Music Makers (radio): The Everlasting Soldier
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The Everlasting Soldier is a unit of the BBC schools radio series Music Makers from the 1980s, covering music for primary and secondary school pupils.
A musical based on a traditional Russian story.
Private Vassili Tiorkin is discharged from the army and walks his way home across Russia. Along the way he tricks some demons into gifting him a magic bag which can make anything jump into it on command. He finds his way home and years later the demons come in search of revenge, but with further tricks Vassili turns the tables on them and beats even death itself.
The programmes also included Russian folk songs and features on Russian music.
Songs
- Oh, I've Been a Soldier...
- Grabinoff's Song
- Incredible, Edible Man
I am missing details of the 4th song, if you can help please get in touch by email.
- Life's Been Against Us
- Go Out and Get Him
- Bargaining Song
Broadcasts
Credits
| Written by | David Wade |
| Music by | Ian Humphris |
| Producer | Peter Hutchings |
Resources
The unit was accompanied by a 24 page pupils' pamphlet printed in shades of red and brown, with illustrations by David Brown.
There were also teachers' notes available. I suspect that acting scripts and melodic instrument parts were not produced for this unit, but if you can confirm please get in touch by email.
More
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More programmes
Some random programmes for age 9-11 from the 1980s
| Pieces of Eight | |
| ITV Schools | |
| 1983-1985 | |
| Miscellany |
| Helter Skelter | |
| BBC Schools Radio | |
| 1986-1990 | |
| Geography |
| Movement and Drama 2 | |
| BBC Schools Radio | |
| 1975-1984 | |
| English |
| Radio Club | |
| BBC Schools Radio | |
| 1984-1987 | |
| Citizenship |