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April 10, 2014 2:46 PM   Subscribe

The Delian Mode (Kara Blake, 2009) - A 25-minute documentary about composer and pioneering electronic musician Delia Derbyshire, perhaps most familiar to Mefites for writing the theme song for "Doctor Who".
posted by Blazecock Pileon (8 comments total) 41 users marked this as a favorite
 
Well.. performing the theme song for Doctor Who. Composed by Ron Grainer, arranged and performed by Delia Derbyshire.
posted by mediocre at 2:55 PM on April 10, 2014 [2 favorites]




Maybe "crafting" would be a better way to put it than just "performing," as she was responsible for creating the electronic sounds -- before synthesizers! -- that gave us the Doctor Who theme as we know it:

Grainer was amazed at the resulting piece of music and when he heard it, famously asked, "Did I write that?"
posted by spacewaitress at 4:42 PM on April 10, 2014 [3 favorites]


I believe "realize" is the verb of choice here. And Grainer would have been good with a composing credit for her.
posted by tspae at 4:44 PM on April 10, 2014


Bookmarked for later watching. You can never have too much Delia Derbyshire.
posted by immlass at 5:11 PM on April 10, 2014 [1 favorite]


And Grainer would have been good with a composing credit for her.

Indeed, this is addressed in the documentary, for those who want to watch it.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:18 PM on April 10, 2014


The first bit of this is a strong rehashing of 'The Alchemists of Sound,' albeit with the interviews taking place a few years later--it's amazing how the age shows on the interviewees, and it's worth it for that on its own.

I love all the recording of Delia's voice over the telephone--I've always thought her speaking voice to be very musical itself, and a pleasure to listen to. I want her to have done narration, books on tape.

Yes, more Delia. She makes me want to dust off the viola and the four track and get to work.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 6:28 PM on April 10, 2014 [1 favorite]


I am lucky to have snagged one of these. She was definitely a trailblazer.
posted by Foosnark at 7:08 PM on April 10, 2014 [1 favorite]


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