Doctor Who Theme Transcription (August 1963 Version)

I have completed transcribing the August 1963 version of the Doctor Who theme (minus the white noise). I had to do this before I could start a brass arrangement, which I am intending to record.

The big revelation, for me, is that the original was not 100% recorded using electronic instruments. The ringing sound heard on top of part of the melody was played on a Melodica.

As far as I know, nobody has ever published a transcription of the original recording.

I still have the white noise to add, but I am not sure how to write that down. It is three layers of filtered white noise tuned to notes within the melody and synchronised with the time signature. The last two bars are tuned to the drone notes in those bars.

I have successfully recreated the white noise bursts by playing them on piccolo trumpet with my lips too far apart to make a sound and tuned using the valves and slide lengths, then reversing those recordings so the attack is reversed. They are almost indistinguishable from the original electronic ones.

This video is the full transcription as a MIDI playback, but not with correct electronic instruments.

[GordonHudson]

Putting this here so I can share it with some people. I have completed transcribing the August 1963 version of the Doctor Who theme (minus the white noise). I had to do this before I could start a brass arrangement, which I am intending to record.

The big revelation, for me, is that the original was not 100% recorded using electronic instruments. The ringing sound heard on top of part of the melody was played on a Melodica.

[davidguthary]

This is a good transcription, although I would personally recommend writing it in 12/8 instead of 4/4 to simplify the endless triplet notation.