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interval signal

{{Short description|Characteristic sound used in broadcasting}}

{{Expand German|Pausenzeichen|date=January 2022}}

File:BBBC.PNG

File:RAVAG-Pausenzeichen.ogg interval signal, clock ticking 270/min (9 in 2 sec)]]

An interval signal, or tuning signal, is a characteristic sound or musical phrase used in international broadcasting, numbers stations, and by some domestic broadcasters, played before commencement or during breaks in transmission, but most commonly between programs in different languages.

It serves several purposes:

  • It helps a listener using a radio with an analog tuner to find the correct frequency.
  • It informs other stations that the frequency is in use.
  • It serves as a station identifier even if the language used in the subsequent broadcast is not one the listener understands.

The practice began in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s and was carried over into shortwave broadcasts. The use of interval signals has declined with the advent of digital tuning systems, but has not vanished. Interval signals were not required on commercial channels in the United States, where jingles were used as identification.

List of interval signals by station

  • {{flagicon|Belarus}} Radio Belarus: "Motherland, my dear" (Belarusian: {{lang|be|Радзіма, мая дарагая}}, Russian: {{lang|ru|Родина моя дорогая}}) by {{ill|Vladimir Olovnikov|ru|Оловников, Владимир Владимирович|be|Уладзімір Уладзіміравіч Алоўнікаў}} and Ales Bachyla.

{{clear}}

  • {{flagu|China}}:

:* China National Radio and China Radio International: Chime version of March of the Volunteers ({{lang|zh|义勇军进行曲}}).

{{thumb|content=\relative c' {\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"tubular bells" \key g \major g'4. b8 d4 d e2 d}|caption=Interval signal for China National Radio and China Radio International|align=center}}

:* Voice of the Strait News Radio: Bell version of "Three Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention" ({{lang|zh|三大纪律八项注意}}).

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"celesta" \key a \major \time 4/4 b'2. cis4 e2 e2 | cis4. e8 cis4 a'4 b'2 s}|caption=Interval signal for Voice of the Strait|align=center}}

  • {{flagicon|Cuba}} Radio Habana Cuba: Melody of "March of the 26th of July" ({{lang|es|La Marcha del 26 de Julio}}) by Agustín Díaz Cartaya.
  • {{flagicon|Denmark}} DR P1: "Drømte mig en drøm i nat", played on xylophone.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/lpDQYdoIQ0w Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190403021959/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpDQYdoIQ0w Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpDQYdoIQ0w |title=Pausesignal |last=stephensen |date=2009-10-19 |via=YouTube |access-date=2020-04-02}}{{cbignore}}

{{thumb|content=\relative c'{\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"electric piano 2" \once \hide Score.MetronomeMark \tempo 4 = 85 \time 3/4 f2 a4 g2 a4 f2 e4 d2 f4 a2 a4 a2 e4 d2.}|caption=Interval signal for DR P1|align=center}}

{{thumb|content={ \once \hide Score.MetronomeMark \tempo 4 = 72 \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"harpsichord" \partial 4

<< \relative c'' { g'4 g4. e8 g f d g a8. g16 g2 \fermata \bar "|."

} \\ \relative c'' {\partial 4

r4 << c2 e2 >> <> << c'2. e2. \fermata >> \bar "|."

} >> }|caption=Interval signal for Deutsche Welle|align=center}}

  • {{flagicon|Greece}} Voice of Greece: "The Little Shepherd" ({{lang|el|Ο Τσομπανάκος}}), played on floghera.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Q_jNvmGDqwk Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150628013752/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_jNvmGDqwk Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_jNvmGDqwk| title = Ο τσομπανάκος σήμα ΕΡΤ) | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
  • {{flagicon|India}} All India Radio: A tune composed by Walter Kaufmann or Thakur Balwant Singh, used since 1936.[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/catalyst/tuning-into-broadcast-history/article7765864.ece Tuning into broadcast history]. The Hindu BusinessLine, 15 October 2015.

