Silva Screen Music America

Alex Heffes Sudden Light

Music by Alex Heffes

—————————

Sudden Light is a brand-new album of solo piano music written by Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated composer Alex Heffes. With this album, the composer performs his own music for the first time stripped back to solo piano in an intimate and personal journey of rediscovery.

Born in the UK, Alex’s life-long passion for playing the piano started at an early age and has been a constant throughout his career as a composer. In 2018 his piano playing came to an abrupt halt following an accident that left one hand severely broken. Surgery and rehabilitation left him unable to fully play for an extended period and gradually lead to his almost abandoning the instrument. His latest album, Sudden Light is a musical journey of rediscovery. In exploring some of his previous compositions and re-working them for solo piano, a new light is cast on the music and a new path created to the composer rediscovering how to perform again.

Alex Heffes is a Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated composer known for his scores to over 60 movies and TV series including The Last King of Scotland, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, State of Play, Black Mirror, Roots and many others. Originally rising to critical acclaim with his scores to Kevin Macdonald’s Academy Award-winning One Day In September, BAFTA winning Touching The Void and others, he has collaborated with many of cinema’s top filmmakers such as Stephen Frears (The Program), Mira Nair (Queen of Katwe, A Suitable Boy), Catherine Hardwicke (Miss Bala) and JJ Abrams (11.22.63).

—————————

Tracklist

1. The Final Letter (From “Dear Frankie”) 
2. I Have Been Here Before (From “Hope Gap”) 
3. Shiny Shiny Waltz (From “Shiny Shiny Bright New Hole In My Heart”)
 4. Sadie’s Theme (From Here to Eternity) (From “11.22.63”) 
5. Phiona’s Theme (From “Queen of Katwe”) 
6. Moving On (From “The Elephant Queen”) 
7. One Day In September (From “One Day In September”) 
8. Theme from Mandela (From “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”)
9. Aya’s Theme (From “Emperor”) 
10. Ronnie’s Theme (From “Ronnie’s”)
 11. Boston and Marie (From “The 24th”) 
12. Marie’s Rag (From “The 24th”) 
13. Penguin Raiders Return (From “Earth: One Amazing Day”)
14. Rainforest Waltz (From “Earth: One Amazing Day”) 
15. Touching the Void (From “Touching the Void”)
 16. For John

Christmas Choral Classics: Encore

Christmas Choral Classics Encore

Music by Crouch End Festival Chorus & The City of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra

—————————

Tracklist
1 Amazing Grace 4:16
2 Hallelujah 5:46
3 Fairytale Of New York 4:24
4 In The Bleak Midwinter 5:22
5 O Little Town Of Bethlehem 3:48
6 Believe (From The Polar Express) 5:17
7 We Three Kings 3:30
8 Do They Know It’s Christmas? 3:53
9 I Saw Three Ships 2:34
10 Frosty The Snowman 3:18
11 Keeping The Dream Alive 4:15
12 O Come O Come Emmanuel 4:38
13 Once In Royal Davids City 4:24
14 Sussex Carol 2:43
15 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks 2:21
16 The Lamb 4:14
17 Perfect Day 3:40
18 All Alone On Christmas (From Home Alone 2) 3:26
19 Auld Lang Syne 5:40

Re:Scored – Epic Classical Volume 2

ReScored Epic Classical Volume 2

Music by London Music Works

—————————

This is the second album in Silva Screen Records’ Re:scored series and a follow up to Re:scored Epic Classical. The Re: Scored series introduces fresh, thoughtful and contemporary film score reworkings of established genres. On Epic Classical Vol. 2, composer Antonin Roux re-arranges classical favourites in “epic” film score mode. Bach’s Cello Suite no. 1 in G major, Strauss’s The Blue Danube Waltz and Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March in D Major feature award-winning singer Merethe Soltvedt.

The 10 classical compositions chosen for re:scoring are ingrained in popular culture and have appeared in many movies, from drama and animation to Sci-Fi and comedy. Here, the big expansive sound is always a shortcut for an epic win or lose, strength or weakness, purgative or transformational moment in the story; the distinct phrases and harmonies have now become a shortcut for turmoil, end and new beginnings.

Throughout the history of film making, iconic sequences were created by syncing classical music to picture; such as Debussy’s Claire De Lune as part of the Bellagio Resort’s fountain show in Ocean’s Eleven, Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries played at full volume in the Apocalypse Now helicopter invasion scene and Strauss’s Blue Danube Waltz op.314 adopted in Kubrik’s 2001: A Space Odyssey as a recurring theme, giving the movie a timeless and hypnotic quality.

Merethe Soltvedt’s rich vocals can be heard on Interstellar, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, X-Men and Ready Player One. Merethe is also a performing and collaborative artist. Notably, Merethe sang with a full orchestra and choir at the Walt Disney Concert Hall as well as with Norwegian rock stars and international artists across Europe, in New York and LA.

