Carey Blyton
Encyclopedia
Carey Blyton was a British
composer and writer best known for his song Bananas In Pyjamas
(1967) which later (1992) became an Australian children's television series, and for his work on Doctor Who
.
Blyton, a nephew of children's author Enid Blyton
, showed a talent for science from an early age, and didn't switch to music until he contracted polio and as he was recovering, began taking piano
lessons in 1948 at the age of sixteen. In the 1950s he began his training as a composer and won several certificates and awards. Blyton is primarily known as a miniaturist, composing short orchestral scores
for live performance. During his lifetime he produced some well-regarded and often humorous pieces including Return of Bulgy Gogo (a tribute to composer Peter Warlock
), Up the Farringdon Road, Mock Joplin which was written for piano and saxophone
, and Saxe Blue written for the same instruments.
Blyton also wrote incidental music for the BBC
Doctor Who television series. Between 1970 and 1975 he provided three scores for the series with Doctor Who and the Silurians
in 1970, Death to the Daleks
in 1974 and finally Revenge of the Cybermen
. In these scores, particularly the first and the last he made great use of unusual instruments. Crumhorn
s were used in Doctor Who and the Silurians as a theme for the reptile men and in his final score for the series, Revenge of the Cybermen in 1975, he made use of serpents
and ophicleide
s whenever the Cybermen appeared. In later years he became famous for his composing, and several CDs of his work were produced, most notably Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Who which showcases his work for an unmade Sherlock Holmes
animated series and some samples from all three of his Doctor Who stories, along with other classics such as Saxe Blue. He died in 2002 after battling cancer and post-polio syndrome
aged 70.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
composer and writer best known for his song Bananas In Pyjamas
Bananas in Pyjamas
Bananas in Pyjamas is an Australian children's television show that premiered in July 1992 on ABC Television. It has since become syndicated in many different countries, and dubbed into other languages. In the United States, the "Pyjamas" in the title was modified to reflect the American spelling...
(1967) which later (1992) became an Australian children's television series, and for his work on Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
.
Blyton, a nephew of children's author Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton was an English children's writer also known as Mary Pollock.Noted for numerous series of books based on recurring characters and designed for different age groups,her books have enjoyed huge success in many parts of the world, and have sold over 600 million copies.One of Blyton's most...
, showed a talent for science from an early age, and didn't switch to music until he contracted polio and as he was recovering, began taking piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
lessons in 1948 at the age of sixteen. In the 1950s he began his training as a composer and won several certificates and awards. Blyton is primarily known as a miniaturist, composing short orchestral scores
Sheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
for live performance. During his lifetime he produced some well-regarded and often humorous pieces including Return of Bulgy Gogo (a tribute to composer Peter Warlock
Peter Warlock
Peter Warlock was a pseudonym of Philip Arnold Heseltine , an Anglo-Welsh composer and music critic. He used the pseudonym when composing, and is now better known by this name....
), Up the Farringdon Road, Mock Joplin which was written for piano and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, and Saxe Blue written for the same instruments.
Blyton also wrote incidental music for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Doctor Who television series. Between 1970 and 1975 he provided three scores for the series with Doctor Who and the Silurians
Doctor Who and the Silurians
Doctor Who and the Silurians is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in seven weekly parts from January 31 to March 14, 1970. The story is the first appearance of a recurring family of Earth-dwelling reptiles...
in 1970, Death to the Daleks
Death to the Daleks
Death to the Daleks is a four-part serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. First broadcast from February 23 to March 16, 1974, it comprises four 25-minute episodes. The narrative begins as the TARDIS suffers an energy drain and crash-lands on the planet Exxilon...
in 1974 and finally Revenge of the Cybermen
Revenge of the Cybermen
Revenge of the Cybermen is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 19 April to 10 May 1975.-Synopsis:...
. In these scores, particularly the first and the last he made great use of unusual instruments. Crumhorn
Crumhorn
The crumhorn is a musical instrument of the woodwind family, most commonly used during the Renaissance period. In modern times, there has been a revival of interest in Early Music, and crumhorns are being played again....
s were used in Doctor Who and the Silurians as a theme for the reptile men and in his final score for the series, Revenge of the Cybermen in 1975, he made use of serpents
Serpent (instrument)
A serpent is a bass wind instrument, descended from the cornett, and a distant ancestor of the tuba, with a mouthpiece like a brass instrument but side holes like a woodwind. It is usually a long cone bent into a snakelike shape, hence the name. The serpent is closely related to the cornett,...
and ophicleide
Ophicleide
The ophicleide is a family of conical bore, brass keyed-bugles. It has a similar shape to the sudrophone.- History :The ophicleide was invented in 1817 and patented in 1821 by French instrument maker Jean Hilaire Asté as an extension to the keyed bugle or Royal Kent bugle family...
s whenever the Cybermen appeared. In later years he became famous for his composing, and several CDs of his work were produced, most notably Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Who which showcases his work for an unmade Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
animated series and some samples from all three of his Doctor Who stories, along with other classics such as Saxe Blue. He died in 2002 after battling cancer and post-polio syndrome
Post-polio syndrome
Post-polio syndrome is a condition that affects approximately 25–50% of people who have previously contracted poliomyelitis—a viral infection of the nervous system—after the initial infection. Typically the symptoms appear 15–30 years after recovery from the original paralytic attack, at an age of...
aged 70.