Customer Reviews

Doctor Who - Original Television Soundtrack - Series 4

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

The release of the Doctor Who soundtrack has become almost as exciting for me as the release of the DVDs. I thought it would be tough for Murray Gold to surpass the soundtrack from Series Three, but I was oh so wrong. In watching Series Four, the music didn't seem as pronounced as in Series' Two and Three, but listening to the soundtrack, independent of the show, he brings his genius to the fore once again. Like I said in my review for the Series Three soundtrack, it might be incidental music, but there's nothing incidental about it.

He starts off with the retooled, rocked up opening theme for the show then moves into Donna's quirky theme. He covers music from Partners in Crime and The Fires of Pompeii, then moves on to "Songs of Captivity and Freedom" from Planet of the Ood, which is a beautiful lament with a victorious, if bittersweet ending. "The Source," from The Doctor's Daughter, is a beautiful piece which reminds you of the Doctor's grief and anger at the loss of Jenny. "The Doctor's Theme Series Four" is a reworking of the Doctor's theme that we've heard throughout the revived series, beautiful and haunting. The "Voyage of the Damned Suite" is the longest track on the album, combining the festive holiday sounds from the episode, as well as swelling triumphs and heartbreaking defeats. "The Rueful Fate of Donna Noble" is another favorite. It captures the sadness of her tragic departure, but also the hope, the knowledge, that she lives on, if robbed of her most precious memories. "A Dazzling End" reminds us, too, of the selfless sacrifice Donna made in Turn Left to ensure the Universe was put to rights.

In my opinion, this soundtrack, in its entirety, is the best of the three soundtracks. Mr. Gold has created a sound that is uniquely his - and uniquely the Doctor's. It's layered and complex, carrying a treasure trove of emotions: excitement, triumph, loss, danger, quirkiness, affection. All of the things that any true Whovian feels when they accompany the Doctor on his journey and adventures.

All I can say about Mr. Gold is that I think he's a brilliant composer of modern, contemporary classical music, because, quite frankly, that is what this music is. He has the wonderful ability of capturing the nuances of emotion and excitement from the series, whether happy or sad or dangerous or thrilling, and when you listen to it, you will be caught up and transported back to your favorite adventures, imagining yourself at the Doctor's side as he safeguards the Universe as its ultimate champion.

Bravo, Mr. Gold! Molto Bene!

This soundtrack includes new arrangements of old favorites, nimble and emotive suites, spine-tingling horror tracks and soulful melodies. The balance is good between genres; there is rock/pop, orchestral, chamber ensembles, and a hearty chunk of choral work. It also works emotionally--between unapologetic kid stuff, romantic melodies, introspective riffs and claustrophobic mystery/horror themes, driving action vamps, and uplifting dramatic anthems.

Returning Favorites: The new version of the TV theme is raucous and full-on, mostly a good thing, and (to my ear) well-balanced in the midrange. "A Noble Girl About Town" explores jazzy variations on Donna's theme. "UNIT Rocks" offers a comfortably substantial tune here after its abbreviated release on the first CD. And finally, there is a wonderfully expanded version of the "Doctor's Theme;" a fantastic use of both orchestra and choir, as effective in its dramatic impact as was the "Doctor Forever" from the previous Series 3 CD.

Amazing suites: At over 10 minutes, the music for the "Voyage of the Damned" flows effortlessly; from the crash to Astrid's theme, saving the ship and the goodbye to Mr. Copper--all a glorious ride. "Greatest Story Never Told" also used extended scenes with luscious scores; out of context it's almost too rich with orchestration and mad chorals, but the core melodies hold the heart of this romantic, emotive piece together. And with the show's ever larger dramatic confrontations, "A Pressing Need to Save the World" weaves melodic and rhythmic elements from Series 3's "All the Strange Strange Creatures," but adds others and creates a more complex, perhaps even more listenable result.

Chilling horror and drama tracks: In "Midnight," even the violins somehow feel more 'itchy' than usual horror music, while plucking and pounding effects threaten... "Turn Left" is literally dizzying; acoustic effects mirror the story's mysteries and manipulation. The music for "Davros" has comparable effects to "Midnight," but in a generally more electronic setting. And "The Dark and Endless Dalek Night" evokes the threat of the series' most enduring enemy on the grand scale.

Heartbreaking, and soul-filling, melodies: In the "Songs of Captivity and Freedom" (and separate "Song of Freedom") its melodies, vocals, and even words from ancient philosophers come alive. Wilfred Mott and his family are celebrated in the wistful "Life Among the Distant Stars." Murray Gold has a gift for truly anthemic melodies--and gave them richly to Donna, in both the rock-guitar-based "A Dazzling End" for that brave Everywoman, and in "The Rueful Fate of Donna Noble" for her tragic destiny.

The album works well as a piece, overall; what initially may seem an 'extra' low-key track here or there actually gives a useful breather between the corridor-chasing and monster-threatening cues. They seem to have favored a body of work that offers listenability over the rote inclusion of impressive themes X, Y, and Z from specific favorite episodes--you may not get a favorite Sontaran track, but you can just pop the CD or iTunes album on and enjoy the whole thing. So do--get it, enjoy it!

