Sousa 'The Liberty Bell' - Leonard Slatkin at the 'Last Night of the Proms' 2004

At the Last Night of the 2004 Proms, Leonard Slatkin, then in his final year as the BBC Symphony's Principal Conductor, introduced this rousing Sousa march. He explained to the audience that 'The Liberty Bell' itself it had been made in London in the 1750s but had developed a large crack shortly after its arrival in Philadelphia. Despite many attempts over the years, the fissure in the bell has never been fully repaired. We pick things up at the point when Slatkin brings in a gag about 'The Monty Python Show,' a British television comedy programme that used Sousa's march as its signature tune. As will be seen, Slatkin clearly enjoyed conducting the 6000-strong Albert Hall audience as they clapped along with the music.

[superspy]

One of these days I would love to see the audience do a united raspberry noise at the right moment in the march.

[ahoneanatwo]

All I wanted to hear is an excellent orchestral piece, I wasn’t expecting some kind of Spanish Inquisition!

[Decomposer-rlbw]

And now, for something completely different.

[raulramirez]

They gave us the melody to the Star Spangled Banner, we gave them the melody to Monty Python. :3

[pyrochemists]

And now, for something completely different...

[akumaking]

I keep anticipating a giant foot to stomp on everyone

[isaak.studio]

And then the giant foot crushed them all with a big fart noise.

[RedDragonM]

RIGHT! RIGHT! STOP THAT! STOP THAT! IT'S SILLY! TOO SILLY! TOO SILLY!

[philippaine]

The audience should have done a massive "Ministry of Silly Walks" conga!

[RonMotta]

I object to all this sex on the television. I mean, I keep falling off!

[ForceMaximus]

“But his face sure rings a bell.”

Lol Nice

[FD-dhsx]

And now for something completely different

[iansane]

I like the faster pace. No marching that night. Makes it fun for the crowd.

[patrickglover]

This is a faster rendition. I love it!

[scopex]

Pythonnnssss flying
NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Regards to ALL PYTHONS ALIVE OR 'DEED' as in 'its dead I tell you' I grew up with you lot and im STILL IN THERAPY!!

[randomdave]

Apparently they chose it, because it was out of copyright (ergo, free to use) and because it sounded like something starting. It always cheers me up when I'm down because it makes me think of funny things.... Would that the whole wide world could be one great big everlasting Monty Python sketch!

[EmilyGloeggler]

All that’s missing is the final raspberry

[RedDragonM]

This is great! "no it's not." "Yes it is!" "No it isn't." "This isn't an argument, this is just contridiction!!"

[gurugeorge]

That's ... fast. Still, a jolly time was had by all!

[CaptainLegionary]

For a video uploaded in 2013 and recorded in 2004, this quality surprised me a lot! This is INSANELY GOOD quality for a video from like 2004!