{{thumb|content=\relative c''{\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"flute" c'16 b c4. b8 a f4 f8 b a f e4 e16 f a f e2 s}|caption=Interval signal for All India Radio|align=center}}

  • {{flagicon|Ireland}} RTÉ Radio 1: Chime version of "O'Donnell Forever" ({{lang|ga|O'Donnell Abú}}).{{Cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/681-history-of-rte/683-rte-1930s/290086-odonnell-abu-becomes-2rn-station-identification-signal-1936/|title='O'Donnell Abú'|website=RTÉ.ie}}
  • {{flagicon|Japan}} Radio Japan:

:* "Kazoe-uta" ({{lang|ja|数え歌}}, counting-out game).

:* "Sakura Sakura" ({{lang|ja|さくらさくら}}, cherry blossoms).

{{thumb|content=\relative c' {\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"celesta" \key a \major \time 2/4 a'8^\markup { Kazoe-uta } a cis a cis4 d8 cis fis fis d d cis4 a8 cis d d cis a gis2}


\relative c' {\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"orchestral harp" \once \hide Score.MetronomeMark \tempo 4 = 120 \key f \major d'4^\markup { Sakura Sakura } d e2 d4 d e2 d4 (e) f (e) d (e8 d) bes2}

|caption=Interval signals for Radio Japan|align=center}}

  • {{flagicon|Nepal}} Radio Nepal: A tune composed by Ustad Govinda Lal Nepali.
  • {{flagu|North Korea}}

:* Voice of Korea: Melody of "Song of General Kim Il-sung" ({{lang|ko|김일성장군의 노래}}).

:* {{ill|Pyongyang FM|ko|평양FM방송}}: Melody of "Song of General Kim Jong-il" ({{lang|ko|김정일장군의 노래}}).

  • {{flagicon|South Korea}} KBS World Radio: "Dawn".
  • {{flagicon|Luxembourg}} RTL Radio: "De Feierwon" by Michel Lentz, played on chimes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.radioforen.de/index.php?threads/pausenzeichen-und-ihre-musikalischen-quellen.21902/page-3|title = Pausenzeichen und ihre musikalischen Quellen| date=8 October 2007 }}
  • {{flagicon|Mongolia}} Voice of Mongolia: "Motherland" ({{lang|mn|Эх орон}}).{{Citation needed|date=May 2016}}

{{thumb|content=\relative c' {\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"celesta" g'4 e' e8. d16 c4 d8. e16 c4 g2}|caption=Interval signal for Voice of Mongolia|align=center}}

{{thumb|content=\relative c' {\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"flute" e1 a gis8 a b a \times 2/3 {gis a b} d4 e2 a2}|caption=Interval signal for Radio Pakistan|align=center}}

  • {{flagu|Philippines}}:

:* Far East Broadcasting Company: "We Have Heard the Joyful Sound".

:* Radio Veritas Asia: "O via, vita, veritas".

:* Radio Mayak: Vibraphone version of Moscow Nights.

:* Radio Sakha: Excerpt from a Yakut folk song.

  • {{flagicon|Slovenia}} Radio Slovenia: Electronically generated cuckoo chirping.
  • {{flagicon|Ukraine}} Radio Ukraine International: "{{ill|Roar and groan, vast Dnieper|uk|Реве та стогне Дніпр широкий|fr|Rèvè ta stog'nè Dnipr chyrokyï}}" ({{lang|uk|Реве та стогне Дніпр широкий}}).
  • {{flagicon|UK}} BBC World Service:

:* English programme: "Bow Bells".

:* Non-English programme, non-Europe: "Lillibullero", three notes tuned B–B–C.

:* Non-English programme, to Europe: four notes tuned B–B–B–E.

{{thumb|content= \relative c { \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f b^\markup { B–B–C } b c }
\relative c { \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f b^\markup { B–B–B–E } b b e } |caption=Interval signals for BBC World Service|align=center}}

  • {{flagu|United States}}:

:* NBC: 3 chime-like notes.

{{thumb|content= \relative c' { \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f g'2 e'2 c1 } |caption=Interval signal for NBC|align=center}}

:* Trans World Radio: "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".

:* Voice of America: Brass band version of "Yankee Doodle".

File:Voa english signing on with yankee doodle.ogg

{{Clear}}

:* WEWN, later EWTN Global Radio: "Salve Regina"

{{thumb|content={#(set-global-staff-size 18) \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"celesta" \key f \major >2 > c> c> > > > > > > > >4 ~ > >2 ~ >4. >8 1}|caption=Interval signal for Vatican Radio|align=center}}

= Formerly used =

  • {{flagicon|Albania}} Radio Tirana: Këputa një gjethe dafine (transmission intro) and the trumpet version of With Pickaxe and Rifle.

