Articles
by MALCOLM O'NEILL
This period was considered by some to be a "swan-song" for trade tests on the ITV Network in certain regions, with scheduled commitments cutting into the time devoted to the test card, and the new periods of colour bars and colour slides. This was especially so from the autumn of 1972, when broadcasting hours were relaxed, and ITV took full advantage of this. It was also the era of declining standards and "worn-out" tapes. However, the choice of material used was excellent, and where else at that time, apart from Radio 3, could one be treated to such a varied choice of the finest classical music.
From the Spring of 1970, the following display sequence was used hourly for most transmitters (sound sequence in brackets), although there may well have been regional variations
:|
Colour Bars |
0.00 to 0.05 / 0.30 to 0.35 (tone) |
|
Test Card F |
0.05 to 0.15 / 0.20 to 0.30 / 0.35 to 0.45 / 0.50 to 0.00 (1 min silence, music) |
|
Colour Slides |
0.15 to 0.19 / 0.45 to 0.49 (music) |
|
Transmitter Ident |
0.19 to 0.20 / 0.49 to 0.50 (voice) |
However the sequences were different for Border and STV:
|
Colour Bars |
0.00 to 0.05 / 0.30 to 0.35 (tone) |
|
Test Card F |
0.05 to 0.25 / 0.35 to 0.55 (1 min silence, music) |
|
Colour Slides |
0.25 to 0.29 / 0.55 to 0.59 (music) |
|
Transmitter Ident |
0.29 to 0.30 / 0.59 to 0.00 (voice) |
Grampian was different again:
|
Colour Bars |
0.00 to 0.05 / 0.30 to 0.35 (tone) |
|
Transmitter Ident |
0.05 to 0.06 / 0.35 to 0.36 (voice) |
|
Colour Slides |
0.06 to 0.10 / 0.36 to 0.40 (music) |
|
Test Card F |
0.10 to 0.30 / 0.40 to 0.00 (music) |
Since Grampian's Transmitter identification took place during what would have otherwise been one minute's silence, Grampian viewers were treated to a little more music than Border or STV!
SELECT START DATE:
The schedule commencing on 4th May 1970 was virtually identical for both transmitter groups. Close analysis of the ITA printed sheets for this period appears to indicate that the only slight difference between the two is the selection of piano pieces used from the Cziffra Recital LP.
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GROUP A from LP |
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COMMENCING: 4th May 1970 |
AVIEMORE, ARFON, BALA, FFESTINIOG, FREMONT POINT, HUNTSHAW CROSS, LLANDOVERY, LLANDRINDOD WELLS, MOEL-Y-PARC, MOUNTEAGLE, PRESELY, RUMSTER FOREST, STOCKLAND HILL |
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|
Times |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
09.36 - 10.00 |
Famous Popular Overtures |
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sargent |
HMV |
XLP 20034 |
Side 2 Side 1 Band 1 |
|
10.06 - 10.30 |
SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 54 |
Hess / Philharmonia Orchestra / Schwarz |
HMV |
HQM 1014 |
Side 1 only |
|
10.36 - 11.00 |
Halle Favourites |
Halle Orchestra / Barbirolli |
HMV |
HQM 1122 |
Side 1 only |
|
11.06 - 11.30 |
A Cziffra Recital |
Cziffra |
HMV |
ALP 1803 |
Side 1 complete Side 2 Band 1 |
|
GROUP B from TAPE |
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|
COMMENCING: 4th May 1970 |
ABERGAVENNY, ANGUS, BATH, BELMONT, BLACK HILL, BLACK MOUNTAIN, BRECON, BURNHOPE, CALDBECK, CARADON HILL, CHILLERTON DOWN, CROYDON, CRYSTAL PALACE, DOVER, DURRIS, EMLEY MOOR, LETHANHILL, LICHFIELD, MEMBURY, MENDELSHAM, RICHMOND HILL, RIDGE HILL, ROSENEATH, ROTHESAY, ROWRIDGE, ST. HILARY, SANDY HEATH, SCARBOROUGH, SELKIRK, SHEFFIELD, STRABANE, SUTTON COLDFIELD, WALTHAM, WENVOE, WHITEHAVEN, WINTER HILL |
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|