Antonin Roux is a classically trained multi-instrumentalist and film composer based in France.

—————————

1. Clair de Lune (From “Suite Bergamasque”) – Claude Debussy
2. The Four Seasons Concerto No. 4 in F Minor RV 297 “Winter” – Antonio Vivaldi
3. Cello Suite no. 1 in G major BWV 1007 – Johann Sebastian Bach
4. Die Walküre, Act III: Ride of the Valkyries – Richard Wagner
5. Boléro, M.81 – Maurice Ravel
6. Gnossienne No.1: Lent – Erik Satie
7. The Blue Danube Waltz Op. 314 – Johann Strauss II
8. Carmen Opera Suite No. 2: Habanera – Georges Bizet
9. Peer Gynt Op. 23: IV. In the Hall of the Mountain King – Edvard Grieg
10. Pomp and Circumstance March in D Major Op. 39 No. 1 – Edward Elgar

Voices Of The Valley: Echoes

Voices of the Valley Echoes

Music by The Fron Male Voice Choir

—————————

The Fron Male Voice Choir celebrates St David’s Day with the release of Echoes, their sixth recording in the Voices of the Valley series, on 26th February 2021.

The Fron Male Voice Choir is one of the most successful choirs in the UK. Their debut album, released in November 2007, achieved double platinum sales and was nominated for a Classical Brit Award. Following this initial success, the choir has toured extensively and their albums have sold in over 70 countries world-wide. The tracks from the Voices of the Valley series have since featured on numerous compilations and artist albums.

Full title Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir or Côr Meibion Froncysyllte, the Fron Male Voice Choir was formed in 1947 and is based in the village of Froncysyllte near Llangollen in Denbighshire, Wales. Their association with the world-famous Tenor Luciano Pavarotti started in 1955. The Fron choir hosted the Società Corale Gioachino Rossini from Modena, which won first prize at the Llangollen Eisteddfod under the musical direction of Luciano’s father, conductor Fernando Pavarotti. Luciano Pavarotti claimed that him singing in the choir and this win inspired him to take up a singing career.

Initially set up to compete in the Llangollen International Eisteddfod festival, The Fron Male Voice Choir quickly developed into a first-class, modern choir. Following on their debut album success, the BBC classical music reviewer Michael Quinn reflects on the Fron Choir as “a good example of modern day Welsh Choir singing” and praises their “considerable close harmony talents, beauty of sound and impressive technique”.

On Echoes, the modernity is reflected in both their choice of material and delivery; from Welsh staples such as Llanfair (Willliams), O Iesu Mawr (David Charles) and Tydi A Roddaist (Hughes) and American, Russian and Welsh sacred hymns (The Lords Prayer, Spaséniye Sodélal) to Billy Joel’s And So It Goes, Aznavour’s She and musical numbers A Million Dreams (The Greatest Showman), Maria (West Side Story) and Bring Him Home (Les Miserables). The close harmony sound is richly layered yet crisp, allowing a multitude of harmonics to resonate.

The choir’s latest Musical Director, Leigh Mason, took over in 2010. Since her arrival, the choir has gone on to achieve great success, winning competitions in Ireland and Cornwall, and at the worldrenowned Llangollen International Eisteddfod. Leigh was deeply involved in the recording and production of Echoes and was vital in enabling the Fron Choir to deliver this vibrant and captivating album.

—————————

Tracklist
1. A Million Dreams (From “The Greatest Showman”)
2. Llanfair
3. And So It Goes
4. She
5. The Bandits’ Chorus
6. The Seal Lullaby
7. Spaséniye Sodélal
8. The Lord’s Prayer
9. Maria (From “West Side Story”)
10. O Iesu Mawr
11. Bring Him Home (From “Les Miserables”)
12. Tydi A Roddaist

Scored – Epic Classical

Scored - Epic Classical

Silva Screen Records’ re:scored series introduces fresh, thoughtful and contemporary film score reworkings of established genres. On Epic Classical, the first release in this series, Snorre Tidemand re-arranges classical favourites in “epic” film score mode. The 10 classical compositions chosen for re:scoring are ingrained in popular culture and have appeared in many movies, from drama and animation to Sci-Fi and comedy. Always linked to an epic win or lose, strength or weakness, purgative or transformational moment in the story; the distinct phrases and harmonies have now become a shortcut for turmoil, end and new beginnings.

The album features award-winning singer Merethe Soltvedt. Her rich vocals can be heard on Interstellar, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, X-Men and Ready Player One. Merethe is also a performing and collaborative artist. Notably, Merethe sung with a full orchestra and choir at the Walt Disney Concert Hall as well as with Norwegian rock stars and international artists across Europe, in New York and LA.

