Who (Back) on Earth is Making Those Creepy Sounds?

Some Background

Some of you who are familiar with the serialized production included in the the broadcasts of "Rocket Ships and Rocket Chairs", Children of the Stones, might well have notice just how freaking CREEPY the backing music is. The wailing of souls, the demonic (some would say) crescendos and the eerie implication that you are always being watched by unknown spirits of great malevolence  is effective to say the least and, perhaps, in my humble opinion, effective enough to be a contributing factor that lead to this children's series being given a 12 certificate rating by the British Board of Film Classification.
As it were, the soundtrack to the series was based on contemporary interpretations/permutations of megalithic ritual chant, composed by Sidney Sager (1917-2002) and performed by the Ambrosian Singers, a project of the well lauded and highly respected  English Conductor, John McCarthy (1919-2009).
Founded in 1951, the Ambrosian Singers have a large discography available for listening, have recorded with and for a who is who of performers and composers including Neil Diamond, Julie Andrews, Henry Mancini (gasp!) and Grace Jones and have been part of a number of film scores (e.g. Krull and Chariots of Fire).
I feel it now necessary to issue a caveat:  when I hear the words "megalithic ritual chant", my interest is piqued.....

Delving Deeper

The Children of the Stones was filmed in Avebury, Wiltshire, an English village that lies at the center of an ancient circle of megalithic standing  stones.  There have long been theories and speculation presented by the scientific and fringe scientific(which members of the crew if this space station represent) communities about the practical function of these structures. To this particular long haired child of the 70's, this is historic mystery at its finest, rivaled only by the Transylvania episode of the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew television show, which featured Robbie Rist dressed as a vampire and fronting a rock and roll(?) band... but we don't want to get sidetracked by that groovy debacle do we?

Yes, Earth-lubbers, it's Oliver from The Brady Bunch

Current science has only now progressed to the the point where the link between science and ancient ritual is not just accepted, but explored.


In brief, it has been found that the builders of many ancient megalithic sites appeared to understand how to manipulate aural signals to evoke specific emotional and sensory reactions, specifically with respects to the design of stone temples and altar complexes.  The Old Temples Study Foundation is a non-profit that is is dedicated to peeling back some of the layers. Below is an excerpt from the organization's first documentary about its efforts:

"A grand illustration of humankind at the turning point.  New research implies that a desire to harness sound effects may be at the root of the invention of sacred architecture. An examination of overlooked evidence suggests links with the ancient Levant and an influence on later cultures like the Minoans and the Phoenicians, perhaps even megalithic Great Britain. Bridging from hard science to theory, this pioneering film delivers compelling incentive to take another look at what we thought we knew about the past.  Angles of interest range from anthropology and architecture, to art history and ancient religions, to physics and bio-behavioral science. "

E.D. Out.

yesface