From the BBC:
“A hidden hoard of recordings made by the electronic music pioneer behind the Doctor Who theme has been revealed – including a dance track 20 years ahead of its time.
Now David Butler, of Manchester University’s School of Arts, Histories and Cultures has revealed for the first time the existence of 267 tapes found in Ms Derbyshire’s attic when she died in 2001.
They were, until last March, in the safekeeping of Mark Ayres, archivist for the Radiophonic Workshop – and have lain unheard for more than 30 years.
Amongst the recordings is some ethereal whooshing from a 1969 production of Hamlet at the Roundhouse in London; an extraordinary kit of parts for one of her most-admired pieces; and the theme for a documentary set in the Sahara which shows how she used her voice as an instrument.
“The next thing that we want to do is make the archive available to everyone who wants to hear it,” says David Butler.
“But also this has to be a living, breathing archive so we are going to commission new works as well.
“We hope to be able to commission works from contemporary electronic musicians and also those who worked with her – surviving members of the Radiophonic Workshop.”
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The BBC page has a collection of audio samples from this new batch of recordings.
For more early English electronic treasures check out SA pal Clive Graham’s collection from the archives of Radiophionic Workshop founder Daphne Oram – Oramics.
Thanks to David Evans for the heads up!
