Sound Collection

Sound Collection | Written Archive | Resources | Access Guide

Explore our current catalogue of radio broadcasts, music and field recordings for and about the geographical region currently known as  South East Asia gathered from the BBC Listening archive at the British Library.

Through the DECOSEAS project, we have been able to request for the cataloguing and digitization of over 200 items of BBC in South East Asia materials which we identified from BBC written compilations, Radio programmes, PasBs etc. (there is currently no public online catalogue of all the BBC broadcast recordings.) These identified recordings are now available to listen to -  in situ - at the British Library.

As of May 2024, the BBC has granted the DECOSEAS project only 45 distinct permissions to download BBC recordings and upload them to this database.  Where we did not have permission to upload the sound file, we have provided transcriptions and brief descriptions of the broadcasts. You can also look at original telegraphs, handwritten notes and letters tracing the establishment of the BBC in South East Asia in  either the Written Archives section or the Resources section of the site.ExtraWord

The scarcity of recorded broadcasts and the stringent restrictions on their use are explained in detail ( from BBC Archives - Wiped, Missing and Lost):

1. No recording was ever made
In the early years of radio and television, broadcasting was mostly a live activity and there were initially no, and then very limited, means of recording broadcasts.

2. Recordings were made for short term broadcasting reasons, not for the long term
When recording technology was more available, it was often used for a practical purpose such as for playing out a programme at another time or, when a recording had been made on location away from the studio. The idea that some recordings were important to keep for longer term re-use or historical reasons developed gradually and inconsistently across the BBC.

3. Making recordings was very expensive
In radio before tape was widely used, to keep a recording beyond immediate use, a temporary acetate disc of limited playing-life needed to be processed to a more durable format outside the BBC. The £5 per disc cost is the equivalent of £200 in 2018. In television, videotape recording began to be available in the 1950s; machines could cost the equivalent of £300,000 and 2” tape stock up to £2,000 each at today’s prices. These costs were an incentive to record over existing programmes.

4. There was no requirement to build an archive
The Advisory Committee on Archives, chaired by the BBC’s official historian Asa Briggs, reported in 1979. A key recommendation was that a requirement to keep archives was included in the BBC Charter and this was done for the first time in 1981. Although collections of recordings had built up by this time, before this there was no regulatory or legal requirement to keep archives in the BBC.

5. Changing views about re-use value and commercial opportunities
With more limited outlets to repeat programmes, there wasn’t necessarily the drive to keep programmes – even popular ones – to fill future schedules with repeats. Commercial exploitation such as overseas programme sales or the domestic retail market did develop but even when established, operations could be entirely separate from domestic broadcasting or fledgling archiving processes so recordings did not necessarily become available to retain in a library or archive. In recent years, private collectors have tracked down some significant programme from sales copies long forgotten in the stores of overseas broadcasters. With the advent of colour television, black and white programmes could be seen to have less value as audiences increasingly expected to see programmes in colour only. Recordings with a perceived reduced re-use value could be more liable to disposal.

6. Re-use rights
The BBC has not always been able to easily or cost-effectively re-use programmes because of contractual and copyright restrictions. The BBC has rarely owned programmes completely, with actors, writers, musicians, contributors and others retaining rights and needing to be paid for re-use. Generally, the longer ago the contract, the fewer and narrower re-use rights the BBC retained. Recordings of programmes that were expensive or difficult to re-use could be hard to justify taking up space and time to maintain in an archive and therefore not retained.

7. Lost, missing, stolen and damaged
In an operation of the scale of the BBC, with in TV alone many thousands of tape movements a week in pre-digital times, accidental loss and damage has sometimes happened. The once common practice of lending single-copy masters – the expense and space constraints meaning we only had one copy of many programmes, could mean an increased risk of loss.

8. Archive and Library policies and practice
Across the BBC, different departments had responsibilities for storing and documenting recordings so polices and practice could vary considerably. It was generally accepted that it was not possible to keep all programmes indefinitely. Selecting from the film, VT and audiotapes held for the permanent archive was a highly selective process – combining factors of understood re-value of the time; costs of processing; space; availability of recordings; the views and cooperation of production and ease or otherwise of re-use.

