Doctor Who goes to the Proms
Music to watch monsters go by
Love Doctor Who, love the theme music - this is hardwired into the DNA of most Brits.
So clever old BBC leaned on this genetic flaw in July to work up a bit of a musical education for the masses with the Doctor Who Proms. On Monday, 6 September at 8.30pm the concert is broadcast on BBC 3 and on iPlayer soon afterwards, we guess.
In an eye witness account, 'Carl' describes the concert as the 'the most moving experience that I have known'. Somewhat over-egged, but all good, knockabout end of the universe stuff.
Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill are on board as are sundry Silurians and scary monsters, along with Dr Who themes composed by Murray Gold.
Rounding out the concert is a series of bombastic classics. This includes Carl Orff's O Fortuna, from Carmina Burana, best known to old timers as the Old Spice theme tune, and to young'uns, the first 10 seconds anyway, as the backing for the entrance of Simon Cowell and his fellow judges on X Factor.
Then we have Wagner's Ride of The Valkyries - you know, the bit where the American helicopters attack the Vietnamese village in Apocalypse Now. And let's not forget Holst's Mars.
COMMENTS
same word, different meaning
A 'promenade' concert is one where the audience can wander around, in and out and (in the 19th C at least), make assignations with their mistress or trollop while being at a perfectly respectable event.
In the 18th century a "promenade" social was an event where people would walk around e.g. Bath or Edinburgh showing off their best clothes, mingling socially without introduction or formalities, and make assignations with their mistress or trollop while being at a perfectly respectable event.
In Edwardian times, a 'promenade' was a paved area near the sea-side where the newly leisured lower and middle classes could stroll around taking the air, and meeting other people informally, and make assignations with their mistress or trollop while being at a perfectly respectable event.
Now what was that about american teenagers again?
The Proms
The Promenade Concert series started by Henry Wood in the 1890s.
Accessible "proper" music presented to the masses and has become a major institution in the UK.
Promenade Concerts
They're a season of summer concerts, held annually and often broadcast on the BBC, particularly the Last Night. I think the Boston Pops does something similar in the US, IIRC.
Old news
Didn't you listen to it on Radio Three a few weeks ago when it was broadcast live?
