Science and Health

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DD113144
Science and Health score

In 1964, Delia created a 57-second signature tune for a BBC radio series Science and Health,[1] "a succession of tumbling chords, descending with an elegance beyond almost anyone else."[2]

[In making Ziwzih Ziwzih OO-OO-OO] I used just this one bar repeated which had [previously] been rejected from a science and health program for being too lascivious for the schoolchildren. It was like a science program... it was supposed to be about sex, but under another name. And then the producer had the nerve to turn down my music, saying it was too lascivious. It was just twangy things with electronic pick-ups, and I just used a single note and then did little glissandos on it and pitched it and treated it.[3]

In a draft version of the script for the Reeling and Writhing play, scriptwriter Nicola McCartney has the following dialogue about the event:

DESMOND BRISCOE
The Producer of that education programme -- that Science and Health series --
he called me. He says they can't use the tapes you sent up. 

DELIA DERBYSHIRE 
He can't use them? 

DESMOND BRISCOE 
No... He says that the sound arrangement/ 

DELIA DERBYSHIRE 
/ Music. 

DESMOND BRISCOE 
Theme... 

DELIA DERBYSHIRE 
Music. 

DESMOND BRISCOE 
Is too lascivious for eleven year-olds. 

DELIA DERBYSHIRE 
Too "lascivious"? 

DESMOND BRISCOE 
... Yes. Can you believe it? I said, "For goodness sake, man,
it's a programme about sex education!" 

He laughs. She stops working and is very silent.

Lyrics

The following lyrics were planned by Delia, fitting the melody of the piece[4]

I wanna be loved by you
I'm gonna be true to only you
-or-
I'm gonna be true to you
I wanna be loved by only you

but the versions released on disc are purely instrumental.

Score

Here it is, typeset using Sibelius as PDF and MIDI files: Science and Health (score)

Papers

Availability

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Tape Library List's entry for TRW 6152.
  2. Robin Carmody in the article Wee also have sound-houses.
  3. Delia in the Surface interview.
  4. DD113144: Manuscript dated 15/7/64 with lyrics
  5. The Tape Library List's entry for TRW 6435.