THE GENIUS OF FILM MUSIC

Hollywood blockbusters 1980s to 2000s

Including music from

STAR WARS
LA VITA È BELLA
GLADIATOR
THE MISSION
INDIANA JONES

DIRK BROSSÉ conductor

LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
WILLIAMS over adversity’ true story of the British athletes
Star Wars – Symphonic Suite Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams at the 1924
Olympics was music from that period – a jazz
John Williams (b. 1932) was critical in saving soundtrack, for example. Vangelis’s
the great orchestral score from demise. unforgettable title music goes completely
In the same way that Bernard Herrmann against that idea, yet its pulse and heroic
created terror out of screaming violins in melody fits perfectly the film’s themes.
Psycho, Williams had sent fear into swimmers
everywhere with his score for Jaws. Two years HAMLISCH
later, the full-throttle high-speed explosion Sophie’s Choice – Love Theme
onto our screens of Star Wars (1977) confirmed
him as that rare thing – a household-name In 1986, Marvin Hamlisch (1944–2012) said of
composer. film music trends: ‘The last ten years ... have
been antisentimental ... finally the people went
Star Wars is seen as ‘The One’ that brought “Give me a break. I want sentiment.”’ His music
symphonic scoring back to the forefront. to Alan J. Paluka’s heart-rending Sophie’s Choice
Its director, George Lucas, had wanted to (1982) was an early capture of the zeitgeist.
use existing orchestral music for his sci-fi The pivotal moment comes when Polish
epic but couldn’t get the rights. Instead, woman Sophie is faced with a chilling choice:
Williams’s brilliant score draws on the music which of her two children will be sent to the
of Holst’s Planets suite to fit the film’s classic, gas chamber. The decision to lose her daughter
epic themes. Its popularity continues today, haunts her for the rest of her life. Hamlisch’s
winning a BBC poll as best film soundtrack ‘Love Theme’ is simplistically beautiful but
ever. ratchets up the emotional turmoil of the scene.

VANGELIS MORRICONE
Chariots of Fire – Main Theme The Mission – Gabriel’s Oboe

While John Williams was honing the score of Ennio Morricone’s (b. 1928) sense of the
his next big hit, Raiders of the Lost Ark, with full theatre and drama attracted him to director
orchestral oomph, Greek composer Vangelis Sergio Leone, resulting in the extraordinary
(b. 1943) was experimenting with a completely scores for the ‘Dollars’ trilogy – the vast cinema
different route for Chariots of Fire (1981). What landscape of 1960s spaghetti westerns.
might have been warranted for the ‘triumph Twenty years later came The Mission (1986),
for which the London Philharmonic Orchestra minutes. Badalamenti explained how it was
recorded the original soundtrack. The film done in the BBC Four series The Music that
is as much about the power of music as the Made the Movies: literally, he improvised on his
missionary’s story: Morricone cleverly used keyboards while Lynch explained the emotions
ethnic instrumentation and liturgical music for he was after.
what was to become his own favourite score.
‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ has become a popular staple BERNSTEIN
on the concert platform. The Age of Innocence Suite
BACALOV Elmer Bernstein (1922–2004) was a fabulous
Il Postino – Main Theme symphonist, a great melodist and a rich
orchestrator. His best-known scores are to
The Argentinian/Italian composer Luis adventure films like The Great Escape and The
Enríquez Bacalov (1933–2017) also had a Magnificent Seven but, despite this, Bernstein
background in scoring for spaghetti westerns, much preferred working on ‘the more delicate
and his 1968 song ‘Django’ was used as the films that deal intimately with people’s lives,
title song for Django Unchained, directed by like ... The Age of Innocence’. The Edith Wharton
Quentin Tarantino. The beautiful soundtrack novel adaptation of 1993 witnesses an illicit
to Il Postino (1994) is far removed from those love affair that causes scandal in high society
early movies. Harmonica and accordion add New York at the turn of the 20th century. The
to the nostalgic feel of the music in this sweet score is full of yearning and conflict. Director
romantic comedy. Martin Scorsese explains Bernstein’s gift:
‘Elmer’s score had to adapt to the style and
BADALAMENTI pace of the language ... We had no lengthy
Twin Peaks Suite – Laura Palmer’s discussions about this, but [the score] flowed
Theme over the narration like a clear-running brook.’