Times |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
09.36 - 10.00 |
Famous Popular Overtures |
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sargent |
HMV |
XLP 20034 |
Side 2 Side 1 Band 1 |
|
10.06 - 10.30 |
SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 54 |
Hess / Philharmonia Orchestra / Schwarz |
HMV |
HQM 1014 |
Side 1 only |
|
10.36 - 11.00 |
Halle Favourites |
Halle Orchestra / Barbirolli |
HMV |
HQM 1122 |
Side 1 only |
|
11.06 - 11.30 |
A Cziffra Recital |
Cziffra |
HMV |
ALP 1803 |
Side 1 complete, omitting Band 3
Side 2 Bands 1,2 and 3 only |
Musical content between the two transmitter groups varied again slightly with the December 1970 schedule
:|
GROUP A from LP |
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|
COMMENCING: 21st December 1970 |
AVIEMORE, FREMONT POINT, HUNTSHAW CROSS, MOUNTEAGLE, RUMSTER FOREST, STOCKLAND HILL |
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|
Times |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
09.36 - 10.00 |
Gilbert and Sullivan Overtures |
Pro Arte Orchestra / Sargent |
HMV |
SXLP 20003 |
Side 1 Side 2 Band 1 This is the stereo version of the disc used in the Spring 1968 schedule. |
|
10.06 - 10.30 |
On the Beautiful Blue Danube |
New York Philharmonic Orchestra / Bernstein |
CBS |
61135 |
Side 1 Side 2 Band 1 |
|
10.36 - 11.00 |
Overture Spectacular |
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Groves |
COLUMBIA |
TWO 190 |
Side 1 Side 2 Band 1 |
|
11.06 - 11.30 |
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major, Op 73 ("Emperor") |
Barenboim / New Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
HMV |
ASD 2500 |
Side 1 Side 2 Band 1 |
The equivalent tape schedule, shown below, had a duration of approximately 1 hour 45 minutes before being repeated. Timings have, therefore, been excluded.
|
GROUP B from TAPE |
|||||
|
COMMENCING: 21st December 1970 |
ABERGAVENNY, ANGUS, ARFON, BALA, BATH, BELMONT, BLACK HILL, BLACK MOUNTAIN, BRECON, BURNHOPE, CALDBECK, CARADON HILL, CHILLERTON DOWN, CROYDON, CRYSTAL PALACE, DOVER, DURRIS, EMLEY MOOR, FFESTINIOG, LETHANHILL, LICHFIELD, LLANDOVERY, LLANDRINDOD WELLS, MEMBURY, MENDELSHAM, MOEL-Y-PARC, PRESELEY, RICHMOND HILL, RIDGE HILL, ROSENEATH, ROTHESAY, ROWRIDGE, ST. HILARY, SANDY HEATH, SCARBOROUGH, SELKIRK, SHEFFIELD, STRABANE, SUTTON COLDFIELD, WALTHAM, WENVOE, WHITEHAVEN, WINTER HILL |
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|
Times |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
Gilbert and Sullivan Overtures |
Pro Arte Orchestra / Sargent |
HMV |
SXLP 20003 |
Side 1 Side 2 Bands 1 & 2 This is the stereo version of the disc used in the Spring 1968 schedule. |
|
|
Viennese Prom Concert |
Halle Orchestra / Barbirolli |
COLUMBIA |
TWO 180 |
Only two bands were used: Radetzsky March and Perpetuum Mobile |
|
|
Overture Spectacular |
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Groves |
COLUMBIA |
TWO 190 |
Side 1 Side 2 Band 1 |
|
|
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major, Op 73 (Emperor) |
Barenboim / New Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
HMV |
ASD 2500 |
Side 1 Side 2 Band 1 |
|
In May 1971, the Group A LP schedule and Group B tape schedule were identical in musical content:
|
GROUP A from LP |
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COMMENCING: 24th May 1971 |
AVIEMORE, FREMONT POINT, HUNTSHAW CROSS, MOUNTEAGLE, RUMSTER FOREST, STOCKLAND HILL |
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GROUP B from TAPE |
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COMMENCING: 24th May 1971 |
ALL TRANSMITTERS EXCEPT THOSE LISTED IN GROUP A ABOVE |