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"trombone" \key g \minor \time 2/4 \skip4 \skip8. d16 d4 d8. es16 d4 c8. a'16 bes'2 g'2}|caption=Radio Tirana|align=center}}

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"brass section" \key g \minor \time 3/4 bes d' f' <<{2.} {\skip2 f>4}>> <<{2.} { f>4 \skip4 >4}>> <<{2.} {>4} \skip2>> }|caption=Radio Österreich International|align=center}}

  • {{flagicon|Austria}} Ö1: Three notes signifying O–R–F by Werner Pirchner, played on viola.{{Cite book |last=Treiber|first=Alfred|title=Ö1 gehört gehört : die kommentierte Erfolgsgeschichte eines Radiosenders |publisher=Böhlau |year=2007 |isbn=978-3-205-77495-2 |location=Vienna|page=218|language=de|oclc=127107294}}

{{thumb|content=\relative c'{\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"viola" c g' c}|caption=Interval signal for Ö1|align=center}}

{{thumb|content=\relative c''{\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"orchestral harp" \once \hide Score.MetronomeMark \tempo 2 = 120 \key g \major b2 d4. d8 g,2. \skip4}|caption=Radio Canada International|align=center}}

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"celesta" \key c \major \time 4/4 g'2 g'4 a'4 d'1 c'2 c'4 a4 d'1}|caption=Radio Peking|align=center}}

:* Trumpet version of Kupředu levá ("Forward, Left") by Jan Seidl

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"trumpet" a'8 r16 d16 d8 r8 e8 d4. b'8 r16 d16 d8 r8 e8 d4.}|caption=Radio Prague|align=center}}

:* Adagio – Allegro molto from Symphony No. 9 by Dvořák.

  • {{flagicon|Finland}} Yle Radio 1: Pim-pam-pulla by A. O. Väisänen.{{Cite web|url=http://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2008/07/04/radion-valiaikamerkki|title=Radion väliaikamerkki|website=yle.fi|date=4 July 2008 }}

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"celesta" \key f \major f' f>2 bes'4 a'4 g'2 c bes'4 a'4 g'2 r2 1}|caption=Radio Finland (Yle)|align=center}}

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"trumpet" \key f \major \time 2/4 \skip8 f'8 a'8 bes'8 c4 d4 c8 bes'8 a'8 c8 bes'4 a'8( g'8) f'8 \skip8 \skip4}|caption=Radio France Internationale|align=center}}

{{thumb|content={\key g \major d8 e fis4 d gis fis \skip2.}|caption=Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk|align=center}}

  • {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} {{ill|Reichssender Berlin|de|Funk-Stunde Berlin}}: Ending bars of Volk ans Gewehr, played on glockenspiel.

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"glockenspiel" \key d \minor \time 4/4 f2 a'4. d8 c1 a'2 4. a'8 a' f'>1}|caption=Reichssender Berlin|align=center}}

  • {{flagu|East Germany}}

:* Berliner Rundfunk: Motif from the opera Regina by Albert Lortzing, played by trumpets.

:* Radio Berlin International: Beginning of Auferstanden aus Ruinen ("Risen from Ruins"), played on chimes.

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"electric piano 1" \key f \major \time 2/4 4 }|caption=Radio Berlin International|align=center}}

:* Radio DDR: First few bars of Wann wir schreiten Seit’ an Seit’.

:* Radio NTS

::: File:Radio NTS 1972.ogg]]

{{Clear}}

:* {{ill|DFS 904|de|Deutscher Freiheitssender 904}}: "Ode to Joy"

::: File:Deutscher Freiheitssender 904.ogg

{{Clear}}

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"celesta" \time 4/4 \skip2. d4 g>4 g>4 ' b>4 g>4 a>4 r4 fis''>4 \skip4}|caption=Deutschlandfunk|align=center}}

  • {{flagicon|Hungary}} Radio Budapest: Excerpts from the suite 1848 by T.K. Polgar played on three trumpets and two cornets.

