Interval signal

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.

• Rádio Nacional de Angola:

• Radiodifusión Argentina al Exterior: First eight notes of "Mi Buenos Aires querido" by Carlos Gardel, followed by people saying the station's name in eight languages.

• Bangladesh Betar: A tune composed by Samar Das.

• Radio Belarus: "Motherland, my dear" (Belarusian: be:Радзіма мая дарагая, Russian: Родина моя дорогая) by Vladimir Olovnikov and Ales Bachyla.

• Rádio Brasil Internacional: Xylophone version of "Brazilian Flag Anthem" (Brazilian Portuguese: Hino à Bandeira Nacional) by Francisco Braga and Olavo Bilac.
• Radio Bulgaria:

• Radio Burkina:

•  China:

• China National Radio and China Radio International: Chime version of March of the Volunteers (义勇军进行曲).

• CRI Indonesian Radio (and Radio Peking, predecessor of China Radio International): 东方红 ("The East Is Red").

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

• Radio Habana Cuba: Refrain of "March of the 26th of July" (es:La Marcha del 26 de Julio) by Agustín Díaz Cartaya.

• DR P1: "Drømte mig en drøm i nat", played on metallophone.^[1]

• Radio Ethiopia:

• Radio France Internationale: Electronic-disco, culminating in the last 8 measures of "La Marseillaise".

• Deutsche Welle: "Es sucht der Bruder seine Brüder" from Fidelio (Act2 No.16 Finale. Heil sei dem Tag!) by Ludwig van Beethoven.

• Voice of Greece: "The Little Shepherd" (el:Ο Τσομπανάκος), played on floghera.^[2]

• All India Radio: A tune composed by Walter Kaufmann or Thakur Balwant Singh, used since 1936.^[3]

• Indonesia
  • RRI Programa 3: Ending bars of "Solace on Coconut Island" (Rayuan Pulau Kelapa), composed by Ismail Marzuki.

• • RRI Regional: "Love Ambon" by George de Fretes

• • RRI Voice of Indonesia: "Feeling of Love" (Rasa Sayang).
• RTÉ Radio 1: 2nd segment of "O'Donnell Forever" (O'Donnell Abú).^[4]

• NHK Radio Japan: "KazoeUta (Hitotsu to ya)" (数え歌, counting-out game).

• Radio Nikkei: Kan Ishii

• Radio Nepal: A tune composed by Ustad Govinda Lal Nepali.

•  North Korea

• Voice of Korea: Melody of "Song of General Kim Il-sung" (김일성장군의 노래).

• Pyongyang FM: Melody of "Song of General Kim Jong-il" (김정일장군의 노래).

• KBS World Radio: "Dawn" (여명); Korean kids song "Moon, moon, bright moon" (달아 달아 밝은달아)

• RTL Radio: last segment of "lb:De Feierwon" by Michel Lentz, played on chimes.^[5]

• Radio Madagascar (mg:Radio Madagasikara):

• Radio Mauritania:

• Voice of Mongolia: "Motherland" (Эх орон) by Luvsanjambyn Mördorj.^[6]

• Radio New Zealand International: The call of a New Zealand bellbird

• ORTN:

• Radio Pakistan: A tune composed by Khwaja Khursheed Anwar.

•  Philippines:

• Far East Broadcasting Company: 2nd segment of "We Have Heard the Joyful Sound (Jesus Saves)".

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

• : Qatar Radio

• Radio Romania International: The first nine notes of “Pui de lei", lyrics by Ioan S. Nenițescu and song by Ionel G. Brătianu

•  Russia

• Radio Mayak: Vibraphone version of Moscow Nights.

• Radio Sakha: Excerpt from a Yakut folk song.

• : Radio Rwanda

• : Radio Saudi International

• Radio Slovenia: Electronically generated cuckoo chirping.

• : Radio Uganda

• Radio Ukraine International: "The Wide Dniepr Roars and Moans" (Реве та стогне Дніпр широкий).

• BBC World Service:

• English programme: "Bow Bells", 10 change-ringing bells.
• Non-English programme, non-Europe: three notes tuned B–B–C.
• Non-English programme, to Europe: four notes tuned B–B–B–E.

•  United States:

• NBC: 3 chime-like notes.

