About this episode
This episode explores the emotional connections people have with the piece 'Sailing By' and its significance in their lives.
Written in 1963, 'Sailing By' by Ronald Binge was chosen by the BBC as the musical interlude to be played every night before the Shipping Forecast. These are the stories of some of the people for whom this piece has a powerful emotional connection. After Cyrilene Tollafield's parents left Barbados for the UK, Cyrilene heard 'Sailing By' whilst cuddling up to her grandmother and her cousins during hurricane warnings. Writer Henrietta McKervey spent a night in Fastnet lighthouse and listened to 'Sailing By' as she drifted off to sleep. Having spent years of his life out at sea, Captain Harry McClenahan marvels at how the piece mirrors the rises and falls of the sea. Chris Binge would interrupt his dad whilst he was composing at the piano in his music room, the air thick with cigarette smoke, and says whenever people find out who his father was it's 'Sailing By' that they know. Helen Harrison conducted the piece at a concert in Blackpool and at the piano she unpacks the musicality and orchestration of the piece. The best part of Jane Heiserman's day is the hour in the evening when she and her adult son, who has autism and lives at home, study together. 'Sailing By' became a firm…
Topics covered
- emotional connections to music
- personal stories
- musical analysis
- cultural significance
- family memories
- sea and navigation
Keywords
- Sailing By
- Ronald Binge
- BBC Shipping Forecast
- musical interlude
- emotional stories
- family
- lighthouse
- calm music
- Barbados
- autism
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC, The Perry/Gardner Orchestra
Books & works: Sailing By
Places: Barbados, UK, Fastnet lighthouse, Blackpool, Intertropical Convergence Zone
More episodes of Soul Music
- Make You Feel My Love · January 24, 2026 · 28 min
- Cranes in the Sky by Solange · January 17, 2026 · 27 min
- Yellow by Coldplay · January 10, 2026 · 28 min
- Porcelain by Moby · January 3, 2026 · 27 min
- Soul Music at 25 · December 27, 2025 · 57 min
- Bésame Mucho · April 26, 2025 · 28 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Soul Music podcast page.