Justine Barker’s original music for Casualty’s 40th anniversary episodes to be released

Justine Barker’s original music for Casualty’s two 40th anniversary episodes will be released digitally on Friday 9 October.

The two special episodes were broadcast on 5 September, marking 40 years of the long-running BBC drama. For the anniversary episodes, Justine wanted the music to help create a sense of event.

 

 

The score combines orchestral and electronic elements. A nine-piece string ensemble was recorded at AIR Studios’ Studio One, with drum parts recorded at Blackbarn Studio in Oxfordshire. Justine also drew on the sound of the iconic early-1980s LinnDrum, using a modern recreation alongside her own samples to create bespoke percussive rhythms. Classic vintage delays and effects were also used to add subtle colour to the score.

For the explosion and its aftermath, Justine wanted the music to feel deliberately uncomfortable and disorientating. The score moves between constantly changing time signatures, including 5/4, 6/4, 7/4 and 4/4, while an alarm-like sound created using a Moog Sub 37 adds to the tension.

There are also subtle musical nods to Ken Freeman’s iconic Casualty theme woven into the score.

The release brings together Justine’s original music from the landmark 40th anniversary episodes.