On The Level
Description
Delia and Brian Hodgson, working as Unit Delta Plus, created music and sound effects for Ron Grainer's second play On The Level, a musical which opened in late February 1966 at The Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool[1] and was repeated at the Saville Theatre in London, opening on 19th April 1966.[2]
Delia and Brian spent 67½ man-hours on it between 6th August 1965 and 18th February 1966, working with Ron Grainer, Wendy Toye and Diane Majue,[3] delivered 20 sound sequences lasting a total of 15m18s[4] and Delia and Brian went to Liverpool to attend the opening night and a party on the 25th as guests of the show's producer Martin Landau.[5][6]
Although a newspaper article previewing the show mentions "electronic music in the “Dr Who” vein which owes nothing to the men in the orchestra pit",[7] Unit Delta Plus are not credited in either of the theatre playbills.[8][2]
Tracks
mins. secs. Opening sequence 1 25 Albert Hall head-ache 1 26 Hieroglyphics 35 Wedding sequence (organ type) 10 Thermodynamics ( ditto ) 30 Strangely Attractive ( ditto ) 50 5 versions of "Thermo" phrases 33 "Nicies" with extension 1 4 "Nasties" 1 Planetarium 1 30 Stars, G & E 20 Bell sequence 30 Morse for headlines 1 Clock rhythms + pen @ MM = 100 1 Whoosh (for planetarium) 15 Impacts 10 Chuck's inspiration 1 Realisation of Land of Hope and Glory with separate rhythm track 1 10 "Biscuit breaking" 15 Howler with twang 35
Papers
DD094231: Manuscript for "Land Of Hope And Glory" theme
DD094309: Manuscript
DD094321: Manuscript for "Land Of Hope And Glory" and "British Grenadiers" themes
DD092748: Labels for reels of tape
DD092802: Labels for reels of tape
DD094535: Delia's notes
DD094644: Delia's notes from 1 Feb 1966
DD093652: The Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool playbill: cover
DD093707: The Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool playbill: credits
Availability
- On Attic Tapes
References
- ↑ Brian Hodgson's obituary in The Guardian, 7 July 2001
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Playbill for the Saville Theatre performances, on the Ron Grainer web site
- ↑ DD094630: Unit Delta Plus' timesheet
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 DD094616: Unit Delta Plus' final bill
- ↑ DD093852: Unit Delta Plus' reply to Martin Landau's letter, thanking him for his hospitality and for the party on Friday night; the only Friday between the 18th and the 28th is the 25th February 1966.
- ↑ DD093822: Envelope of Martin Landau's letter to Brian Hodgson, postmarked "Liverpool 28 Feb 1966".
- ↑ You, You and You Set To Music: Preview in a newspaper article by Gerry Dempsey.
- ↑ DD093707: First page of the theatre playbill for the Royal Court Theatre.