In a large and complex organisation like the BBC, the processes for making and managing recordings after broadcast were not always well defined, resourced or secure. This sometimes led to programmes not being received, or technical faults not spotted at an early stage. In some cases – Local Radio is one example - central departments had no remit to manage the archive, and with scant resources to spare in production teams, selecting output for archiving could be limited and rely on the personal interest of staff leading to some great collections, but patchy coverage in the archive.

9. External deposit
Some broadcasts have been deposited in other institutions – e.g. the National Film and TV Archive of the BFI or the British Library. Some production areas have deposited material externally directly, with or without the knowledge of the BBC’s archives department (e.g. Local Radio deposits with their local authority or regional TV News with regional archives; the German Service with the DRA German National Radio Archives)

10. Secure the Past for the Future
The BBC does however retain one of the largest multi-media archives in the world dating from the 1920s with over 15 million legacy items ranging across Television, Radio, Commercial Music, Documents, Photos, Sheet Music and artefacts. There have been a number of preservation and digitisation initiatives as the BBC transitions to a modern ‘open’ archive, fit for an internet first BBC in a fully digital world. BBC Archives’ mission remains to “Secure the Past for the Future” whilst looking after the BBC’s cultural memory and fulfilling our charter obligation.

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156 items

  • Speech by Louis Mountbatten to British forces in Southeast Asia during WWII. He acknowledges the challenges ahead but assures them of increasing support from home.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Military Conflict |
    Audio
  • Richard Chubb records a message in Fort Dufferin while awaiting a ceremonial flag-raising. The 19th division has completed a remarkable march, standing on an earth parade ground in faded jungle green attire. Spitfires fly overhead, and soldiers, wearing bush hats, tin helmets, berets, and turbans, stand at attention. The commander arrives, signaling with a bugle. The message is addressed to every man in the 14th army, celebrating the capture of Mandalay and the restoration of the Union Jack over Fort Dufferin. The 33rd Indian corps and 4th corps played a significant role, and Kipling's poem on the road to Mandalay is mentioned, expressing a focus on the journey from Mandalay.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Military Conflict |
    Audio
  • Recording features ritual music recorded under the direction of H.D. Noone, Protector of Aborigines in Perak, F.M.S. The performers are identified as unidentified singers and percussionists.   More »
    Music (Vocal) |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • In a recent discovery, a collection of religious ritual songs and dances performed in a Temiar long-house has shed light on the shamanic, animistic faith of the community. This traditional music, reportedly given by a tiger spirit to a chief in Ulu Nenggiri in Kelantan, carries a significant message that led his group to establish a new settlement at Ajin, near the border of Cameron Highlands. This remarkable find provides insight into the spiritual beliefs and cultural practices of the Temiar people.   More »
    Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • In the Ulu Nenggiri region of Kelantan, a member of the AlusTemiar community had a dream in which the spirit of the tiger gave him a song while he and his group were clearing a new area for cultivation. The song was a token of peace, as the tiger spirit was amazed and somewhat frightened by the power of the group to fell large trees. The ritual music, rooted in the shamanic and animistic faith of the Temiar people, is performed in long-houses and reflects a connection to the natural world and its spirits.   More »
    Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • The third program "America Since the Bomb: The Moon or South-East Asia" dealing with American policies since 1945. The narrator is Edward Ward and the program was written and produced by D.G. Bridson. Inserts were read by Robert Ayres and Murray Kash. The program includes speakers such as William Fulbright, Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy, and Adlai Stevenson. The program was recorded on December 7, 1966, and contains material on commercials, BBC discs, and other speakers.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Politics | Military Conflict |
    Audio
  • Anak Ayam (Zapin): A traditional instrumental Malaysian folk dance in the zapin style, performed by violinist Hamzah Dolmat and his group Rakan2. The performance includes unestablished instrumentation, most likely harmonium, violin, accordion, and percussion.   More »
