Few examples of returning themes in Doctor Who music
Author:alumfelga
Title: Few examples of returning themes in Doctor Who music
Genre: meta
Being a huge fan of music in Doctor Who, I’ve been thinking of writing about returning themes for quite a long time. Last week’s episode, the season 9 finale, provided even more examples for this meta so this is why it comes out now. It’s a set of observations about some particular pieces and particular scenes, with a conclusion being basically it’s so clever and consistent and a huge part of storyteling!. Feel free to add more examples if you like.
Other notes: It’s all about the new series and Murray Gold’s work. SPOILERS up to 9x12 “Hell Bent”.
Few examples of returning themes in Doctor Who music
Music is a very important part of Doctor Who. A large amount of score is composed for each episode, the soundtrack has more and more pieces every year, and the popularity of Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular concerts speaks for itself. There’s no laziness and recycling; there are pieces we only hear once so they feel very special. Apart from that, every important character has his or her theme, which doesn’t get forgotten and is played even when the character comes back after some time, like Rose’s theme in "The Stolen Earth” and "The End of Time”, or "The Doctor Forever” in "The Day of the Doctor”. Some aliens, like the Daleks and the Cybermen have their themes, UNIT has one. It’s the basics but some shows do not have even that.
For example, Gallifrey’s theme appears for the first time in season 3, and then there are few notes of it in "The End of Time” and a short but triumphant fragment in „The Time of the Doctor” when the Time Lords give the Doctor a new set of regenerations. I’m a bit disappointed we didn’t hear “This is Gallifrey” in "Hell Bent”, just a few notes in the background would be nice.
"This is Gallifrey" composed by Murray Gold
Most often we hear the familiar theme first and then see the returning character but there’s one scene when it’s extra important. When Jack talks to the Doctor and Martha in "The Last of the Time Lords”, few seconds before The Great Revelation about Jack being the Face of Boe is made, "Boe” is played. If you know the theme, you can figure out the twist few seconds earlier. If not, it gets to you when you re-watch the episode.
"The Rings of Akhaten”, with its wonderful “The Long Song” is one of my favourite episodes of 11th Doctor’s era. The second episode we hear few notes of that piece is "The Time of the Doctor”, just before the Eleventh Doctor regenerates. In that moment we can relate the lyrics to the Doctor; the cloak of life cling[ing] to your bones becomes just a poetic name for a new set of regenerations. While the Tenth Doctor's regeneration is about dying, the Eleventh Doctor’s regeneration is about living. This song is ending but the story never ends, the Ood said once. In “The Rings of Akhaten” lives are stories and stories are songs so this song, the song about the Doctor, never ends.
In my opinion, two themes from the episode "Rose” are particularly worth remembering. We hear the first one when Rose enters the TARDIS for the first time. In a way, her story begins there. It was that theme Murray Gold decided to use - and expand - in the famous scene in season two finale when the Doctor and Rose are separated. Yes, it’s “Doomsday”. Rose’s adventure starts and ends with the same melody and I think it’s a beautiful hint.
"Doomsday" composed by Murray Gold
The second memorable piece is played when Rose sees the Doctor going towards the TARDIS (it’s also the first time in New Who when we see the TARDIS) and is intrigued, she knows she can’t just forget him like he told her to do. It’s the first time we hear "The Doctor’s Theme” - a subtle song that fits the Ninth Doctor so well: it’s mysterious, delicate and sad. In season four, Murray Gold expands the theme. "The Doctor’s Theme Series Four” reveals the scale of epicness and tragedy only the Tenth Doctor’s era had. Various versions of that theme are used in the special moments in the show; the main tune with some high vocals in "Turn Left” when we see the Doctor dead and in "The Waters of Mars” when Time Lord Victorious is being born. Even more loud and tragic one when the Tenth Doctor regenerates. In the Eleventh Doctor’s era there’s another variation of the theme; the main tune doesn’t appear and the melody is more triumphant than tragic, as in “You’re Fired”. We hear similar tunes when the Eleventh Doctor gets the new set of regenerations - another huge moment for the Doctor. Recently, we heard the main tune of the Doctor’s theme again in "Hell Bent” when the Doctor was back on Gallifrey, this time played in a western-style.
