Dudley Simpson
Encyclopedia
Dudley Simpson is an Australia
n television composer who is best known for his work on Doctor Who
.
Prior to leaving Australia, Simpson composed for the Borovansky Ballet Company
, forerunner to the Australian Ballet. Among his early television work was the music for Moonstrike
. Simpson was also responsible for the memorable theme music for The Tomorrow People
', Moonbase 3
' (1973), The Ascent of Man
(1973), Blake's 7
(1978) and the 1985 production of Titus Andronicus
.
's era as the First Doctor
in Planet of Giants
, in 1964, but he is primarily associated with the programme in the 1970s. He also appeared on screen as a music hall
conductor in the 1977 story The Talons of Weng Chiang; Simpson had to be paid a special fee for this appearance as he was a member of the Musicians' Union
and not Equity
.
When John Nathan-Turner
became producer of Doctor Who in 1980, he decided that the music needed to be updated, and took Simpson out for a meal telling him how much he appreciated his work on Doctor Who but that it would no longer be required as he intended to have the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
provide music from now on. Simpson's last broadcast work on Doctor Who was for The Horns of Nimon
(although he also composed music for the unbroadcast Shada
).
Between 1964 and 1980, Simpson composed the music for 60 Doctor Who stories, (61 counting Shada).
to perform his work.
Simpson's work was characterised by an ability to provide a cheeky counterpoint to the images it accompanied: moments of high drama would be underplayed, often allowing the picture to take centre stage, but all manner of minor screen moments would be made more interesting by having a handful of musical notes added. If someone had to walk across a room, pick up a cup, or look out of a window, Simpson's music could make a simple action appear infused with some greater significance.
Simpson used organ music with great skill and it was used with particular effect in the Doctor Who stories set on Gallifrey
. Time Lord
society, with its chapters and cardinals and colleges already had a significantly ecclesiastical flavour, to which Simpson's organ music was the ideal accompaniment. One of the most impressive sequences of Simpson's music can be found in The Invasion of Time
, when the Doctor
is being inducted as President of the High Council.
There were also times when Simpson's music could be cheerful and tuney, adding a touch of levity, while rarely distracting from the drama. A few CDs featuring Simpson's work have been made available from time to time, but there has not, as yet, been a release of a significant selection of his work.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n television composer who is best known for his work on Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
.
Prior to leaving Australia, Simpson composed for the Borovansky Ballet Company
Edouard Borovansky
Edouard Borovansky was a Czech- born Australian ballet dancer, choreographer and director. After touring with Anna Pavlova's company, he and his wife settled in Australia where they established the Borovansky Ballet company...
, forerunner to the Australian Ballet. Among his early television work was the music for Moonstrike
Moonstrike
Moonstrike is a British television series produced by the BBC in 1963.The series was an anthology programme: a collection of self-contained stories about acts of resistance in occupied Europe during the Second World War...
. Simpson was also responsible for the memorable theme music for The Tomorrow People
The Tomorrow People
The Tomorrow People is a British children's science fiction television series, devised by Roger Price. Produced by Thames Television for the ITV Network, the series first ran between 1973 and 1979. The series was re-imagined in 1992, Roger Price acting as executive producer...
', Moonbase 3
Moonbase 3
Moonbase 3 is a British science fiction television programme that ran for six episodes in 1973. It was a co-production between the BBC, 20th Century Fox and the American ABC network...
' (1973), The Ascent of Man
The Ascent of Man
The Ascent of Man is a thirteen-part documentary television series produced by the BBC and Time-Life Films first transmitted in 1973, written and presented by Jacob Bronowski...
(1973), Blake's 7
Blake's 7
Blake's 7 is a British science fiction television series produced by the BBC for its BBC1 channel. The series was created by Terry Nation, a prolific television writer and creator of the Daleks for the television series Doctor Who. Four series of Blake's 7 were produced and broadcast between 1978...
(1978) and the 1985 production of Titus Andronicus
Titus Andronicus
Titus Andronicus is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, and possibly George Peele, believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593. It is thought to be Shakespeare's first tragedy, and is often seen as his attempt to emulate the violent and bloody revenge plays of his contemporaries, which were...
