Friday Night is Music Night

Friday Night is Music Night is a long running live BBC radio programme featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra, broadcast most Fridays on BBC Radio 2 at 7. 30PM.

1 Format
2 Appeal
3 History
4 Controversy
5 See also

Format

The programme traditionally begins with the orchestra playing the first bars of an adapted version of Charles Williams's High Adventure. Charles Williams (born Isaac Cozerbreit on May 8 1893 in London, died September 7 1978 in Findon Valley, After the fanfare, the compère (today usually Ken Bruce, Aled Jones, Paul Gambaccini or Russell Davies, but formerly Richard Baker, Jimmy Kingsbury, Robin Boyle, or Brian Kay) gives a summary of the programme, before reciting the slogan of the title. Kenneth Robertson Bruce (born 2 February 1951 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a veteran British broadcaster known for his programme on BBC Radio 2, Aled Jones (born 29 December 1970 is a Welsh Singer and Television / Radio personality and broadcaster who first came to fame as a Paul Matthew Gambaccini (born April 2, 1949, New York) ( Nicknamed 'The Professor of Pop' is a radio and television presenter in the United Robert Russell Davies was born in 1946 in Barmouth, North Wales and currently presents a Sunday radio programme on BBC Radio 2 which spotlights popular Richard Baker OBE is a British broadcaster born in Willesden, North London, on 15 June 1925 and best known as newsreader for Brian Kay is an English radio presenter conductor and singer He is well known as the bass in the King's Singers during the group's formative years from This happens again at the close of the programme, with the announcer usually ending on "I hope that once again we have proved that Friday Night IS Music Night"

It is broadcast live from many theatres and concert halls throughout the UK, although regularly from the Mermaid Theatre in London. The Mermaid Theatre is a theatre at Puddle Dock, in Blackfriars, in the City of London and the first built there since the time of Shakespeare London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The show is not recorded live every week, but instead previous shows are repeated later in the year when the orchestra is on tour.

Appeal

The programme regularly features many types of music, such as classical music, light music, film music, theatre music and songs from the musicals, opera and operetta. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music which originated in the 19th Century and had its heyday during A film score is a broad term referring to the music in a film which is generally categorically separated from songs used within a film Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. The musical film is a Film genre in which several Songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto Operetta is a genre of light Opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter It is also notable for its arrangements of popular standards and folksongs. Great American Songbook (sometimes abbreviated as "GAS" is a term referring to the interrelated music of Broadway musical theater Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous One of its biggest appeals is its unpredicable playlist, which is left unrevealed until broadcast.

The programme usually features guest artistes between the orchestral pieces, who sing with full orchestral accompaniment. Occasionally, artistes such as Donny Osmond and Alanis Morissette perform in the larger venues. Donald Clark "Donny" Osmond (born on December 9 1957 in Ogden Utah, USA) is an American Singer, Musician, Actor Alanis Nadine Morissette (born June 1 1974 is a Canadian-born Singer-songwriter, Record producer, and Actress. The programme also showpieces certain sections of the orchestra, or features guest instrumentalists.

History

The programme has been running since 1952, first on the BBC Light Programme and now on its successor, BBC Radio 2, making it the world's longest-running 'live music' radio programme. Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Many attribute the programme's format to the composer and conductor Sidney Torch. Sidney Torch MBE ( 1908 - 16 July 1990) was a British Pianist, cinema organist, conductor, orchestral arranger In particular, it is notable for now being the only programme to feature light music on Radio 2. Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music which originated in the 19th Century and had its heyday during

In 2005, the programme was televised for the first time on BBC Four as part of a special 'light music night', and as such concentrated on classic light music by composers such as Eric Coates, Trevor Duncan, Ronald Binge and Leroy Anderson. BBC Four is a BBC Television channel available to digital television ( Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable) viewers in the Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music which originated in the 19th Century and had its heyday during Eric Coates ( August 27, 1886 &ndash December 21, 1957) was an English Composer of Light music and a Viola Trevor Duncan ( 27 February 1924 - 17 December 2005) was an English composer particularly noted for his Light music compositions Ronald Binge ( 15 July, 1910, Derby &ndash 6 September, 1979, Ringwood, Hampshire) was a British Leroy Anderson ( June 29 1908 – May 18 1975) was an American Composer of short light concert pieces many of which were Bizarrely, the compère was not one of the regulars, but instead actor and comedian Roy Hudd, who somewhat strayed from the normal format by telling a story in the middle. Roy Hudd, OBE (born 16 May 1936 in Croydon) is an English radio and television actor

Controversy

Controversially, in 2004 the traditional Christmas special was replaced by the BBC in favour of a special featuring only Cliff Richard, a change continued with Elaine Paige in 2005. Sir Cliff Richard, OBE, (born Harry Roger Webb on 14 October 1940 is an English Singer, Actor and Businessman. Elaine Paige OBE (née Bickerstaff born 5 March 1948 is an English Singer and actress, best known for her work in Musical theatre However, this has alienated many fans for whom the traditional mix of light Christmas arrangements with only a few songs was the preferred format.

Also, the show's recent tendency to feature more celebrity hosts and artistes has drawn criticism from previously unknown guest artistes who used the programme as an excellent way to become noticed.

Contents

Format

Appeal

History

Controversy

See also