Doctor Who

Ron Grainer

Subtitle: Theme from the BBC Television Series

General Info

Year: 1963 / 2015
Duration: c. 2:19
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alfred Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $70.00 | Score Only - $10.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Electric Bass (optional)
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

Bass Drum
Bells
Chimes
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tam-Tam
Triangle

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Beginning with the first episode aired by the BBC in November of 1963, Whovians have been riveted to the adventures of The Doctor in his wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey world of Daleks, Cybermen, and other assorted malevolent creatures in the universe bent on intergalactic domination. With the aid of the TARDIS, travelling back and forth in time is a snap, and with his sonic screwdriver always at hand to get him out of just about any compromised situation, The Doctor always (or nearly always) triumphs.

The instantly recognizable opening theme was a bit ahead of its time as one of the BBC's first ventures into electronically generated music. Ron Grainer's original music and initial concept has remained virtually unchanged through the decades, though it has gone through several minor permutations and expanded arrangements in the course of the 800 episodes that have aired.

- Program Note from publisher

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Hope College (Holland, Mich.) Wind Ensemble (Gabe Southard, conductor) – 31 October 2017
Arkansas (Fayetteville) Winds Community Concert Band (Michael Ferguson, conductor) – 6 July 2015

Works for Winds by This Composer

Churchill March (1964)
Doctor Who (arr. Wagner) (1963/2015)
Giants of Steam (1967)
Tales of the Unexpected (2006)

Resources

Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Ron Grainer." Accessed 7 July 2015