James Bond Theme (Suite, arr. Ralph Ford)

The James Bond Theme was written by Monty Norman for Dr. No in 1962 and arranged for the soundtrack by John Barry, whose guitar line and brass writing gave it its recognisable shape. Ralph Ford's concert arrangement is one of many made since for orchestras and wind bands; the theme has proved unusually resistant to alteration, its two-bar vamp and chromatic descent surviving every re-scoring. Norman's authorship was contested for years and settled in court in 2001. What is played in concert halls is less a film cue than common property, recognised within a few seconds.