Bernard Herrmann conducting at the BBC in the 1940s
Bernard Herrmann conducting at the BBC in the 1940s
The Broadcasts
Notes:
This is a work in progress. The listings are believed to be nearly complete and correct, but as records are fragmentary some omissions and inconsistencies are likely.
All dates are for the 1st broadcast unless otherwise noted.
Not all the broadcasts have survived, sadly most will not exist in the archives.
The dates for the interviews are not complete and might contain some double listings. “Talking about Music” was a series done for the BBC Transcription Service for distribution for radio stations around the globe, including the BBC stations.
A short overview of the BBC Radio stations mentionend below and how they are known today:
- The BBC Third Programme was a British radio station, mainly for classical music which broadcast from 1946 to 1967.
It was renamed to BBC Radio 3 in 1967 and is still in existence. - The BBC Light Programme was a British radio station,mainly for light or pops music which broadcast from 1945 to 1967.
It was split to BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2 in 1967 with both still in existence. - The BBC Home Service was the main British radio station which broadcast from 1939 until 1967.
The main service for London and the south east of England became BBC Radio 4 in 1967 and is still in existence.
The Home Service also had seven regional services.
The “Welsh Home Service” became what is now BBC Radio Wales.
The “Northern Home Service” was split into several regional BBC radio stations in the north of England.
The concert broadcasts:
6 November 1946
Music of our Time
BBC Northern Home Service
- David Diamond: Rounds for String Ochestra *
- Edmund Rubbra: Symphony No. 3
- Charles Ives: Prelude and Fugue from Symphony No. 4 *
- Bernard Herrmann: The Devil and Daniel Webster – Suite *
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Bernard Herrmann, conductor
10 November 1949
BBC Third Programme
- Franz Liszt: A Faust Symphony
Halle Orchestra
Bernard Herrmann, conductor
10 April 1956
BBC Third Programme
- Edmund Rubbra:. Symphony No. 6
- Bernard Herrmann: For the Fallen *
- Walter Piston: Violin Concerto
- Aaron Copland: The Red Pony – Suite
London Symphony Orchestra
Bernard Herrmann, conductor
Louis Kaufman, violin
12 April 1956
BBC Third Programme (part repeat)
- Walter Piston: Violin Concerto
- Edmund Rubbra:. Symphony No. 6
- Bernard Herrmann: For the Fallen
- Aaron Copland: Four Dance Episodes from “Rodeo”
London Symphony Orchestra
Bernard Herrmann, conductor
Louis Kaufman, violin
Guardian article 26th April 1956
25 April 1956
BBC Home Service
- Maurice Ravel: Piano Concerto
- Edward Elgar: Falstaff – Symphonic Study
- Charles Ives: Symphony No. 2 *
London Symphony Orchestra
Bernard Herrmann, conductor
Yvone Lefebure, piano
19 May 1960
Unknown BBC Station
- Bernard Herrmann: For the Fallen
- Richard Wagner: Meistersinger – Overture
- Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser – Overture
London Symphony Orchestra
Bernard Herrmann, conductor
29 March 1961
BBC Northern Home Service
- Edmund Rubbra: Symphony No. 3
- Franz Liszt: Tasso, Lamento et Trionfono
- Walter Piston: The Incredible Flutist, Ballet Suite
BBC Northern Orchestra (now BBC Philharmonic)
Bernard Herrmann, conductor
12 May 1962
Saturday Concert Hall
BBC Light Programme
- Suppe: Overture — Pique Dame Suppe
- George Frederick Handel: Water Music – Suite (arr. Hamilton Harty)
- Franck: Variations symphoniques for Piano and Orchestra
- Bernard Herrmann: Welles Raises Kane – Suite *
BBC Concert Orchestra
Bernard Herrmann, conductor
Valerie Tryon, piano
Note: recorded at BBC Farrington Studios
06 May 1963
BBC Third Programme
- Miaskovsky: Symphony No. 6
- Prokofiev: Cantata – They are Seven
- Strawinski: The King of the Stars
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
BBC Chorus
Bernard Herrmann, conductor
* UK Broadcast Premiere
1974 BBC interview on Charles Ives
interviews and other broadcasts:
15 March 1961
Talking About Music
BBC Third Programme
Note: Interview with John Amis
10 August 1961
Charles Ives
BBC Third Programme
Note: Charles Ives, Personal Reminiscences, Interview with Robert Layton, repeated 30 June and 18 July 1962
27 April 1967
Music Club
BBC Welsh Home Service
Note: Interview regarding “Wuthering Heights”
The Musical Times on Herrmann appearing on Music International in 1968
24 March 1968
Music International
BBC Television (BBC2)
Note: scoring Truffaut’s “The Bride Wore Black”
12 March 1971
The Concert Interval
Radio 3
Note: Talk with John Amis regarding George Gershwin and his fellow musicians
18 July 1971
Music on 2: “Summer Music Now”
BBC Television (BBC2)
Note:Â By way of previewing the Proms, Bernard Herrmann talks about the music of Carl Ruggles and directs a performance of his Angels for six muted trumpets.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02r4kkw
24 July 1971
The Week Ahead
Radio 3
Note: Interview with John Amis on Ives, Ruggles and Sessions
7 October 1972
Music Now
Radio 3
Note: Interview with John Amis
May 1974 (Week 22)
Talking about Music
BBC Transcription Service
Note: Interview with John Amis
20 October 1974
Who was Charles Ives?
BBC Television (BBC 2)
Note: Herrmann, Stokowski, L. Bernstein interviewed about Ives. Music conducted by Pierre Boulez
25 October 1974
Music Now
Radio 3
Note: Interview with John Amis about Ives
January 1976 (Week 4)
Talking about Music
BBC Transcription Service
Talking about the musical prodigy with John Amis (posthumous)