Here’s an illuminating interview with composer David Lowe, in which he explains – with brilliant visual examples – the process behind the creation of an iconic TV theme song. David has composed the theme tunes to many popular British TV shows including The One Show and Grand Designs. Here, David reveals how he put together the theme song for another huge British show: the BBC’s Countryfile.
Using visuals from his composing software, Lowe gives us a brief but illuminating exposé of the process he went through to create an uplifting theme song to celebrate the beauty of the British countryside.
'A sense of soaring through the countryside'
Lowe discusses how, when he wrote the original Countryfile theme song in 2007, he wanted to go a sense of 'flying and soaring free' through the countryside. Then, when the show moved to a more popular Sunday evening slot, he decided to give the theme more of a gentle tone by adding in staccato strings, oboes, and plucked strings from both double bass and cello.
Next up, a 2022 addition of French horns gave the melody a 'wider, more cinematic feel'. Near the end, harp, guitar and cymbals evoke the sense of a climax or conclusion or, as Lowe puts it, 'that feeling you get when you've reached the top of a hill and you admire the view'.
Ingenious stuff - brilliant to see the various musical building blocks involved in constructing one of TV's best loved and memorable theme tunes.
Who is David Lowe?
A composer and producer, Lowe has produced an impressive back catalogue of music for TV, radio, adverts and idents.
Perhaps his best known composition is the current BBC News theme, which he composed in 1999. It ingeniously combined the 'pips' that are heard on the hour on BBC Radio stations, with a selection of electronic sounds that added tension and drama. He explains the fascinating process behind composing this iconic tune below.
More recently, Lower created the theme song for the BBC's coverage of the 2019 UK general election. This time, he remixed a version of 'Arthur' from Rick Wakeman's rock concept album The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
He's also worked on the music for a host of iconic British television programmes. Alongside The One Show, Grand Designs and Countryfile, he's provided the theme song for Panorama, as well as Cash in the Attic, The Really Wild Show, Fifth Gear and many more.
You can follow all things Countryfile at www.countryfile.com