John Scott: "Sharks" (2003) / Documentary Score Suite
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- Опубліковано 19 лип 2020
- ABOUT THE SCORE: This smaller-scale effort by John Scott is a bit of an enigma. The only concrete information I have is that is hails from 2003 and by all accounts appears to be from a documentary about, and perhaps titled simply, "Sharks". There is no relevant IMDB entry to indicate what this may be, and the film may well have never been completed (or perhaps exists only in private circulation, i.e. as a video installation project at a museum or aquarium). Assuming the 36-plus minutes of music prescribes musical identity to the titular creatures, Scott responds with a score built principally around a mysterious central melody with distinct rising and falling phrases - heard on strings and rumbling timpani at the outset of this suite - as well as a secondary presto ably evoking sharks cavorting about merrily in the world's oceans (introduced at 2:52). The composer eschews the human propensity for fear around these creatures, and instead focuses on an almost romantic and wistful musical portraiture, replete with the usual dose of human dignity this composer brings to the natural world via his music. Throughout this suite one will note beautifully expressive woodwind passages and some excellent writing for solo cello - of which I confess to wishing there was a greater presence, as the central theme is particularly mesmerizing as voiced with this instrument.
While SHARK's harmonic language is unmistakably from the composer's Cousteau documentary-scoring canon overall, the smaller scale of the music - written for timpani, flute, english horn and a small compliment of (occasionally not-quite intonation-savvy) string players - begs a more direct comparison to a concurrent 2003 effort of this Scott's, SMALL CUTS (Petites Coupures), a French drama starring Kristin Scott Thomas that is also scored for the same exact instrumental pallet.
This may not be a "desert island" effort for this composer, but nonetheless another cogent reminder of his gift for melody and evocative atmospheric orchestral writing... Even when the resources at his disposal aren't optimal.
ABOUT THIS RECORDING: Sadly I have no information whatsoever on where this was recorded, though I suspect Los Angeles-based and non-union from the string playing and cramped sonics (Scott's London and Munich recordings are always far richer and more expansive-sounding).
I also have no information on who the beautiful photograph used in this video was taken by, so if someone does know please advise and I will annotate accordingly!
Beautiful Channel!!
Thank You!
Muy hermosa composición!! John Scott es maestro de las bellas melodías! Agradecido de poder disfrutarla una y otra vez,!
John scott Great
En plus de compositions destinées aux longs métrages, John Scott a également écrit pour des films documentaires de très belles partitions particulièrement bien orchestrées.
The piece is part of the soundtrack for "Cousteau's Madagascar II: Sharks and Legends" (documentary), TBS, 1995.
Thank you for the intel, would you happen to know where this was recorded?
@@bobbengan As with virtually all of John's work with Cousteau, the piece was recorded with the Royal Philharmonic, London.
@@ottovavrinii5605 Appreciate the intel, I will revise the title of the piece and recording orchestra accordingly. Cheers! - BB
Hey! Are you able to find other Jhon Scott's documentaries? I really want to watch "Webs and other wonders" and can't find it anywhere