• Trans World Radio (TWR)

• Trans World Radio: Hymne Monégasque (Monaco anthem)

• TWR Europe: Amazing Grace

• TWR Albania: last segment of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus"

• TWR Guam: first part of "We've a story to tell to the nations"

• TWR Africa: last part of "We've a story to tell to the nations"

• TWR Bonaire: last part of Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus by George James Webb, in various renditions

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

• WEWN, later EWTN Global Radio: "Salve Regina" (in simple tone) by Henri Dumont

• Vatican Radio: "Christus Vincit" by fr:Aloys Kunc.

• Radio Nacional de Venezuela's Canal Internacional: Beginning of "Alma Llanera" by Pedro Elías Gutiérrez and Rafael Bolívar Coronado.

• Đài tiếng nói Việt Nam (VOV): latter half of "vi:Diệt phát xít"

• Radio Tirana: Këputa një gjethe dafine (transmission intro); the trumpet version of With Pickaxe and Rifle.

• Radio Australia: chorus segment of Waltzing Matilda; Kookaburra call; News signature tune: Majestic Fanfare.

• Radio Österreich International: An der schönen blauen Donau ("Blue Danube Waltz") by Johann Strauss.^[7]

• Ö1: Three notes signifying O–R–F by Werner Pirchner, played on viola.^[8]

• ORF:

1st Program: Schubert, Rosamunde, Ballet Music 2

3rd Program: Haydn, Surprise Symphony

• RTBF International:

Où peut-on être mieux qu’au sein de sa famille ?.

Benoit, Beiaardlied

• Rádio Nacional: Luar do Sertão ("Hinterlands Moonlight").

• Radio Canada International: First four notes of O Canada, played on piano (played in G major) , an electronic square wave^[9] (played in Bb major) , or autoharp (played in D major).

• Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: closing segment of Avkoritissa (Αυκορίτισσα), a traditional Cypriot song of Avgorou^[10]

• Radio Prague:

• Smetana, Má vlast, 1. Vyšehrad

• last segment of Kupředu levá ("Forward, Left") by cs:Jan Seidl

• Adagio – Allegro molto from Symphony No. 9 by Dvořák.

• Radio Denmark: Nielsen, Moderen, Scene7 No.22 Som en rejselysten flåde

• HCJB: using a motif from Great Is Thy Faithfulness

• HCJB Japanese program: "Sakura Sakura" (さくらさくら, cherry blossoms)

• Yle Radio 1: Pim-pam-pulla, a tune from the 1700s proposed by A. O. Väisänen for 5-string kantele.^[11][12]

• Radio France Internationale: a popular song, Nous n'irons plus au bois.^[7]

• Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk: The 4th symphony by Brahms.

• Reichssender Berlin: Ending bars of Volk ans Gewehr, played on celesta.

•  East Germany

• Berliner Rundfunk: Motif from the opera Regina, Act3 Finale by Albert Lortzing, played by horns.

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

• Radio DDR: Refrain of de:Wann wir schreiten Seit’ an Seit’

• Radio NTS: Tchaikovsky, Symphony #5, Mvt.4

• DFS 904: "Ode to Joy"

• Germany

• Deutschlandfunk: Ending bars of "Ich hab' mich ergeben" by August Daniel von Binzer.^[13]

• RIAS Berlin: Franz Wallner-Basté

• Deutschlandsender: Mozart, The Magic Flute (Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen) / Schubart, Üb’ immer Treu und Redlichkeit

• Funk-Stunde Berlin:

• ORAG Königsberg

• Friedrich Dewischeit, de:Masurenlied (Wild flutet der See)

• Wo des Haffes Wellen trecken an den Strand

• NORAG Hamburg: Wagner, Der fliegende Holländer, Act 3, Steuermann, lass die Wacht (Sailors' Chorus)

• NDR Hamburg:

• Brahms, Symphony #2, Mvt.1

• (Dominant major ninth chord)

• WERAG Köln:

• WDR Köln: Beethoven, Bundeslied (In allen guten Stunden)

• Deutsche Stunde in Bayern München: Wagner, Parsifal, Parsifal bell

• BR München: Wiesberg, de:Solang der alte Peter

• Schlesische Funkstunde Breslau: Hohenfriedberger Marsch

• Sender Freies Berlin: Es-F-B

• Radio Saarbrücken: Kein schöner Land in dieser Zeit

• SR Saarbrücken: de:Steigerlied (2nd line: Und er hat sein helles Licht bei der Nacht)

• SWF Baden-Baden: Mozart, The Magic Flute (Act 2: No.21, Finale: Bald prangt, den Morgen zu verkünden)

• SDR Stuttgart: Silcher, Jetzt gang i ans Brünnele

• HR Frankfurt: Hermann Heiss

• Radio Bremen: Bach, Mass in B minor, Et in terra pax

• Radio Budapest:

• Excerpts from the suite 1848 by T.K. Polgar played on three trumpets and two cornets.