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"french horn" e2-- a8 e8 d8. fis16 e1-- e4-_ e8-. e8-. a8 e8 d8. fis16 e1}|caption=Radio Budapest|align=center}}

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"muted trumpet" d' >4 >4>4 <<{a'2} {c8 d8 c8 bes'8}>> <<{a'1} {\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"timpani" \clef bass d,8 a,, d, a,, d,4}>>}|caption=Kol Yisrael|align=center}}

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"electric piano 1" \key f \major c'2 f'4. g'8 a'2 bes'4. a'8 g'2 a'4. g'8 f'2 c'4. r8 c2 c4. c8 c2. r8 f'8 g'4. a'8 bes'4. a'8 g'2 r2}|caption=Trans World Radio|align=center}}

  • {{flagu|Netherlands}}

:* NPO: First seven notes of Wilhelmus, played on clarinet (Radio 1 and Radio 5), synthesizer (Radio 3), spinet (Radio 4) and flute (Radio 2).:nl:Pauzeteken{{Better source needed|date=November 2015|reason=WP:CIRCULAR}}

:* Radio Netherlands: Carillon version of the Eighty Years' War song Merck toch hoe sterck.

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"tubular bells" \key g \major e'4 dis'8 e'8 fis'4 e'8 fis'8 g'4 fis'8 e'8 fis'4 \skip4}|caption=Radio Netherlands|align=center}}

  • {{flagu|Norway}}

:* NRK P1: Motif from Sigurd Jorsalfar by Edvard Grieg.http://www.ontheshortwaves.com/Articles/The_Interval_Signal.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}

:* Radio Norway International ({{ill|Utenlandssendingen|no}} {{inlang|no}}, former international service of NRK): Symphony No. 1, Op. 26: Innover viddene. 1938, 51 by Eivind Groven

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"xylophone" \time 3/4 \skip2 \skip8 bes'8 bes'16 bes'16 d16 f16 es16 d16 es8 ~ es8 es8 d16 bes'8. c16 as'8. bes'4 ~ bes'2 r8 bes'8 bes'16 bes'16 d16 f16 es4. des8 ces8 bes'16 as'16 ges'4. ges'8 as'8 bes'16 des16 ces8 bes'4 as'8 ges'16 f'16 ges'16 f'16 es'16 f'16 ges'8 ~ ges'8 as'8 ges'16 f'16 ges'16 f'16 es'16 f'16 ges'8 ~ ges'8 f'8 es'8 des'8 es'2 bes2 \skip4}|caption=Radio Norway International (NRK)|align=center}}

  • {{flagu|Poland}}

:* Radio Katowice: Sound of a hammer striking an anvil.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2QQ6FH-ORM|title=- YouTube|website=www.youtube.com}}

:* {{ill|Radio Olsztyn|pl|Polskie Radio Olsztyn}}: Excerpt from O Warmio moja miła by Feliks Nowowiejski, played on barrel organ.

:* Polish Radio External Service: Excerpt from Prząśniczka by Stanisław Moniuszko, played on piano.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/ztH0_2ueIYc Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160310092741/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztH0_2ueIYc Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztH0_2ueIYc| title = RADIO INTERVAL SIGNALS - "Radio Polonia" | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

:* Radio Polonia: Piano version of Etude No. 12 ("Revolutionary Etude") by Frédéric Chopin.

{{thumb|content=<<{\key c \minor \skip2 \skip8. c>16[ d>8. es>16] es>2 r8. es c g'>16[ es c g'>8.\< es c g'>16]\! es c as'>2\> es c'' g'>2\!} {\key c \minor \clef bass \skip2. es16\> d c g,\! c,\< g, c d es g c' d'\! es'\> d' c' g es d c g,\! c,\< g, c d\! es\> d c g,\! c,2}>>|caption=Radio Polonia|align=center}}

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"acoustic guitar (nylon)" \key c \major \time 2/4 g'8 g'16 g'16 g'8 f'8 e'8 g'4. d'8 f'4. e'8 g'4. g'8 g'16 g'16 g'8 f'8 e'8 g'4. d'8 f'8 e'8 d'8 c'4 r}|caption=Radio RSA|align=center}}

  • {{flagicon|Sweden}} Radio Sweden: Chime version of Ut i vida världen ("Out in the Wide World"), composed by Ralph Lundsten and the opening notes of Carl Michael Bellman's Storm och böljor tystna r'en.[http://www.andromeda.se/ Radio Sweden interval signal] Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  • {{flagu|Switzerland}}

:* {{ill|Radio Beromünster|de}}: D' Zit isch do, played on music box.

