Monday, September 24, 2018

Music Monday's Ups and Downs


We are currently making our way through sets of DVDs of that old British TV series from the early 1970s, Upstairs Downstairs. It's a far better series, in my opinion, than the much-lauded Downton Abbey - a series that might never have existed without inspiration from its predecessor.

For Music Monday, do take a listen to the pleasant theme music from the show. It was composed by Alexander Faris, who died some three years ago, aged 94. An obituary piece from The Independent is HERE.

The rather courtly, early part of the theme reflects the times depicted in Upstairs Downstairs - London, around the turn of 19th/20th centuries. At 1 minute 36 seconds in, there's a change of rhythm and a more jaunty, cheeky theme develops - an echo of the song, "What are we going to do with Uncle Arthur?"
sung in the show by "Sarah", played with much verve by Pauline Collins.




Clips of the song:


at

2 comments:

  1. WisewebwomanSeptember 24, 2018 9:41 AM

    I agree with you. Downtown Abbey was plagiarism. Another one I really enjoyed was the Duchess of Duke Street, do you remember that one?

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  2. TwilightSeptember 24, 2018 10:30 AM

    Wisewebwoman ~ Oh yes! We bought a set of "Duchess of Duke Street" DVDs in a flea market a while ago. We enjoyed the series very much. The period around turn of the century is a favourite of mine for novels and dramas. After watching "The Forsyte Saga" (old version and re-make) I read the whole series of John Galsworthy's novels upon which the TV series were based. Loved 'em all!

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