Barnacle Bill; Does Sheet Music Exist?

[TehRazorBack]

Hello everyone,

I am looking at arranging a song from my childhood; the old Blue Peter theme song (also known as Barnacle Bill, it seems). As well as being a maritime signal flag, Blue Peter is a children's TV show in the UK that has been running since 1958. It has a tune that shares some similarities with the Sailor's Hornpipe.

Here is a link I am using to help me arrange the song:

The song starts with an intro of Sailor's Hornpipe, and then waterfalls the notes down until it starts a different, albeit similar tune.

I am wondering, before I start trying to arrange this tune, does anyone recognise this tune and does any sheet music exist for this already? I had a quick search of the forums here for "Blue Peter" and "Barnacle Bill", but to no avail. Perhaps it is known under a different name?

If not, I shall endeavour to arrange it and share it once I'm done.

Martin

[Roger Hare]

 

5 hours ago, TehRazorBack said:

...I am wondering, before I start trying to arrange this tune, does anyone recognise this tune and does any sheet music exist for this already? I had a quick search of the forums here for "Blue Peter" and "Barnacle Bill", but to no avail. Perhaps it is known under a different name?

Here is the ABC:

X:589
T:Barnacle Bill
%A lightly edited tune from Richard Robinson's tune book: http://richardrobinson.tunebook.org.uk
T:Blue Peter theme tune
C:Ashworth-Hope
Z:Steve Mansfield June 2001 rev. 05/10/2003
N:Posted to uk.music.folk 05/10/2003
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=130
R:Hornpipe
K:Gmaj
|: DE | G2 G2 GABc | d2 d2 d2 ef | gage dedB | AGEG A2 DE |
|1 G2 G2 GABc | d2 d2 d2 ge | fafd egec | d2 d2 d2 :|
|2 GAGe edBd | dBAB G2 e2 | dedB GABc | d2 f2 g2 |]
|: ga | g2 d2 cBAG | d2 d2 d2 ga | g2 d2 cBAG | c2 e2 d2 ga | 
g2 d2 cBAG | d2 d2 d2 ge | f2 a2 g2 b2 | a2 e2 fe d2 :|
g2 d2 cBAG | d2 d2 d2 ga | g2 d2 cBAG | c2 e2 d2 d2 | 
g2 d2 a2 d2 | bc'ba g2 e2 | dedB GABc | d2 B2 G2 ||

I have attached a PDF.

 

I must say that when I play that ABC back, it doesn't sound much like my memory of the 

'Blue Peter' theme tune...

 

Which reminds me...

 

I've been meaning to ask for ages! Anyone have an ABC transcription of the old BBC Radio 4 Theme? That would be nice!

 

Barnacle Bill.pdf

Edited May 6, 2022 by lachenal74693