Music To Picture, FLYCUB20108, Brian Bennett
Format: CD
Price: £7.00
Brian Bennett cover
Wexford's Theme and The Mystery Waltz are the two themes from the hugely successful 'Ruth Rendell Mysteries'. The first of these pieces won the highly prestigious Ivor Novello Award for best television theme in 1989. The second features Brian's long-term friend and musical associate Alan Hawkshaw on solo piano.
From the 1997 film 'The Harpist' comes Escape from the Asylum, and Nomads of the Wind, first broadcast in 1994, is one of many collaborations Brian has enjoyed with writer/director Peter Crawford.
The film Terminal Choice, starring Ellen Barkin and Joe Spano, was released in 1984, and is a dark and mysterious electronic score. The main theme from the movie was also recorded by the UK's top instrumental group The Shadows, of which Brian has been a member of since 1961, on their album 'Guardian Angel'. The group also recorded Brian's theme from Pulaski on their 'Simply Shadows' album. This series first aired in October of 1987.
Night Flight is taken from the score of the cult movie 'The American Way', starring Dennis Hopper, which was released in 1986. Featuring Brian on drums with Clem Clempson on guitar and Alan Jones on bass, this is one of Brian's favourites of his own compositions.
1996's 'Global Sunrise', another Peter Crawford collaboration,is represented here by Yellowstone and Dear Roy Love Gillian was a one-off drama screened in 1992.
The Knock first aired in 1993, and ran for five years. Dirty Work was written and broadcast during 1999 and 2000, whilst Square Deal, with sax performed by Phil Todd, broadcast from 1988 through 1989.
The most recent theme of this collection is Moonpower, yet another Peter Crawford collaboration, and was broadcast in 2003, and this is followed by the oldest theme Chase Side Shoot-Up. Since 1974 it has been the highly recognisable BBC Golf Theme.
In 1997, Brian scored the six-part series David Jason in his Element which starred one of Britain's best loved actors outside of his normal acting roles.
Featuring Gavyn Wright on violin, Murder in Mind has now completed it's third series, since first airing in 2001. View of Earth, from 'Great Natural Wonders' was recorded and broadcast in 2002 and was presented by Sir David Attenborough.
The themes discussed so far, all made it to the big or small screen, but along the way some of Brian's best compositions have not always made the final cut, and eight of these compositions are represented on this CD.
Decadence in Blue again features Alan Hawkshaw on piano. Alice's Theme was inspired by the birth of Brian's first grandchild on January 10th, 1995, and was intended for a TV interpretation of Brambley Hedge.
The Shackleton Variations is Brian's musical interpretation of Ernest Shackleton's heroic antarctic explorations.
October Suite,intended for the tv adaptation of Peter Mayle's 'A Year in Provence' features Mark Griffiths on guitar and Dave Bishop on alto sax.
Mountains of the Moon is another composition which has connections with 'The Shadows', having been recorded for their 1989 album 'Steppin to the Shadows'.
Fanfare For All Nations was intended for the television show 'The People's Century', and Opening Ceremony was originally commissioned for the opening of Alton Towers, the British theme park. The Magistrate was composed for an Australian drama series, and is another of Brian's 'lost classics'.
This CD represents the first time that these compositions have been released together, and the sheer magnificence and diversity of these themes is testament to Brian's prolific output. Here's to volume two………………….
Track Listing
1 Wexford's Theme (from the 'Ruth Rendell Mysteries') 2:57
2 The Mystery Waltz (from the 'Ruth Rendell Mysteries') 3:20
3 Escape from the Asylum (from 'The Harpist') 3:15
4 Nomads of The Wind (opening titles) 2:56
5 Terminal Choice 3:09
6 Decadence in Blue 2:57
7 Pulaski 3:44
8 Night Flight (from 'The American Way') 4:55
9 Alice's Theme 2:40
10 The Shackleton Variations 7:35
11 Yellowstone (from 'Global Sunrise') 4:00
12 October Suite 3:37
13 Dear Roy, Love Gillian 1:23
14 Mountains of the Moon 3:40
15 The Knock 0:42
16 Dirty Work 0:41
17 Square Deal 4:02
18 Fanfare For All Nations 3:51
19 Opening Ceremony 2:46
20 The Magistrate 3:30
21 Moon Power 1:37
22 Chase Side Shoot-Up (BBC TV 'Golf Theme') 2:57
23 David Jason in his Element (opening titles) 0:33
24 Murder in Mind 0:32
25 View of The Earth ('Great Natural Wonders' theme) 1:06
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