When David Lynch’s surreal peek under the ELFMAN

cover of small-town decency, Twin Peaks The Nightmare Before Christmas
(1990/01), became a cult television hit, Suite
the director approached his friend Angelo
Badalamenti (b. 1937) to write the score. Danny Elfman (b. 1953) puts his hugely
It seems extraordinary that the slow and successful collaboration with Tim Burton down
evocative theme music was written in just 20 to the fact that they are ‘a couple of very odd
guys’. His style fits brilliantly with Burton’s avant-garde scores for Planet of the Apes (1968)
wild, gothic and witty imagination. The and The Omen (1976). He experimented with
Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), the bizarre electronic music in the 1970s and 80s, but by
but funny stop-animation film of Halloween the 90s was merging synthesized sound with
Town’s Jack Skellington’s desire to adopt the traditional orchestral music. Goldsmith the
ways of Christmas Town, is no exception. The melodist can be in no doubt, and the score
suite features ‘Sally’s Song’, a plaintive sigh of to Mulan (1998) is a testimony to his talent
unrequited love and the flashy ‘What’s This?’, for creating beautiful themes. The tale of a
Jack’s wide-eyed discovery of Christmas Town young Chinese girl who becomes a warrior,
(sung on the original score in manic fashion by Goldsmith’s bold soundtrack uses ethnic
Elfman himself). instruments and the pentatonic five-note
scale of traditional Chinese music to create
PIOVANI the soundworld. Powerful percussion and
La Vita è bella Suite brass provide the battle backdrop and Mulan’s
theme is an elegant, simple rise and fall tune,
Nicola Piovani (b. 1946) has been writing first heard in the wind. Listen out too for the
predominantly for Italian cinema for over sweeping love theme.
40 years. His work has even been mistaken
for that of Morricone composing under DAVIS
a pseudonym. Piovani, understandably, The Matrix Reloaded Suite
didn’t mind the association, but was glad to
announce that he was real ‘flesh and blood’ The music by Don Davis (b. 1957) to The
when he won the Oscar in 1998 for La Vita è Matrix trilogy (1999–2003) is an out-of-this-
bella (Life is Beautiful). world combination of the electronic and the
orchestral. It stood out from the crowd for
GOLDSMITH its move away from strong melody and its
Suite from Disney’s Mulan references to minimalism, a form developed
in the 1970s by composers including Steve
‘Despite all the sophistication of our times, Reich. Its predominant features are repetition,
the greatest device remains the simple a relentless pulse and static harmony – listen
straightforward melody.’ to the hard-working scurrying strings, military
side drums and ominous brass blast of the
Jerry Goldsmith’s (1929–2004) quote may opening. It has a suitably futuristic feel.
come as a surprise to those who know his
ZIMMER Publishers:
Gladiator Suite Hal Leonard MGB // Warner/Chappell North
America Ltd (CD 1 T. 1-3; CD 2 T. 8)
A hugely successful film composer, Hans EMI Music Publishing Ltd (CD 1 T. 4)
Zimmer (b. 1957) has come a long way since Sony ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd (CD 1 T. 5;
his early days in the 1980s when he was CD 2 T. 7)
earning a living by composing such ‘classics’ as BMG VM Music Ltd (CD 1 T. 6)
the theme tune to quiz show Going for Gold! Sugar Songs UK Ltd (CD 1 T. 7)
Interestingly, he runs a synthesizer-packed Universal/MCA Music Ltd (CD 1 T. 8; CD 2 T. 6)
studio with a team of composers – shades of Bernal Music / Ole (UK) (CD 1 T. 9)
the old Hollywood studio system. He freely Universal Music Publishing Ltd (CD 1 T. 10;
admits he’s ‘not a great player but a good CD 2 T. 5)
programmer’. A great classical music lover, he Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd (CD 2 T. 1-4)
says the music to Gladiator (2000) was inspired
by Holst’s The Planets and by Wagner. The The LPO is grateful to Dirk Kokx (CD 1 T. 4),
‘Elysium’ theme, however, is all Zimmer and no JoAnn Kane Music Service (CD 1 T. 5), Paul
one can deny its ethereal quality. Bateman (CD 1 T. 6), Nic Raine (CD 1 T. 7; CD 2
T. 7–8), Themes and Variations (CD 1 T. 9),
Disney Concert Library (CD 1 T. 10; CD 2 T. 5),
Programme notes © Sarah Breeden Studio Piovani (CD 2 T. 1-4), Angelo Badalamenti
(CD 1 T. 8) and Don Davis (CD 2 T. 6) for the loan
‘Suite from Disney’s Mulan’ of their arrangements.
Score by Jerry Goldsmith
Songs by Matthew Wilder and David Zippel
Orchestrated by Alexander Courage Enjoy more film music on the LPO label.
1998 Wonderland Music Co., Inc. (BMI) Visit lpo.org.uk/recordings.

‘Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas The Genius of Film Music
Hollywood Blockbusters
Orchestral Suite’ 1960s–1980s
Music by Danny Elfman Highlights from The
Arranged by Mark McKenzie Godfather, Psycho,
Lawrence of Arabia and
LPO-0086

