fbpx
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • NEWS
  • ALBUM
  • LISTEN
  • CONCERTS
  • MEDIA
  • VIP LIST
  • CONTACT
Type and hit ENTER
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • NEWS
  • ALBUM
  • LISTEN
  • CONCERTS
  • MEDIA
  • VIP LIST
  • CONTACT
Listen to different genres
  • AT LAST- ALBUM
  • BAROQUE & CLASSICAL
  • JAZZ AND POP
  • FILM, TV & ADS
  • THEATRE

Heather Cairncross

Jazz Singer

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • NEWS
  • ALBUM
  • LISTEN
  • CONCERTS
  • MEDIA
  • VIP LIST
  • CONTACT

Rambling on: the long trek from Hogwarts to Eewoks

Where were we?…….ah yes, we’ve had our scotch egg and a reviving pint of ale and we’ve set off again on our ramble from Hogwarts to Ewoks.

John Williams is one of the last of a dying breed of composers.

Nowadays, music is composed on a computer programme where, instead of beats per minute being the measuring tool, film frames per second are used. Using this method it is quite easy to sync the music with the screen action. We usually then record the film soundtrack listening to a ‘click track’ which is linked to that frame rate. If the music stays in time with the click, then it will stay in time with the frames of the film. John Williams, on the other hand, writes music which, when played at the right tempo, fits perfectly with the screen action. He conducts, facing the screen, with the orchestra seated in between. Laurence Olivier playing Henry VThe screen is showing the movie in real time and he uses his  inner metronome and immense musicianship to link the two. In fact, he conducts his film recording sessions in the same way that William Walton must have conducted his music for the 1944 Laurence Olivier film, Henry V. Williams is the only composer I have worked with who has recorded his film music in this way .

I was lucky enough to do a session just like this with the LSO for Star Wars – Revenge of the Seth. The screen was set up behind us but the film was scrambled so we couldn’t see it clearly – such is the top secret nature of these cult films. I remember that there were also huge, burly minders at Air Lyndhurst Studios to guard the first Harry Potter extracts.

John Williams conducting to the Star Wars ScreenFor both films, John Williams would do a first read-through with the orchestra and almost have everything correct the first time. Then we’d go for a ‘take’ and he’d absolutely nail it – brilliant to watch. This picture is the closest I could find to give you the idea of how the studio was set up.

I asked a good friend of mine, Dee Palmer, to explain the process to me. (Dee is also a formidable composer and orchestrator who has often worked in the recording studio in this way). As far as I understand it, (apologies Dee if this is incorrect) the conductor has headphones on one ear and these feed the conductor four audible clicks – on the fourth beat the conductor raises their baton as an upbeat and then places their downbeat to coincide with the fifth click – which is the start of the musical ‘Cue’. During the Cue there may be particular actions on the screen – on Harry Potter there were lots of monsters jumping out – which the high points of the music had to match up with. This might be signaled by white horizontal ‘streamers’ traveling across the screen warning the conductor to speedup or slow in order to coincide their crescendo or big chord with that action.

Nick_Zubko in the moviola editing suiteThe director and composer used to go to a private screening and move the film by hand, frame by frame on the Moviola machine. They would mark the specific frames with a chinagraph pencil so that the necessary information could be added to the film in order to help the conductor.

My goodness, how things have changed in a relatively short time frame. Technology has made things so much easier but I wonder if it hasn’t made film music sound more rigid and uniform?

Heather Cairncross & John Williams after the recoding of Revenge of the Seth at Abbey Road StudiosAfter the Star Wars session, I nervously asked John if I could take a picture of him and he very kindly asked me if I wanted to be in the picture – what a lovely man! You often find that – the most talented people have nothing to prove and are generous and respectful to their colleagues. He always lined up with the french horn and trumpet sections to have his photo taken. Williams always used the LSO because of their legendary brass players and the sound they produced for his epic themes.

