A wonderful, wide-ranging retrospective
L. J. Strom | Los Angeles, CA | 02/24/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I hope anyone considering this two-cd set will not be discouraged by the one-star review here.
This cd set is exactly what it says it is: a retrospective of the output of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, spanning the nearly 40 years of its operation from 1958 to 1997. The iconic "Doctor Who" theme, composed by Ron Grainer and realised by Delia Derbyshire in 1963, is here, of course, along with Brian Hodgson's TARDIS materialisation/dematerialisation sound effect for the show.
But "Doctor Who" was not the Workshop's only customer. This cd set also features a broad range of audio effects, soundscapes, background music, radio themes, and television signature tunes. There are 68 tracks on disc 1 and 39 tracks on disc 2, and they are arranged in chronological order of production, which allows you to hear the evolution of the Workshop's sound from tape manipulation techniques through to the use of both acoustic instruments and, probably most famously, synthesizers. There is also a short booklet included with brief notes for each track and an introduction by composer and BBC Radiophonic Workshop archivist Mark Ayres.
In addition to the aforementioned "Doctor Who" theme, science fiction fans can hear Malcolm Clarke's "The Milonga," which featured in the "Who" episode "Enlightenment"; the "Mysterioso" track used to signify the Liberator in "Blake's 7"; and two of Paddy Kingsland's offerings for "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy": "Brighton Pier" and "The Whale." 80s-era "Who" composer Roger Limb and "Who's" "Special Sound" man Dick Mills also have tracks on this set.
Science fiction, however, is not the only genre here; there are several signature pieces for educational programs, television dramas, radio programs, news lead-ins, and, most recently, Monty Python alum Michael Palin's "Full Circle" travel series.
My favorite Workshop composer, Peter Howell, another "Who" veteran from the early 80s and the man who created the lilting "Full Circle" theme, is also well represented by "The Astronauts," which, according to the notes, was originally composed for two "Horizon" programs and appeared on his 1978 LP "Through a Glass Darkly." (Question for the BBC: Any chance this album will be released on cd some day? Please?) Some of Howell's music from Jonathan Miller's "The Body in Question" series is also here: "Moving Form," the program's lovely signature music, and the glorious "Greenwich Chorus," which uses, with spectacular results, a Vocoder to create the sound of almost-human voices.
I was thrilled to find what I think of as the Workshop's glory days, the late 70s and early 80s, well covered by these cds, but I was also delighted to be able to hear samples of the whole range of music and sound produced over the course of the Workshop's nearly 40-year history.
This cd set might not be for everyone, but I recommend it for anyone who appreciates electronic music."
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1
