Back on the 14th July last year (Saturday morning) I presented Brass Bands Play Movie Themes (I). Whilst we have had a lot of movie music over the last month or so, I thought it would be good to put on another program of brass bands playing movie themes.
Whether it is to fulfill Council or Shire obligations, as a fee for service, or for the publicity, just about every brass band would perform in public events during the year. A lot of the the time bands will play brass band arrangements of movie scores. I believe this is because a) the public like hearing it and b) most brass players actually like playing it. And with some of the best music composers around composing for films, like James Horner, John Williams, Howard Shore and Hans Zimmer there is plenty of music to work with, for brass band arrangers.
In the main, I have tried to avoid repeating tracks from my show last year, however there are a couple of exceptions. So, onto the program list:
1. Also Sprach Zarathustra - Black Dyke Band and others
Whilst this was not originally composed for the cinema (Richard Strauss composed it in 1896), most people, when hearing this music, would probably think it as movie music, and specifically used in the 1968 movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey. This recording is from a CD issued with highlights of the 2001 National Brass Band Championships and Gala Concert, and is performed jointly by Black Dyke Band, International Staff Band and Symphonic Brass of London.
2. Concert March from 1941
3. Circle of Life
4. For Your Eyes Only
5. The Mission
6. Eye of The Tiger
- Brassband De Wâldsang
Brassband De Wâldsang is considered the premier brass band of the Netherlands, having won the National Championships a number of times. In 1995, under the baton of Rieks van der Velde, they released a CD titled Screen Blockbusters and these next 5 tracks are from that album.
We start of with music from John Williams and Spielberg's 1979 movie, 1941. This concert march is arranged by Steve Sykes.
We then move to the classic Disney animation, The Lion King (1994) and Circle of Life, with the music at the start of the movie originally composed by Elton John and arranged by Hans Zimmer. Unfortunately I am unable to work out which of the many brass band arrangements this is and therefore who the arranger is.
On next to a James Bond classic, with For Your Eyes Only (1981), and Bill Conti's theme song, arranged for brass band by Jan van Kraeydonck.
The music for the movie The Mission (1986) was voted in as the top movie music recently by ABC FM listeners. Originally composed by Ennio Morricone, this particular arrangement is by Frank Bernaerts.
The final track I have chosen from this CD is from the 1982 movie Rocky III, and the song Eye of the Tiger. This song was composed and performed the rock group Survivor, and was there greatest hit. It has been arranged for brass band by Rieks van der Velde.
7. Can You Read My Mind (Love Theme from Superman) - Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag
Whilst John Williams is best known for his collaboration with director, Steven Spielberg, one of his most enduring scores is for a movie directed by Richard Donner - Superman (1979). The Love Theme from that score has been arranged for brass band by Ray Farr and is performed by Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag (with Ray Farr as conductor) from their 1997 CD, Best by Farr.
8. Born On The Fourth of July - Yorkshire Building Society Band
Another John Williams score (most of them have been arranged for brass bands) and this time a movie directed by Oliver Stone - Born on the Fourth of July (1989). This recording is from the 2003 European Brass Band Championships Gala Concert and is performed by Yorkshire Building Society Band, with David King conducting.
9. Pirate Of The Caribbean - Brass Band Rekrutenschule Schweizer Militärmusik
Moving away from music by John Williams, the score for the orginal Pirates of the Caribbean movie (2003) was composed by Klaus Bedalt, with Hans Zimmer as producer. This arrangement for brass band is by Paul Drury and is performed by Brass Band Rekrutenschule Schweizer Militärmusik, under the baton of Andre Gygli, from their 2012 CD Neopolitan Scenes.
10. Ben-Hur: March Of The Charioteers
11. The Great Escape
12. Gladiator: Barbarian Horde
13. Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom
- The Grimethorpe Colliery UK Coal Band
Grimethorpe are probably one of the most recongised brass band in the world, thanks partly to the 1996 movie Brassed Off, which they performed in (poorly disguised as Grimley Colliery Band).
In 2001 they released a CD titled, simply, Movie Brass, with Elgar Howarth as conductor. I played a number of tracks from this album in my Brass Band Movie Themes show last year. Not these ones though.
We start with the movie Ben-Hur (1959) and the March of the Charioteers with music composed by Miklos Rozsa, and arranged for brass band by Steve Sykes.
We then move to The Great Escape (1963), scored by another legend in Elmer Bernstein,and arranged for brass band by Martin Ellerby.
The third piece selected from this CD is from one of my favourite soundtracks of all time. The music for Gladiator (2000) was composed jointly by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, and has been one of the most commerically successful score soundtracks. Barbarian Horde has been arranged by Sandy Smith.
The final work in this selection is another John Williams piece, from the second instalment of the Indiana Jones movies, released in 1984. This piece has been arranged by Ray Farr.
14. Saving Private Ryan: Hymn To The Fallen - Black Dyke Band
We return to Black Dyke Band, this time under the baton of Nicholas Childs, from their 2007 CD, Symphonic Brass. Another John Williams/Steven Spielberg collaboration. from Saving Private Ryan (1998). Frank Bernaerts arranged this for brass band.
15. Fanfare And Flying Theme from E.T.
16. Midway March
17. Fawkes The Phoenix
- Fodens Richardson Band
As if to confirm my above statement about most of John Williams' scores being arranged for brass bands, here is a CD titles John Williams Epic Themes, conducted by Thomas Wyss. Released in 2003, this includes all the best known of Williams's works.
We start with the Fanfare and Flying Theme from E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial (1982), arranged by Steve Sykes.
Next is an older movie, that not many may know was scored by Williams. The movie is Midway (1976), a WWII action movie, directed by Jack Smight, about the Battle of Midway, in the Pacific Ocean. This is arranged by Ray Farr.
The final work selected from this CD is the theme of Fawkes the Phoenix, from the Harry Potter films, or more specifically, from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). This piece is arranged by Andy Duncan.
18. The Empire Strikes Back
19. Pearl Harbour
- Brass Band Schoonhoven
Brass Band Schoonhoven released this CD, Sound of Movies in 2002.
I can't have a show about movie music arranged for brass bands and miss one of Williams's most recognisable works. This is The Imperial March (or Darth Vader's theme) from Empire Strikes Back (1980). I am not sure who the arranger for this piece is.
Directed by Michael Bay Pearl Harbor (2001) was not received well by the critics. The music is composed by Hans Zimmer, and was nominated for a Golden Globe for best score.
20. The Gael - Kirkintilloch Band
I finish tonight's show with music from the movie The Last of the Mohicans (1992). As mentioned on one of our previous shows the music was mainly composed by Trevor Jones. This arrangement is by Andy Duncan and is performed by the Kirkintilloch Band from their CD Summon the Heroes.
I hope you enjoy the program tonight.
Next week, we revisit an extraordinary Tuba player, Øystein Baadsvik.
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