"Devil's Galop" is a piece of
light music composed by
Charles Williams. It became famous as the theme tune to the radio serial ''
Dick Barton – Special Agent''. The word "galop" in the title refers to the
galop
In dance, the galop, named after the fastest running gait of a horse (see Gallop), a shortened version of the original term galoppade, is a lively country dance, introduced in the late 1820s to Parisian society by the Duchesse de Berry and popul ...
dance (which, in turn, refers to a horse's gallop).
In popular culture
It has since been used in a number of productions, often to give a sense of dramatic urgency to a chase scene. As well as being the theme for the BBC Light Programme's serial ''Dick Barton'' and its 1979
Southern Television revival, its other appearances include ''
Dad's Army
''Dad's Army'' is a British television sitcom about the United Kingdom's Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, and originally broadcast on BBC1 from 31 July 1968 to 13 November 1977. It ran fo ...
'', ''
Danger Mouse'', ''
The Goodies
The Goodies were a trio of British comedians: Tim Brooke-Taylor (17 July 1940–12 April 2020), Graeme Garden (b. 18 February 1943) and Bill Oddie (b. 7 July 1941). The trio created, wrote for and performed in their eponymous television com ...
'', and the ''
Goon Show
''The Goon Show'' is a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme. The first series, broadcast from 28 May to 20 September 1 ...
'' (the original theme music for which is called "Goons Gallop" and is reminiscent of "Devil's Galop"). ''
Monty Python's Flying Circus'' used this theme throughout its run on television, including in the famous "
The Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition ( es, Tribunal del Santo Oficio de la Inquisición), commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition ( es, Inquisición española), was established in 1478 by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Cathol ...
" sketch.
Excerpts from the piece form part of the opening theme to the video game ''
Monty on the Run''.
The music has featured more recently in
Mitchell and Webb
Mitchell and Webb are a British comedy double act, composed of David Mitchell and Robert Webb. They are best known for starring in the Channel 4 sitcom ''Peep Show'' and their radio and TV sketch shows '' That Mitchell and Webb Sound'' and '' ...
's "
The Surprising Adventures of Sir Digby Chicken Caesar" sketches,
Sir Digby Chicken Caesar Tune
/ref> and the '' 30 Rock'' episode "Tracy Does Conan
"Tracy Does Conan" is the seventh episode of NBC's first season of '' 30 Rock''. It was written by the series' creator and executive producer, Tina Fey and it was directed by one of the season's supervising producers, Adam Bernstein. It first air ...
". It was also used in the CITV children's show ''ZZZap!
''Zzzap'' (rendered ''ZZZap!'') is a British children's television comedy programme. The concept of the show is a giant 18 ft comic that has been brought to life. The show was broadcast on ITV from 8 January 1993 until 21 September 2001 ...
'' and was the theme tune of the character Tricky Dicky.
References
External links
Sir Digby Chicken Caesar Tune - Full MP3 file
30 Second MP3 preview
{{Authority control
Radio theme songs
Light music compositions
Compositions by Charles Williams
Galops