Search - Murray Gold, Neil Hannon :: Doctor Who - Original Television Soundtrack

Sonnet upon a Doctor Who Soundtrack

Crazy Fox | Chicago, IL USA | 03/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD begins most auspiciously,

Familiar 'tis the errant Time Lord's theme:

Remixed, empowered for our century,

Yet true to Ron Grainer's celestial dream.

The rest's superb and stellar in its range,

With Cyber march and choral Dalek dirge,

Now thrilling, now haunting, eerie and strange,

Even strains of wistful romance emerge.

In style mostly sci-fi instrumental,

Plus twin vocals resembling a sore thumb.

To evoke the show's moods, fundamental:

Melodic magic to which you'll succumb.

Hear this soundtrack again and again--

Relive the tales of Doctors nine and ten!"

Excellent soundtrack music!

Dame Ruth | 04/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Whether you're a fan of the new Doctor Who TV series or not, if you enjoy soundtracks this album is an excellent buy. Murray Gold's cinematic-style orchestral arrangments range from dramatic to eerie to wistful. I like to have this album playing while I type, read, or work on other creative projects since it's inspirational without the distractions of lyrics. Also included are two "apocryphal" radio pop songs, "Love Don't Roam" and "Song for Ten," written specifically for the program. Both stand on their own merits quite well, and provide fans with in-jokes from the series itself -- the only downside is that "Song for Ten" is a re-recorded version, rather than the one that originally played on the TV series (and which I rather prefer). Personal faves: the haunting "Doctor's Theme," the meditative "Impossible Planet," and the dramatic "Dalek" theme, complete with with an alien-language chorus."

This is how you use an orchestra!

S. E. Kim | New York, NY | 02/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Talk about knowing how to use an orchestra to its full advantage. I really enjoy a good orchestral score and it's difficult to find that in television. However, Murray Gold has composed some of the most haunting, electrifying, emotional and just plain lively music to accompany one of the best shows on television. His music is a distinctive but integral part of each show - just try to imagine watching Doomsday or The Girl in the Fireplace without the music. I particularly like his use of motifs throughout the series, especially for Rose, the Daleks and the Cyberman - it's a way of subconsciously identifying the character before you even see them (my favorites are Rose's Theme and The Face of Boe). The CD is long - 75 minutes - and you certainly get your money's worth. I didn't particularly like the two songs performed by Neil Hannon but only because it didn't seem to fit - orchestral music and then a song in the middle of the CD? It just felt odd. The accompanying music notes written by Murray Gold is also enlightening. I collect a lot of film scores and this is certainly going to be one of my favorites...



** Update 18 February 2007: I've been watching the episodes again on DVD and I've realized "Song for Ten" is a goodbye song. I have a thing - I can't hear the lyrics of a song unless I really concentrate which I usually don't. But I concentrated and this song is really sad despite its catchy tune. This is the song you first hear at the end of The Christmas Invasion and here it's almost a premonition of Doomsday. And I just watched School Reunion again and the melody was playing at the end when Sarah Jane and the Doctor are saying goodbye. The more I hear this song, the more I like it..."