    Music (Instrumental) |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Anak Ayam (Zapin) is a traditional instrumental Malaysian folk dance in the zapin style, performed in a popular idiom by violinist Hamzah Dolmat and his group Rakan2. The unestablished instrumentation most likely includes a harmonium, violin, and percussion, with other instruments such as the oud (fretless lute), accordion, and drum also used. The music falls into the categories of popular music, folk songs and music, folk dance music, and world and traditional music, specifically from Asia. The performance was recorded by Radio Malaysia and the BBC Tropical Tapes, with the reel containing 4 minutes and 10 seconds of music. The performers include violinist Hamzah Dolmat and his group Rakan2, as well as an unidentified sound recordist.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Anak Tiong (Asli): A traditional instrumental Malaysian folk dance in the asli style, performed by violinist Hamzah Dolmat and his group Rakan2. The performance features unestablished instrumentation, most likely harmonium, violin, accordion, and percussion.   More »
    Music (Instrumental) |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • In 1955, Vivian Fuchs, the leader of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, discussed the qualities he looks for when choosing personnel for expeditions in an interview with Lai Chong Kiat from Sarawak. The interview was broadcast on 'London Calling Asia'   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Sport |
    Audio
  • Recording contains information about the Temiar people and their religious ritual songs and dances, which are performed in a long-house as part of their shamanic, animistic faith. The recording specifically mentions a song given to the shaman, Bah Sain, by the spirit of the wind among the bamboos, which tells the Temiar that the wind in the bamboos is the force that moves the airplanes they see flying in the sky. This information sheds light on the spiritual beliefs and cultural practices of the Temiar tribe from Telom in Pahang.   More »
    Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Bercherai Kaseh (Masri): A traditional instrumental Malaysian folk dance in the masri (Egyptian) style, performed by violinist Hamzah Dolmat and his group Rakan2. The performance includes unestablished instrumentation, most likely harmonium, violin, accordion, guitar, drum, and bell-rattles.   More »
    Music (Instrumental) |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Drums and gong from Trengganu, north east Malaysia Music (Instrumental) is a collection of traditional musical instruments from the region of Trengganu in Malaysia. The recording includes unidentified drums and gongs commonly used in indigenous music and cultural performances in the area. These instruments are representative of the instrumental music traditions of north east Malaysia.   More »
    Music (Instrumental) |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Recording contains information about a Buffalo horn folk songs and music recording on a 30 cm disc with 33 rpm. The recording is labeled as BBC ARCHIVE 27027 and starts at 00:08:45.22, ending at 00:09:34.01. Side 2 of the disc begins at 00:10:37. The recording likely contains traditional folk songs and music played on Buffalo horns, captured from BBC ARCHIVE LP 27027.   More »
    Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • In the memoir "Building the Burma-Siam RailwayTalk," a former prisoner recounts the brutal conditions endured while constructing the railway for the Japanese. The prisoners faced harsh working conditions, including being pelted with iron rivets by a Japanese engineer and working in non-stop downpours during the monsoon season. Cholera outbreaks, lack of proper clothing, and extreme exhaustion from long work shifts further compounded their suffering. Despite the high death rates and disease ravaging the crowded camps, the Japanese enforced a speedup of work, neglecting to address the epidemic. The prisoners endured meager rations and slept in leaky, overcrowded huts.   More »
    Spoken voice : narrative |
    Topic: Military Conflcit |
    Audio
  • Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Record contains a recording of Burmese folk music, specifically the Tonka Dance, as well as a collection of folk songs and music with no linguistic content. The recording is stored on a single disc with two sides, measuring 30 cm and playing at 33 rpm. The item is cataloged under the BBC ARCHIVE 27026 2LP0068699 and 1LP0199913, with unidentified performers.   More »
    Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Recording features various musical instruments, including a chorus and drum. The chorus and drum cells indicate a combination of vocal and percussive elements in the music. This recording showcases a diverse and dynamic sound with the inclusion of these instruments.   More »
    Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • In a first-hand report by David Shute, British Forces in the Northern Borneo states of Sarawak and Sabah are facing challenging conditions. The program, produced by Roy Hayward and aired in 1965, features various speakers including military personnel and individuals from the region. The report provides insight into the confrontation in Borneo and the experiences of those involved.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Military Conflict |
    Audio