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Times |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
09.36 - 10.00 |
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No 6 in F major, Op 68 (Pastoral) |
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Cluytens |
HMV |
ASD 433 |
Side 1 only |
|
10.06 - 10.30 |
MOZART: Symphony No 41 in C major, K551 (Jupiter) |
Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 2486 |
|
|
10.36 - 11.00 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No 5 in E minor, Op 64 |
Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 2497 |
Side 1 only |
|
11.06 - 11.30 |
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No 4 in G major, Op 58 |
Barenboim / New Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
HMV |
ASD 2550 |
|
The December 1971 schedule varied slightly between transmitter groups:
|
GROUP A from LP |
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COMMENCING: 6th December 1971 |
FREMONT POINT, MOUNTEAGLE, AVIEMORE, RUMSTER FOREST |
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Times |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
09.36 - 10.00 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake (extracts) |
Philharmonia Orchestra / Karajan |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 2306 |
Side 2 first |
|
10.06 - 10.30 |
MOZART: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K525 |
New Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 5252 |
|
|
HANDEL: Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op 6 No 4 |
Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 5252 |
|
|
|
10.36 - 11.00 |
BRAHMS; Piano Concerto No 2 in B flat major, Op 83 |
Barenboim / New Philharmonia Orchestra / Barbirolli |
HMV |
ASD 2413 |
Side 1 only |
|
11.06 - 11.30 |
MOZART: Symphony No 29 in A major, K201 |
New Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 5256 |
|
The Group B tape schedule below would have been recorded on two one-hour tapes.
During the 00 to 06 tone break the tape machine would have been left playing, but the output not transmitted.
|
GROUP B from TAPE |
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COMMENCING: 6th December 1971 |
ALL TRANSMITTERS EXCEPT THOSE IN THE ABOVE TABLE |
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|
Times |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
09.30 - 10.30 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake (extracts) |
Philharmonia Orchestra / Karajan |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 2306 |
Side 2 first |
|
MOZART: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K525 |
New Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 5252 |
|
|
|
10.30 - 11.30 |
BRAHMS; Piano Concerto No 2 in B flat major, Op 83 |
Barenboim / New Philharmonia Orchestra / Barbirolli |
HMV |
ASD 2413 |
Side 1 only |
|
MOZART: Symphony No 29 in A major, K201 |
New Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 5256 |
|
|
|
HANDEL: Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op 6 No 4 |
Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 5252 |
|
|
The final three schedules brought to an end so many wonderful years of music to remember long after its demise on daily transmission. Sadly, and especially in the final schedule from 1974, the sound quality was to deteriorate gradually, as ITV trade was quite forgotten about progressively over the next few years. By 1979, both the tape and Ferrograph machines, not to mention the test cards themselves, were so badly out of condition that the long summer strike was to see a final curtain once and for all.
