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So here's the
thing -I've been swept up in the Doctor Who
experience over the years through the music alone. To date, I've yet to
fully engage the series itself yet it feels like I've experienced all the
joy, humor, and wonder nevertheless. It's Murray Gold's music that's sent me
soaring in a custom Tardis of my own and it's been an expedition that's
reaped great rewards. Needless to say I've been counting down the days for
this next release, the double CD set dedicated to "The Specials," and I
happily retreated to my happy zone upon its arrival. My imagination was
ready for the revival.
Disc 1
includes a selection of cues from episodes The Next Doctor, Planet of the
Dead and The Waters Of Mars. While the music from this first disc
is quite enjoyable, I now look at it now as a warm up for things to come
since the splendors that await the listener on Disc 2 is breathtaking.
Seriously, keep guard over your goose bumps because they will be summoned
forth with prejudice.
The second
CD is solely dedicated to The End Of Time Parts 1 & 2 and it plays
like a full length feature score, Doctor Who
style. It features a blend of all that we have come to know and love from
the musical tapestry of the series but elevated to even greater heights. The
method in which themes both old and new come into play are a delight for the
ears, especially the manner in which familiar motifs are redeployed in their
creative variations. I feel that one mark of a great composer is when he or
she delivers existing themes in unpredictable and creative ways, which is
what transpires here in a series of mini-surprises along the way. That is
what John Williams
has done throughout the Star Wars
saga, for example, and this dynamic leitmotif approach is one that Murray
executes to great effect in Doctor Who.
It should be
noted that fans of choral mastery will also find great satisfaction with
these albums, specifically with the closing tracks on Disc 2. The heart and
soul that come across through the choral pieces is what it's all about for
me. So often we hear the traditional choir back up a score as if going
through the obligatory motions, which is why I fail to connect emotionally
with most choral pieces these days. In the case of Doctor Who,
cues like Vale Decem deliver the impact that one would hope for. Heartfelt
and emotional, it was simply a joy to be swept up in the beauty of these
voices, which served as a fitting farewell to an absorbing listening
experience.
Perhaps what
I enjoy most about this score is that it once again led me on a zany,
dramatic, and unpredictable journey. In a so-called rat race where each of
our days mirror the one before it, a score like this enters that fray and
dares you to imagine. In fact, the only predictable thing about
Doctor Who - The Specials
is that it was predictably good. Congrats to Murray and the team...keep 'em
coming.
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