Iconic images and memorable
written accounts have endured for a century as reminders of the horrors of
World War One. However, it seemed the terrifying sounds of battle were lost to
history when the guns fell silent on 11 November 1918. Now a BBC Scotland
documentary, Pipers of the Trenches has simulated the walls of
sound that greeted the Pipers when they went over the top. The hour-long
documentary combined the meticulous research of a World War One historian, Michael
Stedman, with the expertise of the Digital Design Studio at The Glasgow School
of Art.
Paul Wilson, whose
team has worked with car designers to demonstrate how vehicles will sound
on the road and has rebuilt the acoustics of Coventry Cathedral from
architectural drawings, said:
team has worked with car designers to demonstrate how vehicles will sound
on the road and has rebuilt the acoustics of Coventry Cathedral from
architectural drawings, said:
‘It was a
fascinating project. One of our main sources was the war diaries of officers
who noted, almost to the second what went on. We modelled much of our audio
design around those.’
fascinating project. One of our main sources was the war diaries of officers
who noted, almost to the second what went on. We modelled much of our audio
design around those.’
Buried in amongst the
layers of sounds such as exploding shells, bullets hitting metal, whistles
being blown, and wood being shredded were the pipers’ tunes – sometimes barely
discernible in the cacophony. Paul also incorporated the noises of men
shivering and boots tramping through mud to capture the acoustic atmosphere of
winter warfare
layers of sounds such as exploding shells, bullets hitting metal, whistles
being blown, and wood being shredded were the pipers’ tunes – sometimes barely
discernible in the cacophony. Paul also incorporated the noises of men
shivering and boots tramping through mud to capture the acoustic atmosphere of
winter warfare
Pipers of the Trenches
Monday, 16 June BBC Two Scotland, 9.00-10.00 pm
and afterwards on the iplayer.
and afterwards on the iplayer.
Full text of BBC press
release below.
release below.
For further information on the DDS
Lesley Booth
07799414474
press@gsa.ac.uk
BBC Scotland News Release
BBC Scotland documentary re-creates the lost sounds of battle for
descendants of the heroic ‘Pipers of the Trenches’
descendants of the heroic ‘Pipers of the Trenches’
Iconic images and memorable
written accounts have endured for a century as reminders of the horrors of
World War One. But it seemed the terrifying sounds of battle were lost to
history when the guns fell silent on 11 November, 1918. Now a BBC Scotland
documentary, Pipers of the Trenches (Monday, 16, June, 9.00 pm
BBC Two Scotland) has simulated the walls of sound that greeted the
Pipers when they went over the top.
written accounts have endured for a century as reminders of the horrors of
World War One. But it seemed the terrifying sounds of battle were lost to
history when the guns fell silent on 11 November, 1918. Now a BBC Scotland
documentary, Pipers of the Trenches (Monday, 16, June, 9.00 pm
BBC Two Scotland) has simulated the walls of sound that greeted the
Pipers when they went over the top.
The hour-long
documentary combined the meticulous research of a World War One historian, Michael
Stedman with the expertise of the Digital Design Studio at the Glasgow School
of Art. And the remarkable results were played to descendants of Pipers who
played their comrades into battles such as Vimy Ridge and the Somme.
documentary combined the meticulous research of a World War One historian, Michael
Stedman with the expertise of the Digital Design Studio at the Glasgow School
of Art. And the remarkable results were played to descendants of Pipers who
played their comrades into battles such as Vimy Ridge and the Somme.
Neil McDonald,
Creative Director, Documentaries, BBC Scotland, said: ‘The story of the Pipers who strode unarmed into battle is fascinating
and inspiring – and one we wanted to tell in the fullest way possible.
Creative Director, Documentaries, BBC Scotland, said: ‘The story of the Pipers who strode unarmed into battle is fascinating
and inspiring – and one we wanted to tell in the fullest way possible.
‘We drew on a wealth of military history to piece together their
incredible acts of bravery for their descendants who feature in the programme
and for the audience.
incredible acts of bravery for their descendants who feature in the programme
and for the audience.
‘However one element of the story that was missing was an authentic
sound as there is no known audio from the battles which of course were fought
in the days before location recording was achievable.
sound as there is no known audio from the battles which of course were fought
in the days before location recording was achievable.
‘Bringing together the expertise of Michael Stedman with leading edge
audio technology has created an experience which is compelling and moving.’
audio technology has created an experience which is compelling and moving.’
Michael Stedman, who
has written several books on World War One, guided Paul Wilson, Dubbing
Mixer at the Glasgow School of Art’s Digital Design Studio, through
the timeline and details of the battles which featured in war diaries and other
written accounts. Michael has studied all the weaponry deployed at the Somme,
when it was used and how it may have sounded. He said: ‘There are no recordings in a mobile sense
that I know of, as that really happened after the war. As a historian, I have
often wondered what the battles would sound like.
has written several books on World War One, guided Paul Wilson, Dubbing
Mixer at the Glasgow School of Art’s Digital Design Studio, through
the timeline and details of the battles which featured in war diaries and other
written accounts. Michael has studied all the weaponry deployed at the Somme,
when it was used and how it may have sounded. He said: ‘There are no recordings in a mobile sense
that I know of, as that really happened after the war. As a historian, I have
often wondered what the battles would sound like.
‘We could not reproduce the sound of the battles by copying modern
weaponry. Modern artillery has a higher velocity which would not have an
authentic sound from the time, so Paul had to do a lot of manipulation to
generate a more accurate audio experience.
weaponry. Modern artillery has a higher velocity which would not have an
authentic sound from the time, so Paul had to do a lot of manipulation to
generate a more accurate audio experience.