The June 1972 schedule had more significant variations between transmitter groups:
|
GROUP A from LP |
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|
COMMENCING: 5th June 1972 |
MOUNTEAGLE, RUMSTER FOREST, AVIEMORE and FREMONT POINT |
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Times |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
09.36 - 10.00 |
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade, Op 35 |
USSR Symphony Orchestra / Svetlanov |
HMV MELODIYA |
ASD 2520 |
Side 1 Track 2 (consists of the first two movements of Scheherazade) |
|
10.06 - 10.30 |
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade, Op 35 (continued) |
USSR Symphony Orchestra / Svetlanov |
HMV MELODIYA |
ASD 2520 |
Side 2 Tracks 1 & 2 |
|
10.36 - 11.00 |
MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No 4 in A major, Op 90 (Italian) |
Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 2398 |
Side 1. Stereo version of the recording used in the Autumn 1963 schedule |
|
11.06 - 11.30 |
SCHUBERT: Symphony No 5 in B flat major, D485 |
Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 2514 |
Side 1 |
The equivalent tape schedule, shown below, had a duration of approximately 2 hours before being repeated. Again, it would have been recorded on two one-hour tapes, the switchover between them taking place during the tone break between 30 and 36 minutes past the hour. During the 00 to 06 tone break the tape machine would have been left playing, but the output not transmitted. The two tapes were of shorter duration from transmitters in Northern Ireland.
|
GROUP B from TAPE |
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|
COMMENCING: 5th June 1972 |
ALL TRANSMITTERS EXCEPT THOSE IN THE ABOVE TABLE |
||||
|
Times |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
09.30 - 10.30 |
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade, Op 35 |
USSR Symphony Orchestra / Svetlanov |
HMV MELODIYA |
ASD 2520 |
Side 1 Track 2 (consists of the first two movements of Scheherazade) |
|
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade, Op 35 (continued) |
USSR Symphony Orchestra / Svetlanov |
HMV MELODIYA |
ASD 2520 |
Side 2 Tracks 1 & 2 |
|
|
MOZART: Horn Concertos |
Civil / Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 2406 |
Side 1 (excluded from Northern Ireland transmitters) |
|
|
10.30 - 11.30 |
MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No 4 in A major, Op 90 (Italian) |
Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 2398 |
Side 1. Stereo version of the recording used in the Autumn 1963 schedule |
|
SCHUBERT: Symphony No 5 in B flat major, D485 |
Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 2514 |
Side 1 |
|
|
SCHUBERT: Symphony No 8 in B minor, D759, The Unfinished |
Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 2514 |
Side 2, part only (excluded from Northern Ireland transmitters) |
|
In January 1973, the schedule, featuring only two works, was reduced to one hour duration before being repeated. It is not clear which transmitters remained in Group A. In Group B, the two tape machines with automatic switchover were still used, the concerto being recorded on the first tape, the symphony on the second. The complete symphony would not have been used, but only sufficient to last up until the tone break.
|
GROUP A from LP |
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|
COMMENCING: 8th January 1973 |
? |
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|
GROUP B from TAPE |
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|
COMMENCING: 8th January 1973 |
MOST TRANSMITTERS |
||||
|
Times |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
09.36 - 10.00 |
MOZART: Piano Concerto No 27 in B flat major, K595 |
Barenboim / English Chamber Orchestra |
HMV |
ASD 2465 |
|
|
10.06 - 10.30 |
DVORAK: Symphony No 9 in E minor, Op 95 (From the New World) |
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Karajan |
COLUMBIA |
SAX 2275 |
Stereo version of the recording used in the Autumn 1969 schedule |
The final schedule below was used at all transmitters for all periods of trade, including 1975, when ITV cut costs by remaining "closed" during the summer months until lunchtime, as well as for the two national strikes later in the seventies. It is not thought that any more music was heard with test card transmissions on ITV after 1979. The operation of this schedule would have been similar to that described for its predecessor above.
|
GROUP A from LP |
|||||
|
COMMENCING: 21st October 1974 |
? |
||||
|
GROUP B from TAPE |
|||||
|
COMMENCING: 21st October 1974 |
MOST TRANSMITTERS |
||||
|
Times |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
09.36 - 10.00 |
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No 3 in C minor, Op 37 |
Barenboim / New Philharmonia Orchestra / Klemperer |
HMV |
ASD 2579 |
|
|
10.06 - 10.30 |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No 1 in B flat minor, Op 23 |
Ogdon / New Philharmonia Orchestra / Barbirolli |
HMV |
ASD 542 |
1st & 2nd movements only |
Revised: 05/09/05