The theme with greatest number of different versions is, with no doubt, the Eleventh Doctor’s theme. When it comes to music, his whole era is basically one big "I am the Doctor”, with various themes being expanded in new ways, played with other instruments, being slowed down and paced up. “I Might Change my mind”, “Geronimo”, “Some Wednesday” are just few examples. My favourite piece based on “I am the Doctor” is "A Useful Striker” where the theme gets played faster, not slower like in most of the versions, and it becomes a music for a thrilling, light-hearted adventure.
"I am the Doctor" composed and played by Murray Gold
Returning songs can also play a different role. Few songs in Doctor Who are played “inside the show” and the one that comes to mind first is probably Slade’s "Merry Xmas Everybody”, which can be heard in most of the Christmas specials and in the episodes with Christmas involved, like "Turn Left” and „The Power of Three”. It brings certain associations immediately: as long as it’s played, even if the character’s wearing a sleeveless dress and it’s green everywhere, viewers just believe it’s Christmas. You can say the song is ‘Christmas theme’ in Doctor Who.
Recently, a very interesting thing has been made: in “Hell Bent” Clara’s theme was played “inside the show”, as it was revealed the Doctor composed that piece from his lost memories of her. It was very meta; I think it was one of the best Steven Moffat’s ideas this year.
My last remark goes outside the show. "Vale Decem” might be considered too exalted by some people but to me it’s one of the most emotional pieces in Doctor Who. At Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular a video has been shown that turns the song into the song of all the Doctor’s regenerations, and it’s fantastic. What I love most about it is that in the very moment when the Tenth Doctor bursts in regeneration energy in "The End of Time”, it’s exactly what we see in the video, timed perfectly with the music. That moment, that makes me shiver every time, is still his.
"Vale Decem" composed and written by Murray Gold, Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular 2015
ETA: A little supplement.
Title: Few examples of returning themes in Doctor Who music
Genre: meta
Being a huge fan of music in Doctor Who, I’ve been thinking of writing about returning themes for quite a long time. Last week’s episode, the season 9 finale, provided even more examples for this meta so this is why it comes out now. It’s a set of observations about some particular pieces and particular scenes, with a conclusion being basically it’s so clever and consistent and a huge part of storyteling!. Feel free to add more examples if you like.
Other notes: It’s all about the new series and Murray Gold’s work. SPOILERS up to 9x12 “Hell Bent”.
Few examples of returning themes in Doctor Who music
Music is a very important part of Doctor Who. A large amount of score is composed for each episode, the soundtrack has more and more pieces every year, and the popularity of Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular concerts speaks for itself. There’s no laziness and recycling; there are pieces we only hear once so they feel very special. Apart from that, every important character has his or her theme, which doesn’t get forgotten and is played even when the character comes back after some time, like Rose’s theme in "The Stolen Earth” and "The End of Time”, or "The Doctor Forever” in "The Day of the Doctor”. Some aliens, like the Daleks and the Cybermen have their themes, UNIT has one. It’s the basics but some shows do not have even that.
For example, Gallifrey’s theme appears for the first time in season 3, and then there are few notes of it in "The End of Time” and a short but triumphant fragment in „The Time of the Doctor” when the Time Lords give the Doctor a new set of regenerations. I’m a bit disappointed we didn’t hear “This is Gallifrey” in "Hell Bent”, just a few notes in the background would be nice.
Click to view"This is Gallifrey" composed by Murray Gold
Most often we hear the familiar theme first and then see the returning character but there’s one scene when it’s extra important. When Jack talks to the Doctor and Martha in "The Last of the Time Lords”, few seconds before The Great Revelation about Jack being the Face of Boe is made, "Boe” is played. If you know the theme, you can figure out the twist few seconds earlier. If not, it gets to you when you re-watch the episode.
