Delia Derbyshire vs. John Williams

Danny Stewart · #1 October 29, 2005, 5:02 PM

I understand that approach too, of course. But different composers have different sounds too. You can't possibly say that Delia Derbyshire and Keff McCulloch have... anything... in common.

Ross Hendrie · #2 October 30, 2005, 12:39 PM

Except they both composed themes for Doctor Who.

Bajoran Rogue · #3 October 30, 2005, 12:51 PM

But all the Doctor Who themes sound different.

David Carter · #4 October 30, 2005, 2:31 PM

They must have some similarities. Or else they wouldnt all be recognised as themes to Doctor Who.

Ross Hendrie · #5 October 30, 2005, 5:43 PM

What he just said.

Ive decided I like John Williams better then Delia Derbyshire, sorry Danny.

David Carter · #6 October 30, 2005, 8:48 PM

Yeah, John Williams is amazing.

Max Yittreas · #7 October 30, 2005, 10:11 PM

Speaking of which...
Currently playing: The Imperial March by Mr. Williams

Danny Stewart · #8 October 31, 2005, 11:29 AM

True, Ross, about Delia Derbyshire and Keff McCulloch, but I meant musically. They might also have the same favorite color, favorite food, etc. But musically they're dead polar opposites.

And of course it's the same theme, David, just different (and sometimes radically different) takes on the same piece. You really should compare them.

And Ross... for shame. John Williams may be amazing, but he never spent weeks lovingly devoting his time to creating something new that the music world had never yet been able to capture (and even wouldn't be able to capture again for decades down the line). I'm sad to see you abandon me on this one, Ross.

Ross Hendrie · #9 October 31, 2005, 3:39 PM

Im not abandoning anything. But really... blast the Doctor Who theme on your sterio then blast the SW theme... Im sorry but the SW theme is just grander.

David Carter · #10 November 1, 2005, 12:19 AM

And I'm sure Williams spent more than just weeks lovingly coming up with some of those epic sounds in SW.

Max Yittreas · #11 November 1, 2005, 12:29 AM

Indeed. You can FEEL the emotion in each piece he writes. Sorry, Danny... but in my mind that far outstrips tinkering with some electronic devices to make a new sound.

Danny Stewart · #12 November 1, 2005, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by Ross Hendrie

Im not abandoning anything. But really... blast the Doctor Who theme on your sterio then blast the SW theme... Im sorry but the SW theme is just grander.

Depends which version of the Doctor Who theme, really. One may be grand, but the other is very capable of sending chills down your spine as it did with mine for many years. I have blasted the Doctor Who theme on my stereo and it has achieved that same effect time and time again. Blasting the Star Wars theme would only hurt my ears and receive cries from my family of "ew, turn it off."

Originally Posted by David Carter

And I'm sure Williams spent more than just weeks lovingly coming up with some of those epic sounds in SW.

Possibly. But he used traditional, conventional methods, whereas Delia Derbyshire invented new methods and uses for technology because what was needed to create her vision simply did not exist yet.

Originally Posted by Max Yittreas

Indeed. You can FEEL the emotion in each piece he writes. Sorry, Danny... but in my mind that far outstrips tinkering with some electronic devices to make a new sound.

You downplay it so much more than it deserves to be played down. You can feel the emotion and organic quality in the Doctor Who theme, all the love and timeless effort that went into creating something new. Star Wars is just orchestral music. Yay for orchestral music. John Williams may be the best composer in the world, but you cannot deny that there are many people that do what he does: write orchestral music. There is only one person of Delia Derbyshire's genius, only one person who is able to say they have done what she has done. Surely that alone has to make you think higher of Delia Derbyshire than of John Williams, simply because hers was a unique art. The Doctor Who theme is a whole new creation, deserving of its own classification in the musical world. It angers me to hear you downplay it as "tinkering to make a new sound." It was so much more than that, and it really upsets me to know that if you actually wanted to understand all the effort that went into it, you could. But I fear that those of you who do not understand right now never will understand.

David Carter · #13 November 1, 2005, 8:55 PM

To each his own. I have been an admirer of Williams ever since I joined band and really listened to the SW themes and Indiana Jones themes and all the other themes that he masterfully created. They convey so much emotion, and to me that is what makes him great.

Danny Stewart · #14 November 1, 2005, 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by David Carter

To each his own. I have been an admirer of Williams ever since I joined band and really listened to the SW themes and Indiana Jones themes and all the other themes that he masterfully created. They convey so much emotion, and to me that is what makes him great.

You didn't really respond to anything I said. About Delia Derbyshire, or the Doctor Who theme. I gave you that Williams was a great composer who put great emotion into his works -- that's not the point I'm arguing here.

Chris Britton · #15 November 2, 2005, 5:24 AM

I am with Danny of this one, I just find the Doctor Who music far more appealiing, as much as i thought the Star wars music is quite good, I find the Doctor Who music very good too, you can see the hard work, the emotion and attempts to create such peices of genius music, and it really shows, it has made these themes classic, John Williams worked well with an orchestra, he was able to use them and what intruments they had to make such dramatic works, while Delia Derbyshire used resciursefulness and cunning to create a claassic tune which is still good today and it really shows what you can do when you set your mind to things. They have thier own methods, and they work well.

Danny Stewart · #16 November 2, 2005, 6:55 AM

Many thanks, Chris. That post meant a lot to me and I appreciate it.

Chris Britton · #17 November 2, 2005, 11:04 AM

Hey no worries mate.

I am just trying to appreciate both people for what they did. They oth did a fantastic job.

Danny Stewart · #18 November 2, 2005, 1:02 PM

Precisely. Although again I must point out that Delia Derbyshire's is a unique (and today, lost) art. That's all I'm trying to say.

Ross Hendrie · #19 November 2, 2005, 1:17 PM

No-ones disputing the fact that both themes rock, but I just think that the SW theme seems a bit better.

David Carter · #20 November 2, 2005, 3:01 PM

Danny, It was not meant as a response to what you said. In SW and the TOS movies, they could have easily gone with music that sounded futuristic, but instead, they went the other way, and Williams made great music that sounded classical (A genre that is rarely used in film/tv). You can brush this off and say its just my opinion, but that's exactly what it is. My opinion. And IMO, Williams is better than Delia Derbyshire. I dont care if you do not agree. In fact, I know that you do not agree. But at least accept that these are my views. Nothing you can do or say can change them. I feel more emotion in Williams' themes. I guess im just a band person. I've been in band, I've played Williams' songs. To me, they are some of the greatest pieces that have been made.