One-Eyed Richmond Forum

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: one-eyed on April 29, 2008, 04:05:55 AM

Title: Dr Who theme composer Tristram Cary dead at 82
Post by: one-eyed on April 29, 2008, 04:05:55 AM

Dr Who theme composer dead at 82
Herald-Sun
April 28, 2008 02:03pm

TRISTRAM Cary, the composer of the Dr Who theme tune and a pioneer of electronic music, has died in Adelaide aged 82.

Cary was also known for co-designing a synthesiser used by rock artists including Pink Floyd, The Who and Roxy Music.

He founded the electronic music studio at London's Royal College of Music in 1967 and, seven years later migrated to Australia to establish a similar studio at the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium of Music.

The conservatorium's head of music technology studies, Stephen Whittington, said Cary's contribution to music was impossible to quantify.

"He laid the foundations," Mr Whittington said today.

"Without him, we wouldn't have techno, hip-hop or any kind of music which is sustained by technology."

Cary, whose father was prominent Irish-born novelist Joyce Cary, came up with the idea of electronic and tape music while a naval radar officer during World War II.

"He had a really unusual childhood, his father was an author and TS Eliot and James Joyce were always coming around for tea," Mr Whittington said.

"After the war, the Americans, British and Germans had a huge amount of electronic gear which came onto the market and was incredibly cheap," Mr Whittington said.

"That is when he began fiddling with things."

Cary composed for Hollywood feature films, television, theatre and concert music.

In 1991, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to Australian music.

He died last week at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23609628-5005961,00.html

Title: Re: Dr Who theme composer Tristram Cary dead at 82
Post by: richmondrules on April 29, 2008, 10:32:36 AM

Quote from: one-eyed on April 29, 2008, 04:05:55 AM

"Without him, we wouldn't have techno, hip-hop or any kind of music which is sustained by technology."

lol. Many people may say he has a lot to answer for.

Don't know much about him but the Dr Who theme was great. Condolences to his family and those who knew him.

Title: Re: Dr Who theme composer Tristram Cary dead at 82
Post by: mightytiges on April 29, 2008, 03:03:09 PM

I still think it's the best theme music to a tv show ever. Use to watch the show religiously as a kid on Ch 2. Tom Baker period especially. They use to have the Goodies, Kenny Everitt and Dr Who back to back to back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdVivT0ShC4&feature=related