• Budapest 2

• Kol Yisrael: latter half of Hatikvah played on trumpets and timpani.

• Rai Italia Radio: Mechanically generated canary chirping.

• Radio Riga:

• Radio Vilnius:

• Lietuvininkai we are born

• latter half of Anthem of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

•  Netherlands

• NPO: First eight notes of Wilhelmus, played on:^[14]

• Flute family: Hilversum 1 (Radio 2)
• Oboe family: Hilversum 2 (Radio 1), Hilversum 5
• Synthesizer then Carillon: Hilversum 3
• Harpsichord: Hilversum 4

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

•  Norway

• NRK P1: Motif from Sigurd Jorsalfar by Edvard Grieg.^[15]
• Radio Norway International (Utenlandssendingen, former international service of NRK): no:Pausesignalet og kjenningssignalet

• Pausesignalet: a herding call stylized by Eivind Groven

• Kjenningssignalet: beginning bars of Symphony No.1 "Innover viddene" by Eivind Groven

•  Poland

• Radio Katowice: Sound of a hammer striking an anvil.^[16]
• Radio Olsztyn: Excerpt from pl:O Warmio moja miła by Feliks Nowowiejski, played on barrel organ.

• Polish Radio External Service: Excerpt from Prząśniczka by Stanisław Moniuszko^[17]

• Radio Polonia:

• Etude No. 12 ("Revolutionary Etude") by Chopin

• Military Polonaise by Chopin

• Radio Bucharest 1 and Radio Bucharest External Service (pre 1989): Fragment from Cantata anilor luminǎ by Anatol Vieru

• Voice of Russia: "Great Gate of Kiev" portion of Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky.

• Radio Serbia: Bože pravde, in various renditions.

• Radio Slovakia International: sk:Kto za pravdu horí

• Radio RSA (former international service of Apartheid-era South African Broadcasting Corporation): Bokmakierie chirping and first bars of Ver in die Wereld, Kittie, played on guitar.^[7][18]

• Radio Exterior de España: "Generala" (1761,1769) by es:Manuel de Espinosa de los Monteros

• Radio Sweden:

• Ut i vida världen ("Out in the Wide World"), composed by Ralph Lundsten^[19]

• the opening notes of Carl Michael Bellman's Storm och böljor tystna r'en.^[7]

•   Switzerland

• Radio Beromünster: D' Zit isch do, played on music box.

• Swiss Radio International: de:Lueget, vo Bärgen und Tal.

• Red Cross Broadcasting Service: Purcell, The Indian Queen, Trumpet Tune

• Voice of Turkey: Turkish makam, played on piano.

• Radio Moscow (former international service of the Soviet Union):

• Подмосковные вечера ("Moscow Nights") performed by "Georgy Garanian and Melodia"

• Песня о Родине ("Wide Is My Motherland")

• BBC World Service: Trumpet version of Oranges and Lemons; first four notes of Symphony No. 5 by Beethoven, played on timpani; Lillibullero (signature tune).^[20]

• World Christian Broadcasting (Alaska KNLS, Madagascar Madagascar World Voice (MWV)):

• Chariots of Fire by Vangelis

• an unnamed tune by Jeff Brock^[21]

• WYFR: First bars of To God Be the Glory by William Howard Doane

• Radio Yugoslavia (1980–1989):

• Druže Tito, ljubićice bjela anonymous Partisan song, in various orchestral renditions.^[22]

• The Internationale

• Radio Yugoslavia, later International Radio of Serbia and Montenegro: 2nd verse of Svečana Pesma (sr:Свечана песма) by sh: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)

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.

• Sennitt, Andrew G. (1997). World Radio and Television Handbook 1997. Billboard Books. p. 560. ISBN 0-8230-7797-7.
• Sennitt, Andrew G.; David Bobbitt (December 2005). World Radio and Television Handbook 2006. Billboard Books. p. 608. ISBN 0-8230-7798-5.

• Interval Signals Online
• Nobuyuki Kawamura's Interval Signal Library
• IntervalSignal DataBase (German)
• Uwe Volk's Sound Library (available both in English and in German)
• Kurzwelle-Historisch
• Interval Signal Library on www.irkutsk.com