Music of the Spheres (TV story)

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Music of the Spheres was a short episode which first broadcast on 27 July 2008 as part of the BBC proms season. Prior to broadcast it was variously known as Proms Special and Proms Cutaway, with episode writer Russell T. Davies using this as the title when promoting the episode in Doctor Who Magazine.


Plot

Alone in the TARDIS, the Doctor is busy composing his own piece of music, when an alert sounds. Investigating, he realizes that there is a teleport breach due to the TARDIS's sheilds being down for just a few minutes. At that moment, a Graske suddenly appears, much to the Doctor's annoyance. Before the Doctor can do anything, the Graske inquires to what the harmonious sound echoing through the TARDIS is. The Doctor claims that this is the Music of the Spheres, which is the sound of planets orbiting stars and stars orbiting the galaxy and galaxies orbiting each other making up the universe, the gravity patterns of which are fed through the TARDIS' harmonic filter. The Graske claims that he is here to warn the Doctor of a hole in space, which manifests itself near the entrance of the TARDIS. Looking through the hole, the Doctor realizes the hole has appeared in the Royal Albert Hall in London, during the Proms. Seizing his chance, the Doctor passes his sheets of music through the hole to the Albert Hall, and asks if the orchestra would play it. He also asks the conductor to step down, as he will conduct the orchestra himself using his Sonic Screwdriver, which he does, rather flamboyantly. He calls the piece "Ode to the Universe", and thanks the orchestra for playing it, where he realizes that the Graske has traveled through the hole, arriving in London. Coming to the conclusion that the Graske was lying to him in order to reach Earth, he stops him from creating any more trouble by reversing the polarity of the neutron flow, which sends the Graske back to the TARDIS. The Doctor then sends him to the end of the galaxy using his screwdriver. He then says farewell to the audience, but not before informing them that everyone is a musician, and that they can hear the Music of the Spheres by closing their eyes, and listening to the universe.

Cast

Production credits

to be added

References

  • The Tenth Doctor uses the full phrase "reverse the polarity of the neutron flow", commonly associated with the Third Doctor. He had previously commented that it had taken him an unexpectedly long time to "reverse the polarity" of Richard Lazarus' genetic manipulator, but this is the first time we have heard him, or any intervening incarnation say the full phrase since on Gallifrey during the Game of Rassilon.

Story notes

  • According to Doctor Who Magazine, production of this mini-episode officially concluded production of Series 4 on May 3, 2008. Davies told DWM that he had to write the episode in a special way as it is scheduled to be broadcast both on television and on radio. This makes this special the first such hybrid episode ever produced for the series.
  • This special aired on Sunday 27th July between 11A.M. and 1P.M. on BBC Radio 3. It will be shown on BBC4 in a couple of weeks. It was also be available on the Doctor Who website at 11.40 A.M, however due to rights, the clip was only be made available for a short period of time.
  • For the first time since 1966 the original theme arrangement by Delia Derbyshire and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, as introduced in 1963's An Unearthly Child, is used in lieu of Murray Gold's current arrangement during the closing credits. (Some have erroneously identified the version played as the arrangement featured up until the late 1970s, but the lack of echo identifies it was the version that was used between 1963 and 66 (and subsequently released on various soundtrack albums).
  • This is an unusual example of the BBC Wales version of Doctor Who crediting only one actor above the titles. It had only previously happened with Attack of the Graske.

Ratings

to be added

Myths and Rumours

  • Russell T. Davies, in promoting the mini-episode, indicated it would feature a returning guest star. Fan speculation included virtually every major companion or guest star since the series returned, and also extended to include classic series companions and Doctor.

Filming Locations

to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

Continuity

DVD and Other releases

  • The Episode Will Be Released Along Side The 2008 Christmas Special DVD.

See also

Instances of music in Doctor Who stories

External links

to be added

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