In case you’ve ever had a kickabout, it’s possible no less than somebody has hummed the Match of the Day theme tune as they’ve dribbled the ball on their technique to (hopefully) scoring a purpose.
The BBC’s Match of the Day has been a fixture in TV schedules because it made its debut on BBC Two in August 1964, simply months after the channel was first switched on. The unique incarnation of the programme featured somewhat stuffy navy music as its theme tune – certainly ‘Drum Majorette’ (the piece’s title) was written by a band chief of the Welsh Guards, writing beneath the identify of Arnold Inventory (truly Main Leslie Statham).
Statham’s old style music was ditched in 1970 when Match of the Day was given an overhaul. The present’s incoming producer, Sam Leitch, wished a contemporary sound for his fashionable soccer programme and he turned to 29-year-old Surrey-born musician and composer Barry Stoller (b1945).
Stoller was tasked with merely writing ‘one thing good’ and he set to work on what’s now one of the acquainted items of music written for tv. The actual fact it was truly written for the present is uncommon, given simply how a lot inventory/library music the BBC was utilizing on the time (themes like All Creatures Nice and Small and Mastermind employed current tracks for his or her theme tunes).
Utilizing a multi-track recorder in his North London basement, Stoller set about placing collectively – with a bit of assist from his pals – the theme, which options trumpet, bass guitar, lead and rhythm guitars, a clavioline keyboard and even banjo. The trumpet was the hook for Stoller, who imagined a gladiatorial fanfare for these doing battle on the pitch. The whole model contains a very unfamiliar center part; the opening and shutting being the tune viewers know and love.
The present has featured Stoller’s music ever since, although a brand new association was introduced in a couple of years in, inflicting uproad amongst followers who wrote to the BBC of their droves, pleading for Stoller’s authentic association to be introduced again. They listened. It was, and it stays although it has little doubt had a re-recording since then.
Stoller would proceed to work in manufacturing music, performing and recording tracks for library use. His work has featured in different reveals, together with ITV’s The Sweeney, however nothing he has written has come near the recognition and familiarity of Match of the Day.
