Delia ann derbyshire was an english musician and composer of electronic music. She was best known as member of the bbc radiophonic workshop and the performer of the original theme song for doctor who which was composed for the series by ron grainer. Delia derbyshire albums, songs, and news pitchfork. Electrosonic is an album of library samples of electronic music for radio, tv and film industry. Delia derbyshire electronic music pioneer at the amoeblog. She has been referred to as the unsung heroine of british electronic music, having. I am staggered by the amount of information and detail in the wiki. Presentation delia derbyshire is one of the earliest and most influential electronic sound synthesists. These recordings were used in the thames television series the tomorrow people 19731979. Though electronic composer delia derbyshire has been referred to as the unsung heroine of british electronic music, it wouldnt be a stretch to expand upon the accolade and call her an unsung heroine of music, period regardless of nationality, regardless of field. Music profile for delia derbyshire, born 5 may 1937. If you dont know delias music already, you should first look at and my first study, delia derbyshires audiological chronology. She was also a member of the electronic music group white noise with other bbc. Please read the guidelines for writing and maintaining articles.
Delia ann derbyshire was born on may 5, 1937 in coventry, england. Delia derbyshire, electronic musics forgotten pioneer electronic music as it is now known and used would not exist without derbyshire and her spirit of human, sonic manipulation. She was considered a visionary in her use of sound and voice and her early works are pioneering efforts in what is now known as electronica. One of the most enigmatic albums in the kpm sound library of the early 70s,a haunting batch of spare electronic tracks by delia derbyshire, who is.
The delia derbyshire appreciation society the manual. Delia ann derbyshire 5 may 1937 3 july 2001 was an english musician and composer of electronic music. Delia derbyshire day the woman behind the dr who theme. She was musically active from 1962 until the mid seventies, then briefly again for a few years before she died in 2001 at the age of 64. Delia derbyshire was born in 1937 and joined the bbc radiophonic workshop in 1960. It featured music by three of the workshops most prominent composers, john baker, david cain, and delia derbyshire. In ddas we enjoy a friendship of 35 years, a mutual respect for delia, eno. Hughes and jones, as the delia derbyshire appreciation society, return to the early days of electronic music and analog gear. By the mid 1970s derbyshire was disillusioned by the apparent future of electronic music and withdrew from the medium. E lectrosonic aka kpm1104is a 1972 kpm library record electronic music pioneer delia derbyshire made with brian hodgson and don harper while moonlighting from day jobs at the bbc radiophonic workshop.
Although marginalized and uncredited during the time she worked there, delia has retrospectively been hailed as a pioneer of. Most tracks also appear on the trunk records release the tomorrow people original television music jbh 017. This cd is the work of two veteran electronic music artists. Delia derbyshire appreciation society garry hughes and harvey jones are two pioneering electronic music composers. Our work is centred around the delia derbyshire archive which is held at john rylands library in manchester, uk. Delia derbyshire composer biography, facts and music. I appreciate how the book makes a point of recognizing female pioneers like delia derbyshire and daphne oram as.
Stream tracks and playlists from delia derbyshire day on your desktop or mobile device. Northampton, 3 july 2001 is widely regarded as a pioneering figure in the early development of electronic music. An electric storm is the debut album by electronic music group white noise. She was the first qualified musician there she had a degree in mathematics and music. I suppose there is daphne oram but the english never use less than three adjectives when one will suffice, so lets just say that delia derbyshire is an unsung heroine of music.
In 1963, soon after joining the bbc radiophonic workshop, delia derbyshire, who has died of renal failure aged 64, was asked to to realise one of. Subscribe to our free email newsletter and keep up to date with all our upcoming exhibitions and events plus. Their first and only true lp was one of the emerging island records early album releases and, along with traffic, one of their first alternative signings a distinct change from. Hannetts electronic recordings homage to delia derbyshire. For a large part of her career from 1960 to 1973 she worked at the bbc radiophonic workshop, maida vale, london and is best remembered for arranging and producing the doctor who theme music. Delia derbyshire on currentlyavailable cd, lp, video and. A special platform event as part of delia derbyshire day 2019. She is best known for her pioneering work for the bbc radiophonic workshop, and for composing the classic theme song for the original doctor who, believed to be the earliest electronic theme song in. To participate, you can edit this article or visit the project page for more details. Delia derbyshire appreciation society is the culmination of a 30year friendship between two electronic music veterans, garry hughes and harvey jones. Limited deadstock copies of this standard music library cd from 2000. Delia derbyshire was an english composer and musician who is best known for her phenomenal work with the bbc radiophonic workshop. In 1886, the american owned westinghouse electric company built beside the. Delia derbyshire electrosonic 1972 the savage saints.
Delia derbyshire famous for her arrangement of the doctor who theme tune, there was far more to delia derbyshires creative activity, both at the bbc and beyond. Delia derbyshire biography, albums, streaming links. In the musical dark ages to follow, she worked in a bookshop, an art gallery and a museum. After the notorious coventry raids of world war ii, derbyshire and her family moved to lancashire, where she spent most of her childhood. Strange, mechanical and futuristic soundscapes originally used in thames television series the tomorrow people, which aired from 1973 to 1979, as well as episodes of dr. Big lol, and seemingly in keeping with ozitmorpheusdandelion records loose definition of quality control.