"The Rings of Akhaten”, with its wonderful “The Long Song” is one of my favourite episodes of 11th Doctor’s era. The second episode we hear few notes of that piece is "The Time of the Doctor”, just before the Eleventh Doctor regenerates. In that moment we can relate the lyrics to the Doctor; the cloak of life cling[ing] to your bones becomes just a poetic name for a new set of regenerations. While the Tenth Doctor's regeneration is about dying, the Eleventh Doctor’s regeneration is about living. This song is ending but the story never ends, the Ood said once. In “The Rings of Akhaten” lives are stories and stories are songs so this song, the song about the Doctor, never ends.
In my opinion, two themes from the episode "Rose” are particularly worth remembering. We hear the first one when Rose enters the TARDIS for the first time. In a way, her story begins there. It was that theme Murray Gold decided to use - and expand - in the famous scene in season two finale when the Doctor and Rose are separated. Yes, it’s “Doomsday”. Rose’s adventure starts and ends with the same melody and I think it’s a beautiful hint.
"Doomsday" composed by Murray Gold
The second memorable piece is played when Rose sees the Doctor going towards the TARDIS (it’s also the first time in New Who when we see the TARDIS) and is intrigued, she knows she can’t just forget him like he told her to do. It’s the first time we hear "The Doctor’s Theme” - a subtle song that fits the Ninth Doctor so well: it’s mysterious, delicate and sad. In season four, Murray Gold expands the theme. "The Doctor’s Theme Series Four” reveals the scale of epicness and tragedy only the Tenth Doctor’s era had. Various versions of that theme are used in the special moments in the show; the main tune with some high vocals in "Turn Left” when we see the Doctor dead and in "The Waters of Mars” when Time Lord Victorious is being born. Even more loud and tragic one when the Tenth Doctor regenerates. In the Eleventh Doctor’s era there’s another variation of the theme; the main tune doesn’t appear and the melody is more triumphant than tragic, as in “You’re Fired”. We hear similar tunes when the Eleventh Doctor gets the new set of regenerations - another huge moment for the Doctor. Recently, we heard the main tune of the Doctor’s theme again in "Hell Bent” when the Doctor was back on Gallifrey, this time played in a western-style.
The theme with greatest number of different versions is, with no doubt, the Eleventh Doctor’s theme. When it comes to music, his whole era is basically one big "I am the Doctor”, with various themes being expanded in new ways, played with other instruments, being slowed down and paced up. “I Might Change my mind”, “Geronimo”, “Some Wednesday” are just few examples. My favourite piece based on “I am the Doctor” is "A Useful Striker” where the theme gets played faster, not slower like in most of the versions, and it becomes a music for a thrilling, light-hearted adventure.
"I am the Doctor" composed and played by Murray Gold
Returning songs can also play a different role. Few songs in Doctor Who are played “inside the show” and the one that comes to mind first is probably Slade’s "Merry Xmas Everybody”, which can be heard in most of the Christmas specials and in the episodes with Christmas involved, like "Turn Left” and „The Power of Three”. It brings certain associations immediately: as long as it’s played, even if the character’s wearing a sleeveless dress and it’s green everywhere, viewers just believe it’s Christmas. You can say the song is ‘Christmas theme’ in Doctor Who.
Recently, a very interesting thing has been made: in “Hell Bent” Clara’s theme was played “inside the show”, as it was revealed the Doctor composed that piece from his lost memories of her. It was very meta; I think it was one of the best Steven Moffat’s ideas this year.
My last remark goes outside the show. "Vale Decem” might be considered too exalted by some people but to me it’s one of the most emotional pieces in Doctor Who. At Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular a video has been shown that turns the song into the song of all the Doctor’s regenerations, and it’s fantastic. What I love most about it is that in the very moment when the Tenth Doctor bursts in regeneration energy in "The End of Time”, it’s exactly what we see in the video, timed perfectly with the music. That moment, that makes me shiver every time, is still his.
"Vale Decem" composed and written by Murray Gold, Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular 2015
ETA: A little supplement.