1993 Buena Vista Music Company (BMI)

more.
DIRK BROSSÉ conductor

Dirk Brossé, born in Maurice Jarre. He has worked with directors

Ghent, Belgium, has Stijn Coninx, Frank Van Laecke, Susanna White
worked all over the and Roland Joffé, and with writers Gabriel
world as a conductor García Márquez, Seth Gaaikema and Didier Van
and composer. He Cauwelaert.
is currently Music
Director of the Chamber He has conducted many top orchestras, both at
Orchestra of Philadelphia home and abroad. Amongst them, the London
and of Ghent Film Festival and professor of Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic
composition and conducting at the School of Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, Vancouver
Arts / Royal Conservatory of Music in Ghent. Opera, Opéra de Lyon, Hong Kong Chinese
John Williams chose him as Principal Conductor Orchestra, l’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
of the ‘Star Wars in Concert World Tour’. and the Philharmonic Orchestras of Brussels,
Antwerp, Rotterdam, Basel, Madrid, Porto,
He has composed some 400 works, including Birmingham, Ulster, Shanghai, Hong Kong,
concerti, oratorios, lieder, chamber music Seoul, Queensland, St Petersburg, Los Angeles
and symphonic works. He has also composed and Boston.
extensively for cinema, television and stage,
for films including ‘Boerenpsalm’, ‘Koko Flanel’, Dirk has been awarded the title Cultural
‘Daens’, ‘The Lovers’ and ‘Knielen’ and television Ambassador of Flanders, the Flemish
including his score for the BBC/HBO series Parliament’s Gold Medal for Merit, the Achille
‘Parade’s End’ which was nominated for an Van Acker Prize, the Joseph Plateau Honorary
Emmy Award. Award and the Global Thinkers Forum Award
for Excellence in Cultural Creativity. In 2010
He has made more than 90 CD recordings and Dirk Brossé was made an honorary citizen
has collaborated with world-class artists such of Destelbergen. In 2013 he was elevated to
as José van Dam, Barbara Hendricks, Alison Belgium’s hereditary nobility, with the personal
Balsom, Salvatore Accardo, John Williams, Toots title of Knight. He is a member of the Royal
Thielemans, Hans Zimmer, Elmer Bernstein, Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and
Emma Thompson, Kenneth Branagh, Randy the Arts.
Crawford, Mel Brooks, Sinead O’ Connor, and
LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

The London Philharmonic Orchestra is one of The Orchestra is based at Southbank Centre’s
the world’s finest orchestras, balancing a long Royal Festival Hall in London, where it has
and distinguished history with its present- been Resident Orchestra since 1992, giving
day position as one of the most dynamic and around 30 concerts a season. Each summer it
forward-looking ensembles in the UK. This takes up its annual residency at Glyndebourne
reputation has been secured by the Orchestra’s Festival Opera where it has been Resident
performances in the concert hall and opera Symphony Orchestra for over 50 years. The
house, its many award-winning recordings, Orchestra performs at venues around the UK
trail-blazing international tours and wide- and has made numerous international tours,
ranging educational work. performing to sell-out audiences in America,
Europe, Asia and Australasia.
Founded by Sir Thomas Beecham in 1932, the
Orchestra has since been headed by many of The London Philharmonic Orchestra has
the world’s greatest conductors, including recorded the soundtracks to numerous
Sir Adrian Boult, Bernard Haitink, Sir Georg blockbuster films, from The Lord of the Rings
Solti, Klaus Tennstedt and Kurt Masur. Vladimir trilogy to Lawrence of Arabia, East is East, The
Jurowski was appointed the Orchestra’s Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Thor: The
Principal Guest Conductor in March 2003, and Dark World. It also broadcasts regularly on
became Principal Conductor in September television and radio, and in 2005 established
2007. its own record label. There are now over 100
releases available on CD and to download and
stream online. lpo.org.uk

© Benjamin Ealovega / Drew Kelley

 THE GENIUS OF FILM MUSIC: HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTERS 1980S–2000S

CD1 54:12
13:21 WILLIAMS Star Wars Symphonic Suite
01 05:40 i. Main Title
02 04:33 ii. Princess Leia’s Theme
03 03:08 iii. Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme)
04 03:37 VANGELIS (arr. D. Kokx) Chariots of Fire – Main Theme
05 04:57 HAMLISCH Sophie’s Choice – Love Theme
06 03:49 MORRICONE The Mission – Gabriel’s Oboe
07 04:35 BACALOV (arr. N. Raine) Il Postino – Main Theme
08 08:10 BADALAMENTI (orch. K. Landrum) Twin Peaks Suite – Laura Palmer’s Theme
09 07:25 E BERNSTEIN (orch. Emilie Bernstein/P. Russ) The Age of Innocence Suite
10 08:18 ELFMAN (arr. M. McKenzie) The Nightmare Before Christmas Suite

CD2 42:30
11:55 PIOVANI La Vita è bella (Life is Beautiful) Suite
01 04:27 i. Buongiorno principessa
02 01:59 ii. Grand Hotel Fox Trot
03 02:18 iii. La fuga
04 03:11 iv. Il carrarmato
05 07:28 GOLDSMITH (orch. A. Courage) Suite from Disney’s Mulan
06 09:32 DAVIS The Matrix Reloaded Suite
07 08:17 ZIMMER (arr. N. Raine) Gladiator Suite
08 05:18 WILLIAMS (arr. N. Raine) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark –
Raiders March

DIRK BROSSÉ conductor

LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Vesselin Gellev leader

Recorded live at Southbank Centre’s ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL, London
LPO – 0110