From 8th July 1968 (maybe up to the 15th September)^[1], Delia created two potential signature tunes^[2] for a weekly Radio 4^[3] BBC programme The Living World with programme code TRW 6886^[4] produced by Robina Gyle-Thompson^[5] of the Natural History Unit, Bristol and created by zoologist John Sparks.^[6]

Both signature tunes seem to have been rejected by John Sparks^[7]^[8] who used a jazz theme instead,^[3] leaving Delia hoping that her music might be used in the New Year.^[3]

Makeup tapes

The producer at the Natural History Unit, Bristol provided a tape of sound effects, a Mr Ball lent a tape of Eastern Nigerian sound effects for it^[3] and Delia also used a tape of library material.^[9]

The three source tapes are referred to by Delia as "her tape", "Br's tape"^[10] and "Real Nature tape from disk".^[11]

Papers

Her papers include a folder containing her notes for it and some letters about it.

DD081157 Letter from RGT to Delia dated 22nd August 1968 "I'll be expecting to hear from John Sparks"
DD081013 Delia's notes dated 15 Sep "work begins 8th July"
DD081333 Delia's notes dated 30.10.68 "ROUGH MIX / NAKED SUN TAPE"
DD080940 Letter to Delia dated 5th November 1968
DD081347 Rough of letter from Delia to Mr Ball "I am returning the tape of Eastern Nigerian sound effects"
DD081049 Delia's notes and diagrams "beautiful curlew 9s"
DD081401 Delia's notes "Try [having?] wind OR Cuc before"
DD081417 Delia's list of tape labels "LIBRARY TAPE"
DD081430 Delia's list of animal sound effects "Real Nature tape from disk"
DD081444 Delia's notes for makeup sounds "Elec."
DD081456 Delia's notes "her tape / Br's tape / lib."
DD081511 Delia's diagrams "flutey cicadas"