This CD is just more of the great music that Murray Gold's been making for the show. Twenty seven great tracks, which total to about 76(or so)minutes. Some highlights from this release include "The Doctor's Theme"(wow,fits the Doctor so well) "Turn Left"(if you liked the Doomsday theme from Season 2, you'll love this one), and "The Rueful Fate Of Donna Noble"(which sounds very sad and majestic at the same time). Definitely get this if you enjoyed the previous two Murray Gold releases.

Like Bear McCreary, Murray Gold is getting better and better. The score for the new doctor has an interesting history. In the first half of the first series it was mostly incidental music with very little original material, it got a bit better in the second half and from the interviews with Murray Gold from that era it becomes clear he thought that this was as epic as it would get but we know of course he was dead wrong. From series two on, Murray worked extensively with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and its choir. The music now truly took off and sounded more like the score for some movie.The third series was less melodic and more experimental, yet it had some highlights. We have now reached the fourth series and with it we receive an intensely, harmonious and epic score that sweeps away with grand melodic structures that will take the breath away not only of Whovians but of any right minded music lover.

The score starts of course with the main theme of series four which is unfortunately maybe one of the few tracks I do not like. I really tried to get used to the new mix but I could never warm up to it. "A Noble Girl About Town " fits very well to the episode, since it was a light-hearted and slightly cheesy episode. "Life Among the Distant Stars " must also be from the first episode yet the tone is very different. It starts as a quiet, reflective piano piece with a tinge of sadness and yearning, that ends with a full orchestra. I am not sure when the track was used and in what context. I guess I have to watch the first episode again.

"Song of Captivity and Freedom" is the first time that the listener hears the "Song of Freedom" sung only by a single counter tenor. It gave me goosebumps. "UNIT Rocks" does exactly that and made me grin. It is simply the UNIT theme with some drums added. "The Doctor's Theme" returns and is yet another track that is just plain goosebumps material. I have to use a word that I have used now quite often and is true again. Epic just epic. In this version of the doctors theme it is not sung by Melanie Pappenheim but by a full choir. Those who have been lucky enough to get one of the Prom tickets or listened to it on the radio know that theme already. It was THE highlight. Together with "Song of Freedom"

"All in the Mind" is a curious track. It sounds like a little folk song with guitar and flute. Very different and again I have no clue when it was used. Very probably in "Silence in the Library". "Silence in the Library" is a track that is both mysterious and magical. Very fitting for the library world. The track "The Greatest Story Never Told" was exactly the music I was yearning to listen to since hearing it in "Forest of the Dead" and to hear it now made me cry. The orchestra and the choir. OMG. I have no words to describe this track properly. The way Murray works with the orchestra and choir is just fabulous. The theme of the doctor is woven in and even "All The Strange, Strange Creatures" is in the track! No idea why but I won't complain. The track soars and sweeps the listener from his/her feet.

"Midnight" is a classic horror track but of the kind I know from real horror movies, never from Doctor Who. Very well done, Mr. Gold. "Turn Left" is atmospheric and features a ghostly theme from the doctor over a synthesizer. "A Dazzling End" has something from "Doomsday" but is upbeat. I love the little track. The guitar, the beat, the way the whole orchestra revs up. I really have no clue from which episode the track is theoretically it should be from "Turn Left" too. "The Rueful Fate of Donna Noble" reminded me of Martha and her journey in the lost year. It features guitars and drums.

"Davros" is a a strange but fascinating track. Dissonant instruments, sampled electrical sounds all colliding with each other. It reflects Davros nicely. It is twisted, mad and not very wholesome. Time for the Dalek theme to return and it does on an epic scale with "The Dark and Endless Dalek Night". A very powerful and dark track. "The Pressing Need to Save The World" is a furiously, fast paced action track that would fit in any Bond movie but instead of Barrys Bond theme woven into it, we get instead (for some strange reason) the YANA theme aka "All The Strange, Strange Creatures" So I wasn't crazy. I did hear the theme from the Master. Why Murray Gold used that theme and not the doctor will be his secret. The track is never the less the most action oriented cue to this date in Doctor Who and it totally rocks!

For some strange reason "Hanging on the Tablaphone" makes me smile. It is a crazy, fast paced little affair and then it comes...."Song Of Freedom". I cried. I just cried. The track was already amazing at The Proms but with perfect mixing and editing this track became even better - if that is possible. I can listen to it over and over again ...this is actually true for the whole score.

Harry Potter was never that epic! The only other score I can think of as being this ...large... was "Lord of the Rings" by Howard Shore! It is a bloody shame that Oscars are not given to television shows. Murray Gold deserves for this score an Oscar, Grammy and Globe and will get none. It sucks. IMO Murray Gold should really write the score for "Deathly Hallows". He would do a great job!

It has been quite a while that a score has made me this insanely happy. If I could hug it, I would. A perfect five out of five for this one. None of the movie soundtracks or the Stargate soundtracks came even close to this perfection.

If you like the music from...