The legendary trumpeter Maurice Murphy who played the Star Wars theme

The legendary trumpeter Maurice Murphy who played the Star Wars theme

The legendary trumpeter Maurice Murphy who played the Star Wars theme

He particularly admired Maurice Murphy who played the Star Wars theme and there is a story in the industry that even when Maurice had left the LSO, John Williams insisted on him being brought back for the sessions – allegedly he could name his price as the gig meant so much money for the orchestra – I don’t know if that is true. I found an interesting podcast on the LSO website entitled Beyond the Legend which is all about Maurice.

Feeling quite exhausted the ramblers arrived back at the Devil’s Dyke carpark. A few of us went on to a tea shop to have a reviving cup of earl grey and a cheese scone. The fees for joining this club are only £7 per year. For this tiny amount, you turn up on a Saturday (5-6 mile) or Sunday (9-13 mile) and are taken on a fantastic, scenic walk, experiencing all the different terrain that Sussex has to offer.

The perfect hobby for a cash-strapped musician!

Email
2 Comments

Related News

Other posts that you should not miss.

Back with the LSO | The Launch Concert for Tolga Kashif’s ‘The Genesis Suite’

This week I sang with the wonderful LSO again – this time in a concert to launch Tolga …

Read More

Never Too Late

Today I heard a quote which really struck home: “It is never too late to be what we …

Read More

The Third Interview About Singing On Susan Boyle’s CD, The Gift | With Ewing Stevens

Now that Susan Boyle’s CD The Gift has been released for pre-order (and has already gone to …

Read More
← PREVIOUS POST
Live Radio Interview on radiolive.co.nz with Ewing Stevens about singing on Susan Boyle's new Album
NEXT POST →
Rambling on: the long trek from Ragwort to Hogwarts

2 Comments

on Rambling on: the long trek from Hogwarts to Eewoks.
  1. Betty
    31/07/2010 @ 03:12
    -
    Reply

    Williams has always been one of my favorite composers. I find this fascinating. Thanks for this interesting report.

    • Heather
      31/07/2010 @ 09:16
      -
      Reply

      Thanks for reading Betty – so glad you enjoyed it!

Leave a Comment

Your feedback is valuable for us. Your email will not be published.
Cancel Reply

Please wait...
Submit Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Heather Cairncross Singer

6 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

Take 2!

… See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Heather Cairncross Singer

6 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

UPDATE. Well it seems it was too good to be true….following the government’s unclear announcement the managers of the pub have cancelled the jazz for now. I’m really sorry if you’ve booked a table but you now need to call and cancel to make sure they don’t take your deposit. Hopefully we’ll revive this gig in the near future. I KNOW!!!! This Sunday lunchtime in Brighton

… See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Heather Cairncross Singer

7 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

The Swingles & The Stay at Home Choir – You’re All I Need to Get By

… See MoreSee Less


Video

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Heather Cairncross Singer

7 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

In the absence of any live Prom concerts (courtesy of Covid 19), the BBC is re-running many gems from previous years. Tonight on BBC4 at 19.00 is @johnwilsonorchestra with a starry cast of soloists and the ever splendid @maidavalesingers in ‘The Broadway Sound’. Possibly the campest ever prom?Back in 2012 when this concert was recorded, I still wrote a backstage blog which may interest some of you – it seems a lifetime ago and I sincerely hope that those wonderful concerts will be back in business next year – in fact any concerts…..the prospects seems rather bleak at the moment.heathercairncross.com/the-broadway-sound-singing-in-the-john-wilson-prom-2012/

… See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Heather Cairncross Singer

7 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

Oh yes indeed, it’s the one where I have the six word Jimmy Durante stylee solo

… See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Heather Cairncross Singer

8 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

A message from wonderful and prolific choral composer James Macmillan.

… See MoreSee Less

James MacMillan: Let’s get Scotland singing again

www.scotsman.com

As we move out of lockdown, a return to putting our voices together in song should be welcomed for the good of the nation, writes Sir James MacMillan

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Archive
March 2021
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Jan    

Join Heather's VIP List

Get an exclusive unreleased track to download when you confirm.

Subscribe and stay updated with the latest news from Heather.
We will never give your details to anybody else!



Rambling on: the long trek from Hogwarts to Eewoks - Heather Cairncross UK Jazz Singer