Sisters Of The Sonic Waves

On This Day In History
1937: Delia Derbyshire is born

Quote Of The Day
"I did rebel. I did a lot of things I was told not to do."
(Delia Derbyshire)

Another pioneer of electronic music was born today, but this one is not so well known as yesterday's. As an employee of the BBC's Radiophonic Workshop, her realisation of composer Ron Grainer's score for the Doctor Who Theme went uncredited. When Delia Derbyshire played her recording to Mr. Grainer, he asked her, "Did I write that?" To which she humbly replied, "Most of it." Ron Grainer asked the BBC to give Ms. Derbyshire a co-composer credit, but the BBC refused, saying that employees of the Radiophonic Workshop are only allowed to be credited as anonymous Sound Engineers.

No wonder Mr. Grainer was so shocked when he heard what Ms. Derbyshire had done with his score. Several years later he recorded an album which included the Doctor Who Theme as he had scored it.

Doctor Who Theme (as Ron Grainer intended)

Uh-huh. Now, lets compare that to the work of pure genius that Delia Derbyshire realised.

Doctor Who Theme (original)

My God! It still sounds like it's from the future over fifty years later! 

Now, let's get nuts! Sorted for sonic screwdrivers and Jelly Babies.

Doctor Who (Orbital at Glastonbury)

Addendum:

After reading some of the comments to the Ron Grainer link, it seems that piece is not how Ron Grainer had intended the Doctor Who Theme to sound. Working with the Radiophonic Workshop and knowing the kind of sounds they created, he had intended something more mysterious with electronic whooshes and something called a “wind bubble.” That doesn't diminish Delia Derbyshire's visionary genius, but it also gives due credit to Ron Grainer who was an accomplished composer.
 
Anyway, while I'm here .......

Doctor Who Theme (Jean Michel Jarre)