The power of music, from over seventy years ago...

I can't recall the tune but I remember well sitting beside Mum and enjoying Listen with Mother.

Yes I remember it well. We used to call it "ding de ding" and my mother would be washing up , or in the winter the sound goes with the smell of baking, or the ironing being done. My sister and I used to sit listening to it. Such a long time ago

Just found it ! WOW, thankyou Loves Bach , brought back so many happy memories. Happy days , when me and my siblings felt safe , loved and secure - how fortunate we were!

Oh yes. I was once at a party with gentle classical music playing in the background. The music changed to the theme from Listen with Mother and half of the guests stopped, frozen in time for a few seconds.
We all laughed and carried on , aware of the moment that we had shared.

I looked for it; it is 'The Dolly Suite, Opus 56' by Berceuse. Hope I've spelled that correctly!

Oh for those happy, carefree childhood days again!

I found it on you tube thanks to lovesbach and it certainly brought back happy memories

Music is wonderful for evoking memories and classical music can be so soothing and therapeutic

I used to listen with my mother, while she did her ironing.
I'll have to see if I reconise the theme tune.

Recognise.

It’s one of the first pieces of music that I ever remember hearing that stuck with me all my life. It’s on every play list I’ve ever made up. Sitting on my mum’s knee while “Listen with Mother” was on.

We still have a vinyl album of Listen With Mother songs. My ds, now 49yo, listened to that album over and over again. Happy days! ❤️

I don't remember the theme tune but didn't the narrator always say "are you sitting comfortably, then I'll begin"?

Lovely, calming music. I can't remember much about the programme apart from one story about a pink iced cake and a male announcer who used to say something about mothers and children at home. Did they sing nursery rhymes or have I mis-remembered that?

flappergirl

I don't remember the theme tune but didn't the narrator always say "are you sitting comfortably, then I'll begin"?

Yes, I’m sure it started like this. I listened with my mother.

Here it is.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sq6il4pQqwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sq6il4pQqw

It’s the Berceuse (lullaby) by Faure, a nineteenth century French composer, and is the first piece in his Dolly Suite, which was originally written for piano duet, but has been transcribed for piano solo and many other instruments. I have long maintained that it was the first piece of classical music that people from our generation ever heard. I can well remember that Watch with Mother on the television was first, then it was Listen with Mother on the radio. I have vivid memories of sitting by the piano while the radio was on and my mother ironing nearby. It was a delightful programme, with a nursery rhyme or other song suitable for very young children that we could join in with, a story, with the immortal words: “Are you sitting comfortably? Well then I’ll begin.” Finally another song followed by the Berceuse. Whenever I hear or play that piece, I get a fuzzy, warm safe feeling, as if I am four years old again. I think that everyone who listened to this lovely programme as a small child probably has those same feelings.

Calendargirl

Oh for those happy, carefree childhood days again!

Yes!

One of my favourite musicians is Irving Berlin the music and the lyrics take me right back to watching the old movies with mum and dad. Such wonderful music the songs are unforgettable and beautifully written unlike some of the so called songs of today. I never had a natural ability to play a musical instrument or a singing voice but I certainly appreciate good music.

petra

Here it is.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sq6il4pQqwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sq6il4pQqw

Thank you.
That's a lovely YouTube channel too, by the looks of it.

Full of old theme tunes and things.

Here's another one 'By the Sleepy Lagoon':
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNac1AXQFps
You will all know it!

In fact there is a whole genre of music from that era called British Light Music which was played a lot on the radio and used for the theme tunes to lots of TV programmes. I have this CD and love to play it when I want cheering up. It takes me straight back to the 1950s!
The Great British Experience
So many golden oldies!

Those were the days, hey ? I grew up in London in the 50 s and 60 s and things seemed a lot more friendly and innocent then. All the neighbours knew each other and not many had cars so we used to meet all the time on the way to the shops.

Ah yes, a piece of piano music called The Dolly Suite - that's all I know about it but it's packed with emotion and pretty well sums up my 1950's childhood.
I've tacked it onto my Spotify account, playing it so many times I'm going to wear it out......

Yes Chestnut I discovered the Light British Music in a local library about twenty years ago, they lent CDs out. So many were familiar from the kitchen radio and Tv shows of my childhood.
DR Finlay’s Casebook was one of many.
I seek them out on YouTube now …brilliant invention!