.
Doctor Who
Simpson's first work on Doctor Who was during William HartnellWilliam Hartnell
William Henry Hartnell was an English actor. During 1963-66, he was the first actor to play the Doctor in the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Early life:...
's era as the First Doctor
First Doctor
The First Doctor is the initial incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by the actor William Hartnell from 1963 to 1966. Hartnell reprised the role in the tenth anniversary story The Three Doctors in 1973 - albeit in a...
in Planet of Giants
Planet of Giants
*An early draft of this story – by C.E. Webber and entitled The Giants – was originally meant to be the first story of the first season.-Episode 4:*This story was originally four episodes in length...
, in 1964, but he is primarily associated with the programme in the 1970s. He also appeared on screen as a music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
conductor in the 1977 story The Talons of Weng Chiang; Simpson had to be paid a special fee for this appearance as he was a member of the Musicians' Union
Musicians' Union (UK)
-About the MU:The Musicians' Union is an organisation which represents over 30,000 musicians working in all sectors of the UK music business.-Campaigns:The MU stages regular campaigns in relation to relevant musical and industrial issues...
and not Equity
British Actors' Equity Association
Equity is the trade union for actors, stage managers and models in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1930 by a group of West End performers....
.
When John Nathan-Turner
John Nathan-Turner
John Nathan-Turner was the ninth producer of the long-running BBC science fiction series Doctor Who, from 1980 until it was effectively cancelled in 1989...
became producer of Doctor Who in 1980, he decided that the music needed to be updated, and took Simpson out for a meal telling him how much he appreciated his work on Doctor Who but that it would no longer be required as he intended to have the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
BBC Radiophonic Workshop
The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, one of the sound effects units of the BBC, was created in 1958 to produce effects and new music for radio, and was closed in March 1998, although much of its traditional work had already been outsourced by 1995. It was based in the BBC's Maida Vale Studios in Delaware...
provide music from now on. Simpson's last broadcast work on Doctor Who was for The Horns of Nimon
The Horns of Nimon
-Outside references:The plot of this serial incorporates aspects of the story of Theseus and the Minotaur - a fact the Doctor comments on at the end of the last episode...
(although he also composed music for the unbroadcast Shada
Shada
Shada is an unaired serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was intended to be the final serial of the 1979-80 season , but was never completed due to a strike at the BBC during filming...
).
Between 1964 and 1980, Simpson composed the music for 60 Doctor Who stories, (61 counting Shada).
Style
Simpson's style was usually to work closely with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop in the realisation of his compositions, but he also used small groups of musicians, often with a prominent bass clarinetBass clarinet
The bass clarinet is a musical instrument of the clarinet family. Like the more common soprano B clarinet, it is usually pitched in B , but it plays notes an octave below the soprano B clarinet...
to perform his work.
Simpson's work was characterised by an ability to provide a cheeky counterpoint to the images it accompanied: moments of high drama would be underplayed, often allowing the picture to take centre stage, but all manner of minor screen moments would be made more interesting by having a handful of musical notes added. If someone had to walk across a room, pick up a cup, or look out of a window, Simpson's music could make a simple action appear infused with some greater significance.
Simpson used organ music with great skill and it was used with particular effect in the Doctor Who stories set on Gallifrey
Gallifrey
Gallifrey is a fictional planet in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and is the homeworld of the Doctor and the Time Lords...
. Time Lord
Time Lord
The Time Lords are an ancient extraterrestrial race and civilization of humanoids in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, of which the series' eponymous protagonist, the Doctor, is a member...
society, with its chapters and cardinals and colleges already had a significantly ecclesiastical flavour, to which Simpson's organ music was the ideal accompaniment. One of the most impressive sequences of Simpson's music can be found in The Invasion of Time
The Invasion of Time
The Invasion of Time is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 4 February to 11 March 1978...
, when the Doctor
Doctor (Doctor Who)
The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
is being inducted as President of the High Council.
There were also times when Simpson's music could be cheerful and tuney, adding a touch of levity, while rarely distracting from the drama. A few CDs featuring Simpson's work have been made available from time to time, but there has not, as yet, been a release of a significant selection of his work.