Orchestral Cinematic Liner Notes
01. Danger Wave Rising - 2:43
Keywords: tension; danger; crime; action; menace
Composer's commentary: "Honestly, this tune has a slight 'Batman-ish' vibe. It would fit well over that opening scene in The Dark Knight in which the Joker robs the bank. In fact, any heist would love this track over it. It's all about building up the tension. It could equally be used in a 'team going into danger' situation, a rising crime-wave medley, or any situation in which nefarious activities have really kicked off. It has a muted section that suggests stealth, and I tried to ratchet up the tension until it really lets rip for the final third. Even then the tension builds until the very last note, so if you want to excite your audience, this might be the track to consider."
Signature: 4/4 Tempo: 110
02. In the Ashes - 5:03
Keywords: bittersweet; tragedy; tender; defeat
Composer's commentary: "Fifty percent of a composer's job is knowing what not to do. With good reason, there are no drums and no brass in this tune, just rich layers of strings. I use a Lydian Mode here in an attempt to evoke tender, tragic sentiment. As the title suggests, this track would sit well over a scene of major defeat, loss of a loved one or similar sentimental scene. Equally, though (as is often the case with the bittersweet) I could just as readily envision this melody over an adult love scene, or moment of forgiveness. If you want your audience to feel sentimental, hit them with a wall of tender strings. In the Ashes will certainly do that for you."
Signature: 4/4 Tempo: 112
03. Between Lovers - 4:56
Keywords: bittersweet; love; rite of passage
Composer's commentary: "In some ways, this tune carries a similar bittersweet vibe to the preceding track, but with a much gentler, hopeful ambience. Violins weep over a low strung harp, making this tune equally apt for a moment of forgiveness or reconciliation. Yet the tune speaks to me of the rites of passage of love, courtship, the passing of time in the company of those dear to us. It's a waltz, which trips forward as earnestly, falteringly and naively as we hope the hero of our story might. Whereas In the Ashes is bittersweet in its sense of tragedy, Between Lovers is bittersweet in its sense of romance. All love is tragic, because what we love is by its very nature ephemeral - we know that one day we must face losing it. That's the essence of what I tried to capture in this track."
Signature: 3/4 Tempo: 145
04. The Mage's Curse - 3:56
Keywords: sorcery; mystery; arcane
Composer's commentary: "Here I endeavoured to compose a deeply, darkly fantastical tune. It carries something of ancient majesty, something of ritual and the arcane. It's rapidly paced with action elements, too. The choir intones cold and rarefied, while the violins whip up a low, dark energy that sometimes pulses behind the choir and at others explodes into life. A horn section stabs in richly behind the main theme to lend power to the melody. I could imagine this played towards the climax of a fantasy film such a Harry Potter or the Hobbit, though equally it might accompany a historical epic, or any scene in which someone is occupied with the unhallowed or arcane. Sections would be highly suitable for a something like a lightsaber battle, too."
Signature: 4/4 Tempo: 130
05. Go Gojira - 4:03
Keywords: monster; action; kung fu; suspense
Composer's commentary: "Jungle drums burst into thunder in exotic 6/8 timing, horns blare deep and coarse. What's that rising out of the water? Is it Godzilla? A kraken? A secret submersible super-villain base? That's for you to decide in your work. This piece cries out in wild adventure, and as the title suggests, would be great for a monster flick, though I could also envisage it over an action scene of a classic spy thriller in exotic climes: a 60s Bond movie for example. It could fit alongside a Bruce Lee kung fu scene, or a crazy voodoo ritual, or a film noir intro. It's pacy, brash, and the cyclic nature of the rhythm is hypnotic. This makes it kind of fun - it was certainly fun to make. Secretly, I do hope someone out there makes some stop-motion monsters to this at some point."
