BBC Radiophonic Workshop

The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, the sound special effects unit of the BBC was created in 1958 to create sound effects for radio. It was based in Maida Vale[?] in London.

The Radiophonic Workshop has been a major influence on electronic music in Britain and elsewhere. However, it has been criticised for its policy of not allowing musicians from outside the BBC to use its equipment in its early days, equipment which was some of the most advanced in the country at that time.

Notable Radiophonic Workshop events:

• In 1958 Daphne Oram at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop produced a novel synthesizer using her "Oramics" technique, driven by drawings on a 35mm film strip. This was used for a number of years at the BBC.
• Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire created one of the first electronic signature tunes for television with the theme music for Doctor Who. The show was renowned for its use of innovative music and special effects. Sample of the Doctor Who theme music: Drwhobbcrad.ogg.

Radiophonic Workshop people:

• Delia Derbyshire (May 5, 1937 - July 3, 2001), genius of electronic music
• Daphne Oram (December 31, 1925 - January 5, 2003), inventor of the "Oramics" synthesizer

this is a stub article -- the links below have lots of detailed information on this fascinating and innovative institution -- please write more original content for this article

External Links

• http://www.deliaderbyshire.org/
• Delia Derbyshire obituary (http://www.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,3604,518008,00.html)
• Daphne Oram article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2669735.stm)
• Radiophonic Workshop - An Engineering Perspective (http://www.glias.org.uk/glias/rws/pgs/a_toc.htm)
• http://www.mb21.co.uk/ether.net/radiophonics/history.shtml
• http://www.elektronik.co.uk/critq3-bbc2.htm
• http://www.elidor.freeserve.co.uk/radiophonic.htm
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/features/dick_mills_profile.shtml