  • Recording of "Dalam guni" features religious ritual songs and dances performed in a Temiar long-house, reflecting the shamanic and animistic faith of the community. The music conveys a message from the spirit of the hills to a shaman in Ulu Perak, telling the story of a sack of rice that was buried in the ground and resulted in a very rich plantation.   More »
    Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • In the 1969 Reith Lectures entitled "Wilderness and Plenty," the fourth talk, "Global Changes - actual and possible," raises the issue of potential alterations needed for scientific reasons before rebroadcasting. The broadcast date was November 30, 1969, and no further announcements or details are provided.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • The musical performance "Dato yuli-alAding" featured a mixed chorus and drum accompaniment, showcasing a blend of vocal and percussive elements. The ensemble brought together diverse musical talents to create a dynamic and engaging experience for the audience.   More »
    Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • In a talk by former Director of the British Museum (Natural History) Sir Gavin De Beer, the existence of Atlantis is questioned. Known facts about Atlantis are outlined, with a suggested location by Professor Angelos Galanopoulos at the University of Athens. Plato's writings on Atlantis are dissected for evidence, with theories ranging from Scandinavia to West Africa debunked. Galanopoulos supports the theory that the disappearance of Atlantis reflects the destruction of Minoan Crete, with a suggested location at Santorin in the Aegean. Carbon 14 tests on remains found at the site are dated at 1500 BC, and a hypothesis is presented that a mistake in reading Egyptian numerals could place the disappearance of Atlantis at 1400 BC. Evidence from other volcanic eruptions is presented to support the theory, with the collapse of Minoan Crete attributed to the eruption at Santorin. Despite the controversy surrounding the date of the eruption, the story of Atlantis is suggested to not be dismissed as a fairy tale. The talk was broadcast on the Third Programme on August 14, 1966.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • A dubbing process of NSA-owned discs and albums, transferred to Betamax cassette stereo.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Audio
  • In a collection of radio broadcasts spanning various languages and historical moments, key figures such as Edward Heath, John F. Kennedy, and Margaret Rutherford are featured in interviews and speeches. The recording also includes significant events such as the recovery of the Mercury-Atlas 6 spacecraft and addresses by world leaders like Charles de Gaulle and U Thant. The diverse range of content provides a valuable insight into political and cultural milestones throughout history.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Culture | Politics |
    Audio
  • An excerpt from an interview with Tommy Handley, a male speaker, and an unidentified male announcer, recorded on a BBC Radio tape reel with a paper insert listing the contents.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Edward Ward reports on the war against communist 'bandits' in Malaya, featuring interviews with individuals affected by the conflict. The narrative provides insights into the challenges faced by residents and industries in the region.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Military Conflict |
    Audio
  • The inauguration of the British Empire Broadcasting Service features speeches from Mr. J.H. Whitley, the chairman, and Sir John Reith, the director-general of the BBC. The text outlines the significance of the occasion, the history of British broadcasting, and the goals of the Empire Broadcasting Service. Sir John Reith discusses the technical aspects, including transmission zones, wavelengths, and transmission times for different regions of the British Empire. The message emphasizes collaboration with listeners for feedback, program suggestions, and the importance of shortwave technology. Additionally, Mr. Ashbridge and Cpt Graves express gratitude for the assistance received during preliminary testing. https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/inauguration-of-bbc-empire-service British Library public link   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • In Malaya, Malays engage in fish fights as a form of entertainment and betting. Participants bring their own specially salted fish in jam jars, and two male fishes are placed together to display their dominance. Betting on the fish fights is a common practice, and the event is described as being almost as exciting as any other type of fight. The details were shared in a broadcast on BBC Home Service in 1961.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Sport |
    Audio
  • Lord Medway, also known as Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, was an assistant at the Sarawak Museum in the British colony of Borneo from 1956-1958. He conducted studies on the swiftlets of southeast Asia and their use of echo-location, which he presented in an illustrated talk on the topic. The talk also featured his own recordings made in the nesting caves of Borneo. This information was detailed in a Radio Times entry from December 29, 1960.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Extract from General Sir Gerald Templer's address.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Military Conflict |
