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A bit of vibraphone nostalgia A bit of vibraphone nostalgia
(about 1 hour later)
With glitter and lentils a lot could be achievedThe late Tony Hart gave a generation of children enthusiasm for homemade art, but he also helped popularise a tune now used to tap into our sense of nostalgia.With glitter and lentils a lot could be achievedThe late Tony Hart gave a generation of children enthusiasm for homemade art, but he also helped popularise a tune now used to tap into our sense of nostalgia.
Anyone who was a child in the 1970s will remember hearing Left Bank Two, although probably not the name.Anyone who was a child in the 1970s will remember hearing Left Bank Two, although probably not the name.
Hearing it should conjure up images of blurred chalk-drawn sailing boats and landscapes rendered in leguminous media - all the magic of The Gallery on Vision On, on which Tony Hart, who died at the weekend, became a children's TV star.Hearing it should conjure up images of blurred chalk-drawn sailing boats and landscapes rendered in leguminous media - all the magic of The Gallery on Vision On, on which Tony Hart, who died at the weekend, became a children's TV star.
A vibraphone tootles away while a brushed drum and a strummed acoustic guitar meander around in the background.A vibraphone tootles away while a brushed drum and a strummed acoustic guitar meander around in the background.
By comparison with Left Bank Two the average piece of shopping centre or elevator music sounds like thrash metal. As a piece of music it ambled along in sympathy with the cut-up card creations and intricate stencil work that flashed up in The Gallery, which also became a fixture of Hart's subsequent venture, Take Hart.By comparison with Left Bank Two the average piece of shopping centre or elevator music sounds like thrash metal. As a piece of music it ambled along in sympathy with the cut-up card creations and intricate stencil work that flashed up in The Gallery, which also became a fixture of Hart's subsequent venture, Take Hart.
The piece was written and published in 1963, the work of a "Wayne Hill", also responsible for the award-winning theme to the 1960s TV series The Power Game.The piece was written and published in 1963, the work of a "Wayne Hill", also responsible for the award-winning theme to the 1960s TV series The Power Game.
It was recorded by anonymous session musicians in the Netherlands as library material for the British film and television music company De Wolfe. The session musicians were dubbed the Noveltones.It was recorded by anonymous session musicians in the Netherlands as library material for the British film and television music company De Wolfe. The session musicians were dubbed the Noveltones.
"They were just given names to give it some authenticity," says Frank Barretta, senior music consultant at De Wolfe."They were just given names to give it some authenticity," says Frank Barretta, senior music consultant at De Wolfe.
The track would have been sent to the BBC on a promotional record, and having been chosen for a programme De Wolfe would then supply a broadcast version on magnetic tape. There quite a move now towards folk music, going back to real instruments - some of our kids stuff has got an organic feel to it Frank BarrettaDe WolfeThe track would have been sent to the BBC on a promotional record, and having been chosen for a programme De Wolfe would then supply a broadcast version on magnetic tape. There quite a move now towards folk music, going back to real instruments - some of our kids stuff has got an organic feel to it Frank BarrettaDe Wolfe
But for it's appearance in Vision On, the music would have disappeared into relative obscurity, used occasionally but with no significance for the listener. But for its appearance in Vision On, the music would have disappeared into relative obscurity, used occasionally but with no significance for the listener.
De Wolfe also supplied two other pieces of gallery music for Vision On, Merry Ocarina, by Pierre Arvay, and Accroche-toi Caroline, by Claude Vasori.De Wolfe also supplied two other pieces of gallery music for Vision On, Merry Ocarina, by Pierre Arvay, and Accroche-toi Caroline, by Claude Vasori.
And being cheap and accessible library music with an emotional appeal, Left Bank Two has been used many times over the years, particularly on adverts.And being cheap and accessible library music with an emotional appeal, Left Bank Two has been used many times over the years, particularly on adverts.
"It's a natural reference to something with pictures or paintings. There is a certain demographic who would recognise it. It has been used on campaigns for cars, directly aimed at people of a certain age.""It's a natural reference to something with pictures or paintings. There is a certain demographic who would recognise it. It has been used on campaigns for cars, directly aimed at people of a certain age."
Distinctive piecesDistinctive pieces
An advert of a couple of years back for a company called Picture Loans used Left Bank Two. A woman is negotiating a £25,000 loan while her husband hovers and her son searches for his lost scooter. The tootlings of the song provide a subliminal link with the "picture" of the firm's title.An advert of a couple of years back for a company called Picture Loans used Left Bank Two. A woman is negotiating a £25,000 loan while her husband hovers and her son searches for his lost scooter. The tootlings of the song provide a subliminal link with the "picture" of the firm's title.
Volkswagen is among the other firms to use the piece.Volkswagen is among the other firms to use the piece.
Of course Left Bank Two was not the only distinctive piece to run over The Gallery section of Hart's programmes.Of course Left Bank Two was not the only distinctive piece to run over The Gallery section of Hart's programmes.
Vision On also used the syrupy guitars of Cavatina, and the slightly odd Gurney Slade theme. Later shows used Water Buffalo and Marguerite.Vision On also used the syrupy guitars of Cavatina, and the slightly odd Gurney Slade theme. Later shows used Water Buffalo and Marguerite.
And of course if a children's show theme was picked today it would sound very different - altogether less easy listening for starters.And of course if a children's show theme was picked today it would sound very different - altogether less easy listening for starters.
"There is quite a move now towards folk music, going back to real instruments - some of our kids stuff has got an organic feel to it.""There is quite a move now towards folk music, going back to real instruments - some of our kids stuff has got an organic feel to it."


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