Fans of Doctor Who sometimes just watch the show. But fans also debate intricacies on fan forums, attend conventions with panels of entertainment and/or scholarship, and purchase toys and figures franchised by the show.
Some fans take a more creative turn--fan fiction, videos, or covers of some of Murray Gold's music. Lately Halia Meguid charmed us with her performances of lyrics for his previously un-versed songs, like the Doctor's Theme (http://tinyurl.com/Halia-DocTheme)--and from that, her high pure vocals won her an audio spot on Doctor Who.
Then there are points where (ordinary) fandom meets creative meets the bigger world. Where you see a Doctor Who prom or the Live show, and think--wow, how cool would it be to try and play one of those tunes! Except, you'd need to be in a big band or orchestra or something!
Well, now it is possible. Even for those of us who live far from direct access to a bunch of musicians who love Doctor Who, there is an online space and virtual access to--the Doctor Who Fan Orchestra!
The orchestra is... Really, we're amateurs. There are young kids just started high school, who've never tried to play a solo part or record themselves playing. There are young adults showing off their chops. There are middle-aged geeks challenged to pick up that old band instrument again after many years, and make a usable result. And there are families, because now Doctor Who fandom is worldwide and crosses generations--we have daughters who've enlisted their dads to contribute just one more horn part, a pair of brothers holding down the rhythm strings, and spouses in the chorals.
As the guy making it possible, Stephen Willis has made heroic efforts to:
1) work up a full arrangement of the starting piece;
2) recruit these dozens of amateur musicians, and provide them with the support of audiofiles and click tracks as well as print music; and
3) sync and mix the submitted recordings, and now present the results.
The first piece of the Doctor Who Fan Orchestra, recorded over this spring and early summer, is "I Am the Doctor." It is now available on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj1YhlEmXkw.
The orchestra welcomes more volunteers. Contact information is... nearby with the video. The next piece scheduled for early fall will be: a medley of "This is Gallifrey" and "Vale Decem".
See - and hear - you online, and by the way bring your axe! And your french horn!
* Disclaimer - I am... assistant cat-herder and a general participant in the ongoing project.
