BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra facts for kids

The BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra (SRO) was a special music group based in Glasgow, Scotland. It was part of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). This orchestra played "light music" for radio and TV shows. It performed from 1940 until it was disbanded in 1981.

The Orchestra's Story

How It Started

The orchestra began in 1940. It was first called the Scottish Variety Orchestra. At first, it was a group of musicians who worked on a freelance basis. This means they were hired for specific jobs, not as full-time staff. Ronnie Munro, a conductor and arranger, led the group. They worked from the BBC Studios in Glasgow.

The orchestra played a mix of music. It had brass, woodwind, saxophones, strings, and a rhythm section. This setup allowed them to play both light music and dance music. They often played for variety shows on the BBC National Programme and the Scottish Home Service. You could also hear them on popular radio shows like 'Music While You Work' and 'Sunday Serenade'.

Becoming a Staff Orchestra

After World War II, the orchestra became a full-time, salaried group. Its name changed to the BBC Scottish Variety Orchestra. Kemlo Stephen became the new conductor. Later, Jack Leon took over. Under their leadership, the orchestra focused more on light music. They still played for popular singers and performed Scottish Dance music. Archie Duncan, the orchestra's accordion player, was often featured.

The orchestra played on many BBC radio shows. These included "Bright and Early," "Morning Music," and "Lunch Date." They also performed "Music On the Move," which featured Scottish Dance Music.

New Name and New Leader

In 1966, Iain Sutherland became the conductor. The orchestra continued its weekly broadcasts on 'Music While You Work'. They also played for television shows. They accompanied famous singers like Moira Anderson.

In 1965, other BBC orchestras in London merged. So, in January 1967, Sutherland suggested a new name. The group became the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra.

Different Orchestra Sizes

In 1972, the BBC changed how its light orchestras worked. The Scottish Radio Orchestra was given a new structure. It was designed to be flexible. The full orchestra had 32 musicians. It could play like a big band with strings. This style was similar to famous American orchestras.

The full group was called the B1 Orchestra. It included saxophones, trumpets, trombones, piano, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, and strings. Many musicians could play more than one instrument. Sometimes, players from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra joined them for special shows.

The B2 Orchestra was a smaller version. It featured the string and rhythm sections. The C1 Orchestra had 16 players. This was the big band part of the orchestra. It was sometimes called the Radio Scotland Big Band. This smaller group played a lot of jazz and swing music.

Under the direction of composer Brian Fahey, the orchestra also did a lot of television work. They played for singers like Kenneth McKellar, Shirley Bassey, and Lulu. They even had their own TV show called Make Way for Music. The orchestra also recorded music for shows on Radio 2 and Radio Scotland. They worked with artists such as Cleo Laine and Georgie Fame.

The End of the Orchestra

By the 1980s, more and more radio time was given to pop music. This meant less time for staff orchestras like the SRO. The BBC felt these orchestras were becoming too expensive for how much they were used.

In 1980, the BBC announced plans to close several orchestras. The Scottish Radio Orchestra was not on this list at first. However, there was a musicians' strike. This strike caused problems for many concerts. To end the strike, a deal was made. This deal saved the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. But, sadly, it meant the Scottish Radio Orchestra would be closed instead.

The BBC promised to give the SRO musicians work for five more years. The BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra officially disbanded in early 1981. One of their last big performances was with Ella Fitzgerald in Edinburgh. The musicians continued to play together for the BBC as a freelance group until 1986.

See also

• List of radio orchestras