- Doctor Who - The Complete First Series,
- Doctor Who - The Complete Second Series,
- Doctor Who - The Complete Third Series, and
- Doctor Who: The Complete Fourth Series,

...then this album...
- Doctor Who: Series 4,

...is the PERFECT FOLLOW-UP to...
- Doctor Who - Original Television Soundtrack, and,
- Doctor Who Original Music from Series 3!

So, buy your copy TODAY! (Before you "run out of time!")

Silva Screen Records presents "DOCTOR WHO - SERIES 4 [ORIGINAL TV SOUNDTRACK]" -- Doctor Who: Original Television Soundtrack - Series 4 is a soundtrack album released on 17 November 2008, containing incidental music that was used throughout the fourth series of the BBC science fiction television programme Doctor Who --- The music was composed by the British musical director Murray Gold and was orchestrated by his collaborator Ben Foster who had previously worked with him on the films "Alien Autopsy" (2006), "I Want Candy" (2007) and most recently Frank Oz's "Death at a Funeral" (2007).

The album's independent record label is Silva Screen Records who were responsible for the release of previous Doctor Who soundtracks, in collaboration with the BBC Radio phonic Workshop --- The soundtrack features regular vocalist Melanie Pappenheim on tracks 12 and 19 and countertenor Mark Chambers on track 6.

Composer Murray Gold, is best known for his powerful score for "Doctor Who" which is widely regarded as a major element in the revival of the classic cult series --- This latest endeavor gives us a glimpse into why this project is so popular and has never faded from the small screen and the fans who clamor for more.

Doctor Who - Series 4 [Original Television Soundtrack] The complete track listing is as follows:
Track Listing

1. Doctor Who Opening Credits
Murray Gold

2. A Noble Girl About Town
Murray Gold

3. Life Among The Distant Stars
Murray Gold

4. Corridors And Fire Escape
Murray Gold

5. The Sybilline Sisterhood
Murray Gold

6. Songs Of Captivity And Freedom
Murray Gold

7. UNIT Rocks
Murray Gold

8. The Doctor's Daughter
Yamit Mamo

9. The Source
Murray Gold

10. The Unicorn And The Wasp
Murray Gold

11. The Doctor's Theme Series 4
Murray Gold

12. Voyage Of The Damned Suite
Murray Gold

13. The Girl With No Name
Murray Gold

14. The Song Of Song
Murray Gold

15. All In The Mind
Neil Hannon

16. Silence In The Library
Murray Gold

17. The Greatest Story Never Told
Murray Gold

18. Midnight
Murray Gold

19. Turn Left
Murray Gold

20. A Dazzling End
Murray Gold

21. The Rueful Fate Of Donna Noble
Murray Gold

22. Davros
Murray Gold

23. The Dark And Endless Dalek Night
Murray Gold

24. A Pressing Need To Save The World
Murray Gold

25. Hanging On The Tablaphone
Neil Hannon

26. Song Of Freedom
Yamit Mamo

27. Doctor Who Closing Credits
Murray Gold

Must ask the following to take a bow ~ Ben Foster, Murray Gold and Jake Jackson (Producers) always in their pitching, Ben Foster performing the conducting duties, Reynold D'Silva (Executive Producer), Jake Jackson and Gerry O'Riordan (Engineer) --- and the label which made it all possible -- Silva America -- must say this collection meets all expectations --- a real winner!

Total Time: 76 mins on 27 Tracks ~ SILCD 1275 ~ (1/13/2009)

Murray Gold's classic soundtrack for series 4 features soaring strings, dazzling electronic effects and driving percussion true to his now well established compositional style. I am thoroughly enjoying listening to and analysing the 26 tracks.

unless I'm in the mood for series 3. Both are gorgeous. I have all five series, and each has a different mood. This, though, has some of my very favorite tunes, and it's the default soundtrack I go to regularly (I love mostly instrumental soundtracks when I'm working on my own writing or grading student papers). "A Noble Girl About Town," "The Unicorn and the Wasp" and "Midnight" are favorites, but the gorgeous "Song of Freedom" and "Songs of Freedom and Captivity" can actually still make me tear up when listening. Murray Gold has such amazing range, and he writes powerful, moving music. And humor-filled light stuff, too. Highly recommended.

I bought this CD knowing I already loved lots of the music--owning this CD has made me love even more of it! Murray Gold's Doctor Who soundtracks seem to get better and better.

There are two tracks that sound a little weird to me: Life Among the Distant Stars and the Voyage of the Damned Suite. I like all of the themes in these two, but they seem a bit cobbled together, and the suite is really long.

On the other side of the spectrum is the fabulous Greatest Story Never Told, All in the Mind, A Pressing Need to Save the World, UNIT Rocks, The Girl with No Name, and Song of Freedom.

It's a wonderful CD, through probably only of interest to Doctor Who fans.

Murray Gold's music for series 4 is brilliant, as always. The jewel case insert is a booklet with a short history of each track and the episode(s) it was used in, with some lovely photos as well. I love this soundtrack, and would recommend it to those who like Doctor Who and also those who like awesome orchestral scores.