Snorre Tidemand is a Norwegian composer (Bleeding Fingers/Extreme Music, Colossal Trailer Music and Orchestral Tools), who worked on London Music Works’ The Nativity (Cinematic Christmas Carols).

Tracklist
1. Mozart: Requiem – Dies Irae (re:scored) – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Snorre Tidemand

2. Elgar: Enigma Variations – Nimrod (re:scored) – Edward Elgar; Snorre Tidemand

3. Verdi: Requiem – Dies Irae (re:scored) – Snorre Tidemand; Giuseppe Verdi

4. Handel: Sarabande (re:scored)** – Snorre Tidemand; George Frideric Handel

5. Holst: The Planets – Jupiter (re:scored)** – Gustav Holst; Snorre Tidemand

6. Vivaldi: The Four Seasons – Summer (re:scored)** – Snorre Tidemand; Antonio Vivaldi

7. Mozart: Requiem – Lacrimosa (re:scored)** – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Snorre Tidemand

8. Dvorak: Slavonic Dances (re:scored) – Antonín Dvořák; Snorre Tidemand

9. Saint Saens: Symphony No. 3 – Finale (re:scored) – Camille Saint-Saëns; Snorre Tidemand

10. Handel: Coronation Anthem – Zadok the Priest (re:scored)** – Snorre Tidemand; George Frideric Handel

(** Featuring Merethe Soltvedt)

This Love – Claire Jones

This Love

Claire Jones, former Royal Harpist and firm favourite on Classic FM playlists returns after starting a family with 15 pieces of music that celebrate one thing, love, in all its forms. “As I look back over my life experience so far, love has been a vital and central theme all the way through, and I could never have made it through those highs and lows if it weren’t for the love of my family . The album, This Love is a celebration of love for one another. In my case, the love of my husband, family, and friends makes my life what it is, as does my love of music. It’s this love that has kept me going in the really hard times of the illness I went through, and learning to love myself a little more was at the heart of my recovery from ME/CFS. It feels emotional and honest to be creating an album of the world’s most romantic, love inspired classical melodies”. One of Wales’ most outstanding classical talents, Claire became a household name in 2011 following her performance at the Royal Wedding for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and she also held the position of Official Harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales 2007-11.

1. Balcony Scene (From “Romeo + Juliet”)
2. A Thousand Years
3. The Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba
4. Cinema Paradiso
5. Cariad
6. Cavalleria Rusticana – Intermezzo
7. Across The Stars (From “Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones”)
8. Somewhere (From “West Side Story”)
9. Romance (From “The Gadfly”)
10. Trumpet Voluntary
11. Feather Theme (From “Forrest Gump”)
12. Gymnopédie No.1
13. Prelude In C Major, BWV 846
14. Mvt. II – Caitlin (From Dylan)
15. Canon In D Major

Debbie Wiseman: Live at the Barbican

game of thrones

As part of Barbican’s Contemporary Music Concerts series, in January 2016 The Orchestra of the Guildhall School performed in a retrospective concert of composer Debbie Wiseman’s film, TV and concert work.

The Guildhall School alumna, Award winning composer Debbie Wiseman MBE, is one of the UK’s most in-demand composers writing for film, TV and concert hall. She is currently Classic FM’s Composer in Residence, and her soundtrack to the recent BBC TV series Wolf Hall went straight to the top of the classical music charts. With this concert Debbie Wiseman makes a nostalgic return to the School to conduct the Guildhall Chamber Orchestra in a programme of her music.

Debbie Wiseman explains – “The three years I spent studying piano and composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama were very special, and I was thrilled to be invited back to conduct a concert of my music with the college’s Symphony Orchestra at their brand new concert hall in the Barbican Centre, Milton Court. I was hugely impressed – but not at all surprised – at the high standard of the orchestra. These talented first and second-year musicians, despite their youth, would not sound out of place in the professional world, such is their ability. They played with commitment, focus and infectious enthusiasm, and it was an enormous pleasure working with them all. This album is dedicated to my wonderful composition teacher at the Guildhall School, Buxton Orr.”

1. Wilde West
2. Wilde
3. Tom’s Midnight Garden
4. Wolf Hall
5. The Truth About Love
6. Flood
7. Lesbian Vampire Killers
8. A Poet In New York
9. Haunted
10. Father Brown
11. The Whale
12. Arsene Lupin Suite 1st Movement
13. Arsene Lupin Suite 2nd Movement
14. Arsene Lupin Suite 3rd Movement
15. Arsene Lupin Suite 4th Movement
16. Jubilee Gigue

Music of Game of Thrones

game of thrones

Performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Music Composed by Ramin Djawadi

In 2011 composer Ramin Djawadi was first asked to score a new TV series called Game of Thrones. In its first season much of the music was written for a small string ensemble, and filled out with synthetic pads and percussion. Over the course of the next six seasons the music budget got bigger and bigger to match the ever-increasing viewing figures the show was enjoying. This release celebrates the rich tapestry of music over the six series with the full firepower of an 80 piece symphony orchestra and choir.