    Audio
  • Recording of Hanjoi Temiar dream music, religious ritual songs and dances are performed in a Temiar long-house, reflecting the shamanic and animistic faith of the culture. The title of the recording is a play on words, representing the disappearing form of a man diving into a pool to catch fish. This variation on the saying "the higher the fewer" conveys the theme of disappearance and transformation within the music and rituals of the Temiar people.   More »
    Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • In a talk about Mass-Observation, producer Stewart Wavell and speaker Tom Harrisson discuss the organization's pre-war role as an opinion-seeking service. The methods of Mass-Observation differed from the Gallup Poll, and the discussion took place on October 11, 1960.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • The inauguration of the BBC Empire Service was rerecorded onto a single Betamax cassette stereo. The speakers included J.H. Whitley, Noel Ashbridge, and Capt. C.G. Graves, all male.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • In a remote village in India, a group of Muslim fishermen were captured on video chanting a solo vocal with a chorus. The rhythmic and melodious singing reflected their cultural heritage and community spirit.   More »
    Spoken voice : chanted |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Music (Wedding) |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • In an interview with Wilfred De'Ath, young people David Fisher and Rowena Hyde discuss their experiences working in underdeveloped countries through voluntary service programs. The program explores the increasing interest among young individuals to contribute to overseas projects during their gap year, and questions the competition between organizations like V.S.O and Kennedy's Peace Corps. David Fisher worked in Sarawak in Borneo at the age of 19, while Rowena Hyde is the daughter of a former Communist turned Catholic. The broadcast was compiled and narrated by Wilfred De'Ath and produced by Robert Pocock. The interview took place on January 9, 1962.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Culture; Politics |
    Audio
  • In a recent program, James Hogg narrates interviews with two members of a 50-person party that had just returned from Vietnam, where they attempted to stop the bombing. The date of the program was March 16, 1968, and the participants included speakers Andrew Hornung, Philippa Moody, and John Roberts, as well as interviewees Kit Masters and Michael Meech. The program did not have an announcer.   More »
    Spoken voice |
    Topic: Military Conflict |
    Audio
  • A recording of a Java suite, featuring Gamelan and piano music by Leopold Godowsky, with arrangements for tuned percussion. The content is likely copied from a commercial or broadcast recording. The recording starts at 01:23:53, and the entire duration is 1 hour, 35 minutes, and 30 seconds. The Java suite is found at the end without any introductions. The performers are unidentified.   More »
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Recording consists of a 78 RPM mono disc from the BBC Archive (catalog number 22570) featuring Javanese music and street vendors' mechanical sounds. The disc has two sides and measures 30 cm. It is labeled as an analogue disc and is stored under the catalog number 9CL0029181. The disc also includes actualities and is affiliated with the BBC.   More »
    Soundscape (urban) |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Selangor, Penghulu, a male singer, performed the Mon-Kmer language folk song "JinjangJinjang" in 1955, recorded by Radio Malaya and archived by the BBC. The song is designated as folk music and dance music with a mixed chorus and drums. This historical recording provides a glimpse into the music and culture of then British Malaya.   More »
    Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • In a mixed chorus performance at Jinjang, both male and female singers sang accompanied by the steady beating of membranophone (drums) and idiophone. This combined vocal and instrumental presentation created a dynamic and engaging musical experience.   More »
    Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Johor Sport Club (Joget): An instrumental Malaysian folk dance in the joget style, performed by violinist Hamzah Dolmat and his group Rakan2. The performance features unestablished instrumentation, most likely flute, violin, accordion, and frame drum.   More »
    Music (Instrumental) |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
  • Recording features a performance of Kapi Radja (King of the apes) by the Gamelan Orchestra from Pilatan, Indonesia. The music is traditional Kebiar music, including folk songs and music, recorded on a 30 cm disc with 2 sides at 33 rpm. The label for this recording is BBCARCHIVELP19654 and the performance starts at 00:03:05.16.   More »
    Music |
    Topic: Culture |
    Audio
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