:* Swiss Radio International: Lueget, vo Berg und Tal.

{{thumb|content={\set Staff.midiInstrument = #"accordion" \key a \major \time 3/8 cis8. d16 cis8 b'8 e'8 cis8 a'4 r8 e'8. fis'16 e'8 a'8 cis8 e8 b'4 r8}|caption=Swiss Radio International|align=center}}

:: File:Voice of Turkey Interval Signal.ogg as heard in 2013]]

{{Clear}}

  • {{flagicon|USSR}} Radio Moscow (former international service of the Soviet Union):

:* Подмосковные вечера ("Moscow Nights"), played on vibraphone.

:* Песня о Родине ("Wide Is My Motherland")

{{thumb|content={\key g \major \skip2. d'4. d'8 g'2. fis'4 e'4 fis'4 g'4 a'4 g'2 d'2 \skip2}|caption=Radio Moscow|align=center}}

  • {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} BBC World Service: Trumpet version of Oranges and Lemons, first four notes of Symphony No. 5 by Beethoven, played on timpani; Lillibullero (signature tune, played on trumpet).[http://www.portabletubes.co.uk/sitefiles/lilibulero.wav BBC World Service (Europe) interval signal] Retrieved 2013-10-09.
  • {{flagicon|United States}} WYFR: First two bars of To God Be the Glory by William Howard Doane played by a brass band
  • {{flagicon|SFR Yugoslavia}} Radio Yugoslavia (1980–1989): First bar of Druže Tito, ljubićice bjela anonymous Partisan song, in various orchestral renditions.{{Cite web|url=http://vijesti.ba/clanak/147926/top-deset-pjesama-o-titu|title=Top deset pjesama o Titu|website=vijesti.ba}}

:* {{flagicon|Yugoslavia}} {{flagicon|Serbia and Montenegro}} Radio Yugoslavia, later International Radio of Serbia and Montenegro: Jugoslavijo by Nikola Hercigonja.

Classical radio station WQXR-FM in New York City, during its ownership by The New York Times Company, played different variations of a classical infused gong with the ID read at the same time as "The Classical Station of the New York Times, WQXR, New York (And WQXR.com 2000–2009) {{citation needed|reason=http://tophour.com/audio/New%20York%20City%20NY/fm0963_2006-08_wqxr-fm_sfybush.mp3|date=February 2018}}

= Numbers station interval signals =

Numbers stations are often named after their interval signals, such as The Lincolnshire Poacher or Magnetic Fields after "Magnetic Fields Part 1" by Jean-Michel Jarre.

References

{{reflist}}

Further reading

  • {{cite book

| last = Sennitt

| first = Andrew G.

| authorlink =

| title = World Radio and Television Handbook 1997

| year = 1997

| publisher = Billboard Books

| location =

| pages = 560

| url =

| doi =

| isbn = 0-8230-7797-7|ref=none

}}

  • {{cite book

| last = Sennitt

| first = Andrew G.

| authorlink =

|author2=David Bobbitt

| title = World Radio and Television Handbook 2006

| publisher = Billboard Books

| date = December 2005

| location =

| pages = 608

| url =

| doi =

| isbn = 0-8230-7798-5|ref=none

}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • [http://www.intervalsignals.net Interval Signals Online]
  • [http://www.kawamura-photo.sakura.ne.jp/bcl/index.html Nobuyuki Kawamura's Interval Signal Library]
  • [http://de.intervalsignals.org IntervalSignal DataBase (German)] [http://en.intervalsignals.org English version]
  • Uwe Volk's Sound Library (available both in [https://web.archive.org/web/20040409100321/http://home.arcor.de/uvolk/index_en.htm English] and in [https://web.archive.org/web/20040316215517/http://home.arcor.de/uvolk/index_de.htm German])
  • [http://www.kurzwelle-historisch.de/kurz_eur.html Kurzwelle-Historisch]
  • [http://live-radio.net/interval_sigs.shtml Interval signals on Live-Radio.net]

Category:International broadcasting

Category:Audiovisual ephemera