Signature: 6/8 Tempo: 100
06. Melodican - 3:11
Keywords: serendipity; order; happiness; civility
Composer's commentary: "I called the tune 'Melodican' simply because I first composed it on a melodica. So no the title's no help, apart from the fact that it's melodic, I guess. Playful woodwinds define this tune, backed by both strings and brass, which lend great volume. I could see it over a dewy morning, the first day of term at university. It speaks of orderly happiness. The unfolding of civilised events. Keep an ear out for the glockenspiel segment in the middle eighth. To be fair the tune could start with that segment, so it would be good to use as a reprise later on in a project."
Signature: 4/4 Tempo: 108
07. Desert Plateau - 6:17
Keywords: contemplation; defeat; sadness
Composer's commentary: "The more observant (bat-eared?) among you might notice a tiny homage to a newer Star Wars theme in the first few bars of this tune, but the melody quickly veers off under its own unique vibe. This tune might fit at the end of the second act, when the hero feels utterly defeated. It evokes elements of sadness, despair, reflection, along with a bold, bitter determination to go on, whatever the cost. The sadness floats along delicately, as it must do, notes played at times so softly to almost--just almost--miss keying, later being superseded by a more driven rhythm, before dipping back down into the lugubrious trenches of despair. Or something."
Signature: 4/4 Tempo: 100
08. The Drive to Confront - 4:31
Keywords: suspense; vengeance; betrayal; thriller
Composer's commentary: "This one's based around a Phrygian Mode, because I wanted the piano melody to be dispassionate. To create a sense of pressing forward, we have string stabs playing with choir stabs, while the keys clip urgently, on the brink of jumbling. I imagined a protagonist who's just found out that his best friend has been betraying him all along. Now he's driving through a stark Scandinavian landscape to confront the friend and discover the truth. Hence the name. That's a very specific image for this tune. However, you could probably set an epic battle to it as well. So it could be for mid-confrontation or preparation for confrontation. What about zombie animation? It definitely would work for horror. I'm sure there are many other uses for this track. I'm looking forward to viewing what people come up with."
Signature: 3/8 Tempo: 100
09. Hawker Hurricane Pattle - 3:47
Keywords: war; duty; victory; loss; flight
Composer's commentary: "Hawker Hurricane Pattle? Don't you mean Battle? Marmaduke 'Pat' Pattle was the number one flying ace in a Hawker Hurricane (WWII fighter plane), scoring over 50 victories before losing his life over Piraeus Harbour in 1941 at the tender age of 26. I took the liberty of imagining a methodically brilliant idealist, fighting for the liberty, sacrificing all for the good of future generations. To tell Pattle's fictionalised story, the track is built around brass, with the rhythm instruments picking out an ostinato in the classic style. Think Holst's 'Mars' (which influenced Star Wars, so think Star Wars as well). A filtered female choir lilts in to evoke high flight over Greece's blue skies, sun flares and silhouetted craft, while the brass sings variously duty and the sadness of war. Drums and bells clang in, as Pattle hones in for the kill. The middle eighth is a rambunctious victory roll, but eventually Pattle must lose, so the melody pares down until nothing but a melancholic choir remains. This tune would be good for any battle situation, or even sense of home and duty. The rambunctious part could be used for something as simple as a kid on a bike rolling down a hill."
Signature: 4/4 Tempo: 130
10. Chaplin Cakewalk - 4:48
Keywords: comedy; clowning; interplay; fun
Composer's commentary: "Here's a slice of audio comedy to get washed down with a glass of visual comedy. The title winks at the old silent comedies, and this piece would happily sit over Chaplin's tramp tripping over himself. I could also imagine a rom-com montage - the awkward couple slowly, bumblingly falling in love. It's wholesome, it's wacky, and every time I hear that horn quacking out the lead melody it brings me a smile. It speeds up, roly-polies over itself, almost stops, goes quiet, gets loud. It's a tune that just can't sit still. Above all I would say this piece of music is uplifting. I hope it kind of reminds the listener that at the end of the day we're all slightly ridiculous as human beings, and that's okay. Once you've come to terms with your own idiocy you become bullet-proof, and then the sky's the limit. Ideally, that's what this tune is about."
Signature: 4/4 Tempo: 120-165