Game of Thrones really is a television phenomenon. HBO’s epic small screen adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s series of fantasy tomes continues to draw in record audiences around the world, and shows no signs of slowing down. Indeed some 8.9m people tuned in to the Season Six finale in the US and with repeats, recordings and on-demand viewings taken into consideration, it is estimated that Game of Thrones enjoys an average of 23m viewers per installment. With a whopping thirty-eight Emmy Awards (and counting), this series remains the darling of prime-time pay TV.

With so much music created for the sixty episodes so far broadcast, this album can of course only take in so much. The particular cues and themes it does highlight, though, lend themselves beautifully to this symphonic re-imagining.

1. Main Title
2. Goodbye Brother
3. Finale (From “Season 1”)
4. Warrior of Light
5. Winterfell
6. Mother of Dragons
7. A Lannister Always Pays His Debts
8. Dracarys
9. Mhysa
10. Two Swords
11. You Are No Son of Mine
12. The Children
13. Blood of the Dragon
14. Dance of Dragons
15. Atonement
16. Son of the Harpy
17. Light of the Seven
18. Khaleesi
19. Winter Has Come
20. Hear Me Roar
21. The Winds of Winter

Ryuichi Sakamoto: Music For Film

Brussels Philharmonic Conducted by Dirk Brossé | Presented By Film Fest Gent

From small beginnings in 1974 as a local cinema and university event, Film Fest Gent has grown yearly in stature and is now recognised as one of the major destinations for the film industry. A vital component is the celebration of film music in the shape of the World Soundtrack Awards which honours the very best composers at work in the world of cinema. In 2016 the award goes to one of the most brilliant composers of his generation, Ryuichi Sakamoto. This is the first overview of his remarkable catalogue of film scores, fully approved by the composer and performed by the masterful Brussels Philharmonic under the baton of Dirk Brossé. Sakamoto was already a celebrated pioneer in electronic music and composer/pianist/singer in Japan when director Nagisa Oshima asked him to write the score for Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence in 1983 and also to star alongside David Bowie. In a 30 year plus career since then he has worked with the cream of film directors including Bernardo Bertolucci (The Last Emperor), Brian De Palma (Snake Eyes), Pedro Almodovar (High Heels) and most recently Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (The Revenant). This compilation is a fitting tribute to his status as one of the greatest living musicians and film composers.

01 Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence – Main Theme
02 The Last Emperor – Endroll
03 The Last Emperor – Rain
04 The Sheltering Sky – Main Theme
05 High Heels – Main Theme
06 Wild Palms – Main Theme
07 Little Buddha – Acceptance
08 Snake Eyes – Main Theme (long version)
09 Femme Fatale – Bolerisch
10 Babel – Bibo No Aozora
11 Hara-Kiri (Ichimei) – Small Hope
12 Yae No Sakura – Opening Theme
13 The Revenant – Main Theme

Claire Jones – Screen Serenade

Screen Serenade is a glorious celebration of well-loved film and TV themes especially arranged for solo harp by Claire’s husband, percussionist and composer Chris Marshall. Claire’s radiant performances range from commanding torrents of sound to a new, fragile and contemplative quality that Claire brings to music usually associated with the strings, piano and even the full orchestra. Sublimely delicate, yet at times poignant and implacable, Screen Serenade is a delightful album featuring themes such as Jurassic Park, Ice Dance (Edward Scissorhands), Downton Abbey, Cavatina (Deer Hunter), Pirates of the Caribbean, Romeo and Juliet, and E.T.

One of Wales’ most outstanding classical talents, Claire became a household name in 2011 following her esteemed performance at the Royal Wedding for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and she also held the position of Official Harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales 2007-11.

“I have been in love with film music since I was a child, and have always wanted to create an album which includes my favourite soundtracks of all time. The sound of the harp brings an element of magic and sparkle to these well-known themes, and my dream as always is to bring the harp to a wider audience across the world” – Claire Jones

1. Jurassic Park
2. The Notebook
3. Ice Dance (from “Edward Scissorhands”)
4. Speak Softly, Love (from “The Godfather”)
5. Cavatina (from “The Deer Hunter”)
6. May It Be (from “The Lord Of The Rings”)
7. You’re So Cool (from “True Romance”)
8. Pirates Of The Caribbean
9. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
10. Romeo And Juliet
11. Game Of Thrones
12. Downton Abbey