Missing Quatermass Music Found!

[Andrew Doherty]

Just a note of interest to those who are interested in Trevor Duncan's music to the Quatermass serials.

Some two years ago, Mark Ayres of the Quatermass serials and 1984 drama restoration team was not able to locate Trevor Duncan's 'Four Evil Men Suite', as stated on the restoration team's web site. I said, at the time, that I would see if I could set in motion an investigation into locating this music.

Well, I was contacted today (16.03.07), and the missing suite of music has been found. The music is on reel to reel tape and will need to be checked. This along with other music from the third serial, in particular, has been in storage for a very long time (1958/59).

'The Four Evil Men' suite was used in episodes 4, 5, and 6 for both the recaps and the sequence music, which, without doubt, is one of the most atmospheric of all the works used, with the exception of the 'Mutations' suite and the Cathedral suite. All the music, including other items used from the 'Challenge of Space Suite' (1954) will be brought together, and I will sound out the possibilities for a release on CD.

Yours,

[lfbarfe]

What was the original source of the recording? Was it made especially for the programme or was it library music?

[Andrew Doherty]

It was library music, but it was intended to be used for the third serial. The Radiophonic Workshop, set up in April, 1958, was asked to produce the music for the third 'Q'serial. However, Rudolf Cartier believed that Trevor Duncan's music had served the previous two serials, very well, and decided to request that Trevor Duncan write whatever music was necessary along with any previous work that could be used.

The 'Mutations' suite was intended for the third serial, with the exception of the music from the 'Challenge of Space Suite', recorded in 1954 (possibly in Belgium or Holland), i.e. The Challenge of Space' from which the 'Escape Velocity' work is featured and used again for the recaps after the titles to the 'Q & Pit' serials - episode 2 and 3. Also used, was another work from a different library, 'Cathedral Vision', which closes the final episode.

Apparently, the 'Four Evil Men' suite was recorded in Munich around the same time as the 'Mutations' work. Both were incorporated, successfully. Trevor Duncan was very complimentary about the session musicians.

Yours,

[lfbarfe]

So, presumably the library music company had lost its own masters or copies?

[Andrew Doherty]

The BBC hadn't a copy of the 'Four Evil Men' suite and neither had the Robert Farnon Society.

Surprisingly, the National Sound Archive did not possess copies of ANY of Trevor Duncan's music from the serials.

Moreover, the library music company concerned were not able to locate this music and, strangely, they weren't sure about the presence of 'Mutations', although, 'Paroxysms' (the music heard in the first two episodes, viz. the news boards in episode 1 and the digging out of the skull from the partially unearthed structure in episode 2) was on their inventory. However, a researcher had, eventually, found a storage site where all these works were found.

The 'Cathedral' suite was found with another music library company. The BBC has this music.

Also, 'The Challenge of Space' suite (also held by the BBC) was published as part of a large number of works forming Trevor Duncan's 'Final Frontiers' suite, published by yet another music library.

Well, there it is. As I have stated, I will see if there is the chance of an album, containing all of the above music to the three BBC 'Q' serials, being published.

Yours,

[Deleted]

I have a tape what someone did for me some years ago with the QUATERMASS music on it titles are as follows: MUTATIONS 1 and 2 CHALLENGE OF SPACE 1 and 2 composer Trevor Duncan QUATERMASS AND THE PIT, ZERO MINUS 60 composer Robert Farnon QUATERMASS II , FORCE OF DESTRUCTION from FIVE NAMES FOR JOHNNY,Trevor Duncan MOB VIOLENCE 1a/1b/2a/2b the latter 4 definetely used in QUATERMASS. Some of the music was also used in the 50s films FIRE MAIDENS FROM OUTER SPACE/ THE BRAIN MACHINE. Segments were used in THE PRISONER TV Series THE CHAMPIONS TV series 2 eps. and many others.

[Andrew Doherty]

The music, FORCE OF DESTRUCTION from FIVE NAMES FOR JOHNNY is new to me.

It doesn't appear to be by Trevor Duncan, but I would be interested to know who the composer is. Also, it would provide a lead to the publishing company.

I do remember watching the film, 'The Brain Machine', and the end credits were certainly recognizable. 'Mob Violence' by Trevor Duncan I did not know about. Would like to know the music publisher, if it is available.

Yours,