Doctor Who Soundtracks

[MyCylon]

I just picked up two of the Doctor Who soundtracks, the ones for series 1/2 and 3, respectively. And I have to say, I'm really enjoying them a lot.

There were a few episodes throughout series 2 - 4 (I have yet to see most of 1) where the music really stood out to me ("The Girl in the Fireplace", for example, or more generally the melody which I think is "Martha's Theme"). So I recently decided to sample the soundtracks on Amazon, and I really loved what I heard. There's a great deal of variety in the music, and there are some beautiful and memorable tunes, I think.

I grabbed the two soundtracks at HMV for a total of £12, which I think is pretty good (even the MP3 downloads at Amazon will cost about the same amount). I want to eventually get series 4 as well, but I think it's too expensive at the moment.

I haven't had too much chance to listen to the soundtracks yet. But here's what I really like so far:

Series 1/2:

- Doctor Who Theme (I'm surprised it's not on the series 3 soundtrack at all).
- The Doctor's Theme.
- Father's Day.
- Rose's Theme.
- The Face of Boe.
- Madame de Pompadour (might be my favorite piece overall).
- Doomsday.
- The Impossible Planet (does this remind anyone else of some of the music used in the game "Braid"?).


Series 3:

- All the Strange, Strange Creatures.
- Martha's Theme.
- Mr. Smith and Joan.
- Only Martha Knows.
- Miss Joan Redfern.
- The Dream of a Normal Death.
- The Doctor Forever.
- Yana.
- The Master Vainglorious.
- Abide with Me.


I really look forward to picking up the series 4 soundtrack later on. But for now, I'm happy to listen to what I've got.

What do you think of the music for Doctor Who? Which pieces do you like best?

 

[diankra]

I just picked up two of the Doctor Who soundtracks, the ones for series 1/2 and 3, respectively. And I have to say, I'm really enjoying them a lot.

There were a few episodes throughout series 2 - 4 (I have yet to see most of 1) where the music really stood out to me ("The Girl in the Fireplace", for example, or more generally the melody which I think is "Martha's Theme"). So I recently decided to sample the soundtracks on Amazon, and I really loved what I heard. There's a great deal of variety in the music, and there are some beautiful and memorable tunes, I think.

I grabbed the two soundtracks at HMV for a total of £12, which I think is pretty good (even the MP3 downloads at Amazon will cost about the same amount). I want to eventually get series 4 as well, but I think it's too expensive at the moment.

I haven't had too much chance to listen to the soundtracks yet. But here's what I really like so far:

Series 1/2:

- Doctor Who Theme (I'm surprised it's not on the series 3 soundtrack at all).
- The Doctor's Theme.
- Father's Day.
- Rose's Theme.
- The Face of Boe.
- Madame de Pompadour (might be my favorite piece overall).
- Doomsday.
- The Impossible Planet (does this remind anyone else of some of the music used in the game "Braid"?).


Series 3:

- All the Strange, Strange Creatures.
- Martha's Theme.
- Mr. Smith and Joan.
- Only Martha Knows.
- Miss Joan Redfern.
- The Dream of a Normal Death.
- The Doctor Forever.
- Yana.
- The Master Vainglorious.
- Abide with Me.


I really look forward to picking up the series 4 soundtrack later on. But for now, I'm happy to listen to what I've got.

What do you think of the music for Doctor Who? Which pieces do you like best?

Is that current series only, or can we mention favourites from the 1960s-80s stuff?

 

[MyCylon]

^
Mention any Doctor-Who-related soundtracks you like .

I can only comment on the newer ones, however. But I'm fine with that.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Series 1/2
Dr Who theme long version
Madame Pompadour
The Daleks
The Cybermen
My Heart Don't Roam

Series 3
All The Strange Strange Creatures
The Carrionites Swarm
Boe
The Doctor Forever
The Master Vainglorious
This Is Gallifrey, Our Childhood, Our Home

Series 4
Voyage Of The Damned
The Greatest Story Never Told
The Dark And Endless Dalek Night
A Pressing Need To Save The World

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

Though I often have a rather ambivalent reaction to Murray Gold's stuff - it works with the programme, and listening to the CDs is quite a pleasurable experience - it just doesn't compare to the magnificent strangeness of some of the original series music.

I particularly like:
Rose's theme
Martha's theme
Doomsday
All the Strange, Strange Creatures
The Face of Boe
This is Gallifrey

But amongst all that big lush cinematic scoring, there's nothing as different and interesting as:
Tristram Cary's music for "The Daleks"
Malcolm Clarke's score for "The Sea Devils"
Brian Hodgson's "atmospheres" for seasons 5 & 6
even Dudley Simpson's work, especially for seasons 12-17

The best version of the theme tune is still Delia Derbyshire's original, though Peter Howell's version comes pretty close.

 

[Worf2DS9]

I haven't bought any of the actual CDs, though I have purchased these selected tracks off iTunes:

Series 1/2:
Doctor Who Theme (TV Version)
Rose's Theme
Madame de Pompadour
Doomsday
Doctor Who Theme

Series 3:
All the Strange, Strange Creatures
Martha's Theme
This is Gallifrey: Our Childhood, Our Home

Series 4:
A Dazzling End

I think I'll check out some of the other tracks mentioned here, however, to see if I'm missing anything I might like to add.

 

[Timby]

While I have my (big) problems with Murray Gold and his predilection for over-scoring the everloving shit out of everything, I'm banning anyone who states a preference for Keff McCulloch.

Just throwing that out there.

 

[MyCylon]

Oh my, there seems to be room for some heated debate, methinks .

A question concerning the series 1/2 soundtrack: I noticed something odd about my series 1/2 soundtrack CD. The music on track 17, "Unit", just seems to suddenly end at about 1:40. The track keeps playing, but there's nothing to be heard. Is this a general problem with the CD? Or is it just my copy?

 

[Worf2DS9]

^ Maybe if you play that blank section backwards you'll hear a U.N.I.T. transmission from the Brigadier or something.

 

[MyCylon]

^
Ok, I hadn't thought of that...

 

[ClayinCA]

While I have my (big) problems with Murray Gold and his predilection for over-scoring the everloving shit out of everything, I'm banning anyone who states a preference for Keff McCulloch.

Just throwing that out there.

 

[Tom]

For me, series 3 is by fa,r the best, then 1/2, I found series 4 OST to be rather mediocre.

 

[Stevil2001]

A question concerning the series 1/2 soundtrack: I noticed something odd about my series 1/2 soundtrack CD. The music on track 17, "Unit", just seems to suddenly end at about 1:40. The track keeps playing, but there's nothing to be heard. Is this a general problem with the CD? Or is it just my copy?

That's not a problem, that's just how the piece ends.

 

[MyCylon]

^
Seriously? It just seems so abrupt to me that I figured it must be a problem.

 

[Stevil2001]

If you listen closely (or look at the wave in a sound editor), there is a fade, just a very quick one, so it's seemingly not some kind of mechanical/computer fault cutting it off.

 

[MyCylon]

^
Ah, ok. Thanks for clearing that up :-).