On the box

Thank heaven for BBC Four’s recent The Sound of TV series. I remembered nearly all of the early TV signature tunes well, though they only served to remind me of wartime and post-war wireless programmes and their equally memorable tunes. Might presenter Neil Brand be persuaded to make a follow up with ITMA, Much Binding, Paul Temple, In Town Tonight, Dick Barton etc? I would also like to know if my almost immediate love of Mahler did stem from an early Forsyte Saga serial as I suspect; I know that Elgar was used in a later adaptation but remember feeling, when I first listened to Mahler’s Fifth Symphony in concert, that I’d heard the Adagietto somewhere before… Frank Taylor, Northampton The editor replies:

While acknowledging the skill that goes into writing music for TV, there’s still a thrill to be had in hearing a familiar piece suddenly crop up midprogramme and being able to name it. Any suggestions of other good examples?