Music for Doctor Who

This brief piece was inspired by an episode of the BBC-TV space fantasy. In it, the Doctor (played by Tom Baker) escapes from confinement by seemingly electrocuting himself. Is he dead? Is he alive? He’s alive!!

Music for Doctor Who was written for California bassoonist/composer John Steinmetz who supplied me with fingerings and recordings for a whole series of bassoon multiphonics. I chose several striking examples as foundation ideas for this piece.

Here is the moment from the episode:

Doctor Who:”Terror of the Zygons,” Season 13, Serial 1, Part 4, 9/20/75