‘One of the sounds was the explosion of a mine which contained 40,000
pounds of high explosives. The effect was massively concussive and the blast
could be heard from across the English Channel.’
pounds of high explosives. The effect was massively concussive and the blast
could be heard from across the English Channel.’
In the documentary,
Michael Stedman, is clearly affected when he listens to the results in the
studio for the first time. He said: ‘I
found it was a visceral and emotional experience.’
Michael Stedman, is clearly affected when he listens to the results in the
studio for the first time. He said: ‘I
found it was a visceral and emotional experience.’
Paul Wilson, whose
team has worked with car designers to demonstrate how vehicles will sound
on the road and has rebuilt the acoustics of Coventry Cathedral from
architectural drawings, said: ‘It was a
fascinating project. One of our main sources was the war diaries of officers
who noted, almost to the second what went on. We modelled much of our audio
design around those.’
team has worked with car designers to demonstrate how vehicles will sound
on the road and has rebuilt the acoustics of Coventry Cathedral from
architectural drawings, said: ‘It was a
fascinating project. One of our main sources was the war diaries of officers
who noted, almost to the second what went on. We modelled much of our audio
design around those.’
Buried in amongst the
layers of sounds such as exploding shells, bullets hitting metal, whistles
being blown, and wood being shredded were the pipers’ tunes – sometimes barely
discernible in the cacophony. Paul also incorporated the noises of men
shivering and boots tramping through mud to capture the acoustic atmosphere of
winter warfare.
layers of sounds such as exploding shells, bullets hitting metal, whistles
being blown, and wood being shredded were the pipers’ tunes – sometimes barely
discernible in the cacophony. Paul also incorporated the noises of men
shivering and boots tramping through mud to capture the acoustic atmosphere of
winter warfare.
One of the
descendants, Katy Hall, from Newcastle, listened to the audio for the first day
of the Somme though headphones as she stood on the site of the battle, and
described the sound as ‘awful, horrible’. Three of her ancestors were among the
pipers who led the Tyneside Scottish and Tyneside Irish regiments into battle.
Her great uncle Edinburgh-born Garnet Wolsley Fife, was killed on that first
day.
descendants, Katy Hall, from Newcastle, listened to the audio for the first day
of the Somme though headphones as she stood on the site of the battle, and
described the sound as ‘awful, horrible’. Three of her ancestors were among the
pipers who led the Tyneside Scottish and Tyneside Irish regiments into battle.
Her great uncle Edinburgh-born Garnet Wolsley Fife, was killed on that first
day.
Another descendant who
features in the documentary is Canadian Garth Newlands whose grandfather Pipe Major
Alexander Newlands, the second son of an Edinburgh printer, piped at the battle
of Vimy Ridge. Garth, who still has and plays his grandfather’s pipes, listened
to the audio of that battle, created in the Digital Design Studio, as he stood
in a trench on Vimy Ridge. Afterwards, he reflected on how his ancestor must
have felt, faced with the terrifying sound. He said: ‘It’s really hard to put into words what he would have been thinking
about what was going on – and what his active part would be. It’s … it’s … an
emotional thing I guess.’
features in the documentary is Canadian Garth Newlands whose grandfather Pipe Major
Alexander Newlands, the second son of an Edinburgh printer, piped at the battle
of Vimy Ridge. Garth, who still has and plays his grandfather’s pipes, listened
to the audio of that battle, created in the Digital Design Studio, as he stood
in a trench on Vimy Ridge. Afterwards, he reflected on how his ancestor must
have felt, faced with the terrifying sound. He said: ‘It’s really hard to put into words what he would have been thinking
about what was going on – and what his active part would be. It’s … it’s … an
emotional thing I guess.’
Also, in the
programme, Glasgow drama teacher, Richie McColm, travelled with Stuart Allan of
the National Museum of Scotland to one of the battle sites in Western Turkey,
to uncover the story of his Great Grandfather – Piper Kenneth McLennan. Stuart
Allan revealed that Richie’s ancestor, a piper in the Highland Light Infantry,
was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal for playing as long as possible and
then helping his wounded comrades back to safety after they were stranded in
exposed territory.
programme, Glasgow drama teacher, Richie McColm, travelled with Stuart Allan of
the National Museum of Scotland to one of the battle sites in Western Turkey,
to uncover the story of his Great Grandfather – Piper Kenneth McLennan. Stuart
Allan revealed that Richie’s ancestor, a piper in the Highland Light Infantry,
was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal for playing as long as possible and
then helping his wounded comrades back to safety after they were stranded in
exposed territory.
Pipers of the
Trenches is part of BBC’s four year World War One centenary season. It
was made by the same documentary team in BBC Scotland’s Aberdeen production
centre who produced The Machine Gun and Skye’s Band of Brothers which
transmitted earlier this year.
Trenches is part of BBC’s four year World War One centenary season. It
was made by the same documentary team in BBC Scotland’s Aberdeen production
centre who produced The Machine Gun and Skye’s Band of Brothers which
transmitted earlier this year.
Pipers of the Trenches
Monday, 16 June, BBC Two Scotland, 9.00-10.00 pm
Viewers outside
Scotland can access BBC Two Scotland on Sky 142 (HD) & 970, Freesat 970.
Scotland can access BBC Two Scotland on Sky 142 (HD) & 970, Freesat 970.