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Delia Derbyshire play

Post 1

Munchkin

I went to see a play called Standing Wave at the Tron last night. This is a play based on the life of Delia Derbyshire, who most famously arranged the original Doctor Who theme tune while working for the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. And yes, it does feature the Who theme (twice) and a mysterious traveller in the fourth dimension. It also has much to say on Delia, the Radiophonic Workshop, the Space Race, Womens Lib and the birth of Electronic Music. There is also rather a lot of quarter inch magnetic tape. Its really good. As someone who didn't know much about Delia beyond the theme I found it both informative and entertaining on many levels. It is amazing how much work went in to her music. Each sound was recorded to tape and then the tape was manually edited (by chopping it up with a razor blade) and then played back at various speeds while being recorded by another tape. By this iterative process she built up some extraordinary sounds and tunes. Oh, and the programme includes a CD of electronic music.
And finally, the guy who plays Brian "Key down a piano string" Hodgson lives upstairs from me and if it is succesful he will be able to afford the close repairs we need doing. smiley - smiley
See http://www.deliaderbyshire.co.uk for more info.


Delia Derbyshire play

Post 2

Toccata

And very smiley - coolit was too smiley - smiley


Delia Derbyshire play

Post 3

The Psycho Chicken -- self respect intact

Sounds like fun smiley - biggrin

The music programme at the end is interesting too (they have listings on the website). Apparently one night they closed with the best song title in the world (...ever!):

"Several Species of Small Furry Animal Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict" a classic cut from the Floyd, which simply *must* be listened to through headphones smiley - cool

smiley - chick


Delia Derbyshire play

Post 4

Also Ran1-hope springs eternal

Hi, Sounds a fascinating play. I wonder if it will come to London.

Thanks for the review

Also Ran1 smiley - schooloffish


Delia Derbyshire play

Post 5

Munchkin

I know that they are hoping to do a tour but I don't think they have got that far yet. This is just their opening run at the moment. Presumably if it is popular enough they can book a decent length tour.
As to the after show music, sadly when we went they replaced it with a question and answer session, so I went home instead. Hey ho, said Rolly.


Delia Derbyshire play

Post 6

The Psycho Chicken -- self respect intact

Boo. Music would be much better than a quesion and answer session!

smiley - chick


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