeness you might wish to cover "A Question of Sport" & "They Think It's All Over" themes...

You're keeping me on my toes.

Added a bit about Pot Black. I'll see what I can come up with on the others, but previous searches didn't turn up much information. I also want to concentrate on the most well known themes, rather than them all.

Glad to see you ginally got this in PR, Stu! I think its good, but you should definitely add to it if anyone can come up woth any others.

What about the theme the Beeb used for the Athens Olympics?

*finally*

Cheers Elentari!

I added another bit about The London Marathon, and I'll get on to the Olympics on Monday.

Really appreciate everyone's help.

*with*

Actually, if the info is available, you could say what they used for the themes to loads of Olympics.

I think the title needs a 'Tunes', as 'themes' can mean lots of different things, and I totally wasn't expecting an entry about music!

Some of the sections seem a little sparse, it's really weird reading an entry about music you've never heard. If you can't describe it, could you review it perhaps, and state whether it's classical or whatever? It might be possible to find samples of the music readers can listen to online somewhere.

If you need the theme tune to the Athens Olympics I might be able to dig it out for you - we were inundated with requests for the name at the time!

any chance of Sport on Five being added, since it is the main sports show on the BBC sports radio station. Its a nice tune


does Test Match special have a theme ??

Isn't test match special the most famous one? Many years ago, Smith and Jones played the music over clips of movies of people in jail tapping the bars with tin cups. It was hilarious.

It's not TMS that has the theme tune, but the BBC's TV cricket coverage. Can't remember what it's called, but it is supposed to remind you of beer cans on seats... or something

I'll be humming it all day now

You've seen this Stu?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tv_and_radio/grandstand/3260649.stm

and this?
http://www.sterlingtimes.org/music_themes22.htm

Did you know, Stu, that apart from Neighbours, and Crossroads, and Mr and Mrs, and Emmerdale Farm, and so many others, Tony Hatch also wrote the theme to Sportsnight (originally Sportsnight With Coleman, and quite possibly called Midweek Sports Special at some point too)?

Leastways, it's on this 'ere CD I have of The Best of Tony Hatch and his Orchestra. Doesn't give it a name - just says 'Track 11 - Sportsnight'.

*Looks in the liner notes* Ah, here we go - "The BBC commissioned this theme for a fast moving midweek sports programme that was hosted by David Coleman. The tune starts off with a morse code signature to give the effect of speed. The programme, which is still on the air today [The CD is ©1994 btw], still uses the original theme and, in terms of longevity, it is second only to 'The Sky at Night'."