Delia derbyshire, brian hodgson electronic sound realisation. Delia derbyshire day is an electronic music charitable organisation whose aims are to advance the art and education of electronic music via the works and archive of delia derbyshire 19372001. Electronic music is now ubiquitous, from mainstream pop hits to the fu. Delia derbyshire day dd day is a manchesterbased organisation which pays homage to delia derbyshire 19372001. She carried out pioneering work with the bbc radiophonic workshop during the 1960s, including her electronic arrangement of the theme music to the british sciencefiction television series doctor who. Originally released in 1969, this album features music by bbc radiophonic workshop members delia derbyshire and brian hodgson alongside david vorhaus, an american born composer and musician with whom they formed the experimental electronic band white noise. An electric storm white noise, the brainchild of delia derbyshire and david vorhaus, was one of the first allelectronic groups ever, and contempories of the equally legendary silver apples. The wikidelia is my second study of the life and work of the pioneer of electronic music delia derbyshire. Discover all delia derbyshires music connections, watch videos, listen to music, discuss and download. She was also a member of the electronic music group white. Matthew sweet explores the life of the bbc radiophonic workshop composer who realised ron grainers theme for doctor who. Thats a picture of suzanne ciani on the front cover, not delia derbyshire. Delia derbyshires creative process 1 delia derbyshires creative process preface delia derbyshire b. Delia derbyshire at the bbc radiophonic workshop in 1965.
The links on the titles of the pieces listed there. Delia derbyshire s life and legacy delia derbyshire 19372001 occupies a unique place in histories of electronic music. She is best known for her electronic realisation of ron grainers theme music to the british science fiction television series doctor who and for her work with the. Delia derbyshire appreciation society wow and flutter october 26, 2018. Delia derbyshire is one of the earliest and most influential electronic sound synthesists. Work from delias engagement at the bbc has also been published on numerous radiophonic workshop and doctor who lps and cds. Jamie lidell speaks to us from the privacy of some venues restroom, trying unsuccesfully to avoid picking his favorite songs, bands, and movies a feat that. A manchester based organisation promoting the education and art of electronic music via the archive and works of delia derbyshire 19372001. Bbc radiophonic music is the first compilation of music released by the bbc radiophonic workshop. Delia derbyshire samples, covers and remixes on whosampled.
However the dr who theme was just one of many projects and collaborations for miss derbyshire. Delia derbyshire samples, covers and remixes whosampled. Delia derbyshire was an inspired and innovative composer of electronic music. She has been referred to as the unsung heroine of british. In 1964, bbc radiophonic workshop associate delia derbyshire embarked on a series of collaborations with the playwright barry bermange meant to create musical dramas based around the idea of dreams. Garry hughes is a passionate fan of the synthesiser and electronic music. Tv inventor, digital broadcast, hd and pictures history. I randomly stumbled across some music by delia derbyshire in my music. Delia derbyshire, tribute, mp3, flac, netlabel, myuzyk it goes without saying that delia derbyshire is a key figure in the development of experimental electronic music and is remembered for her creative use of new technologies within the realms of sound. Electronic derbyshirehodgsonvorhaus silva screen music. The guardian once described delia derbyshire as the unsung heroine of british electronic music, seemingly implying that there are other heroines of british electronic music that are more widely sung.
She carried out pioneering work with the bbc radiophonic workshop during the 1. Online, there is,, and of course, the many music download and streaming platforms on which delia is still a presence. They have released three cds on san francisco based six degrees records and are working on a fourth. Delia ann derbyshire 5 may 19373 july 2001 was a british composer who oversaw the bbc radiophonic workshop beginning in the 1960s. Available here as an mp3 audio download courtesy of sonic boom. We feel delias archive is a gem of electronic music heritage that can be a fascinating source of inspiration and education about the working process of key. At this point the group had established the kaleidophon studio in a flat in camden town, london, and spent a year creating the next four tracks. This article is within the scope of wikiproject classical music, which aims to improve, expand, copy edit, and maintain all articles related to classical music, that are not covered by other classical music related projects. Delia was a complex woman, one with oodles of personality and a sense of humour that shone through in the few rare interviews she did. Delia derbyshire appreciation society six degrees records. Delia derbyshire foreground editing a musical note on tape, and desmond briscoe. The music and sound design that she created while working at the bbc radiophonic workshop, london, between 1963 and 1973 was heard by countless viewers and listeners of tv and. The leading light of the bbcs radiophonic workshop throughout the 60s and.
Delia derbyshire, electronic musics forgotten pioneer. Proceeds will go directly into continuing our work to promote the art and education of electronic music via the archive and works of the late great delia derbyshire. Delia derbyshire day is a charity so we thought this could be a fun way of raising extra funds. The band recorded the first two tracks with the intention of producing a single only, but were then persuaded by chris blackwell of island records to create an entire album. Also you can download the striborg records off bandcamp at name your price. Her posthumous acclaim with such honorific titles as.