Elmer Bernstein: The Magnificent Seven Main Title Context Elmer Bernstein is fondly remembered as being one of the leading film composers of the 20th Century. His music is some of the most recognisable, with his scores for The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Great Escape (1963) and Ghostbusters (1984) being particular Read more…
John Williams: Raiders March Context Also known as the ‘Indiana Jones Theme’, John Williams’ Raiders March was originally used in the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark. The 1981 recording was conducted by Williams and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Williams’ score was nominated for an Academy Away Read more…
William Walton: Two Pieces from Henry V No.2 – Touch Her Soft Lips and Part Context William Walton was asked to compose the music for the 1944 film of Shakespeare’s Henry V. Walton himself did not create a suite from the music he composed for this film, however Sir Malcolm Read more…
William Walton: Two Pieces from Henry V No.1 Passacaglia – The Death of Falstaff Context William Walton was asked to compose the music for the 1944 film of Shakespeare’s Henry V. Walton himself did not create a suite from the music he composed for this film, however Sir Malcolm Sargent Read more…
Aaron Copland: The Red Pony Suite Context Composed for Lewis Milestone’s 1949 film The Red Pony, Aaron Copland’s music for the film was soon made into a concert suite. The suite was originally arranged for the Houston Symphony Orchestra and came about due to the lack of commercial success from Read more…
John Williams: Harry’s Wondrous World Context By the year 2001, John Williams was already one of the most sought after film composers in the world. With a wealth of awards and nominations behind him, he had already composed the iconic music to films like Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and Jaws. Read more…
Aaron Copland: Our Town Suite Context Aaron Copland was asked to write the score for the 1940 film Our Town. The film centres around the small life in the town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. Copland explained the style and approach he took with this score: “For the film Read more…
Yiruma: Kiss the Rain Context Yiruma, born Lee Ru-ma, is a South Korean-British composer and pianist. Born in 1978 in South Korea, Yiruma moved to England in 1988 to study at the prestigious Purcell School of Music, and then at King’s College London where he studied composition. Whilst studying at Read more…
Sergei Prokofiev: Dance of the Knights Context Taken from his 1935 ballet Romeo and Juliet, Dance of the Knights, also known as Montagues and Capulets, is one of Sergei Prokofiev’s most iconic works. The piece is also included in Prokofiev’s second suite of ballet music from Romeo and Juliet. In Read more…
John Barry: Out of Africa Context By 1985, John Barry was already a very well-established film score composer. His work in the James Bond franchise was legendary, and his huge output of film music speaks for itself. One of his most beloved scores came from the 1985 film Out of Read more…