The theme song was heard all over the world. It's so relevant to news that even people who don't get their latest news from the BBC know the song as the theme for a news program.
The BBC's news theme song celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and composer David Rowe tells us more about how he came up with the song.
The theme song was heard all over the world. It's so relevant to the news that even people who don't get their latest news from the BBC know it as the theme of a news program.
“It could be music or a sound effect, and it had to be a very recognizable sound. There are thousands of variations that I have produced over the years for BBC India, BBC Africa and BBC America, each with its own unique There's a version, but if you listen to it, you know it's news,'' Lowe said in an interview with a news station.
Composers are surprised at the longevity of their works.
“I don’t think anyone could have imagined 25 years ago that this service would still be up and running 25 years from now. We’re still looking forward to it, so we’ll keep you updated. We are considering different types.”
“The brief was very specific: to find a completely different sound than anything heard before on the BBC or any news service around the world.”
“When we created this, we designed it with the idea that it was going to be a brand, not just a piece of music. It was going to sound straight out of the BBC News sound.”
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Effects of sound on the brain
Watching this video will focus on how certain sounds affect the brain.
The ancient Greeks used music to treat mental health issues, and many Middle Eastern countries built “houses of health” where music was an important healing method.
“And we wanted the headlines to be loud. So we came up with this big drum and made it so we could use it in any headline. Then we wanted the chords, the chords. They have to be unwieldy and neutral. They start in the minors and work their way to the majors. It turns the feeling of anxiety into calm,” Lowe said in an explanation video.
Researchers have linked sound to several health benefits.
Sound therapy has the potential to reduce stress and anxiety, change the perception of pain, support premature babies, and more.
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