The official website for the composer and
Highbridge Music, which publishes his works.
Highbridge Music Ltd.
Studio 6, 18 Kensington Court Place, London W8 5BJ, UK
Fax / Voicemail: +44 (0) 20 7938 1969
Email: howardblake.obe@virgin.net
Enquiries: Anna Menzies anna@annamenzies.com +44 (0) 7711 617718
THE LOST CONTINENT op.36 (April 1968)
Theme tune for the Hammer feature film
Published by: Highbridge Music LtdCommissioned by: Hammer Films
Instrumentation: Organ, bass, drums
[Key to Abbreviations]
First Performance: Recorded Olympic Studios, 1968.
Recordings Available
LOST CONTINENT CD GDI RECORDS www.gdirecords.com
Tracks 24 and 25 are composed and played by Howard Blake but not credited.
Notes
Main score for film composed by Gerard Schurmann, but Howard Blake was commissioned to add instrumental sections derived from four notes from his score. [3M1, 5M2, 6M2, 9M1]. How did this happen?
Phil Martell was musical director of Hammer music in 1968. He rang and explained that Gerard Schurmann had written a totally 'squeaky door' score, ie 12-tone non-melodic, which is what his 'stable' of serial composers were used for. But on this occasion there was a love interest in the film and GS was unable to provide anything suitable. Phil asked if I would visit GS in his Hampstead studio and examine the score with him for a possible tune that I could 'turn into something.' I went and did so. There was only one possible phrase in the whole huge score - the four notes b.c.a.b (in fact the same 4 notes that begin the standard 'Time on your hands'.) I said I could use these 4 notes and expand them into a theme for Hammond organ, bass and drums - Phil wanted that 'trendy' organ sound because he had introduced a song with organ and rhythm section backing. GS was very pleased to give me permission to use 'his' 4 notes and Phil was very pleased with what I both composed and played.
In 2000 32 years later GDI issued an album of LC which said 'GS's original orchestral cues for Eva and Lansen and Memories were revised for the completed film with the new rendition realised for a 'relaxed and jazzy Hammond organ combo.....incidentally the organ soloist is Howard Blake..' He did not credit me with having written it - which I had (except for the first four notes, right-hand only) GS had the nerve to call me from LA and accuse me of 'stealing his theme for Lost Continent'. To save a problem developing I told him that 'his 4 notes' were the same as 'Time on your hands' and this apparently concluded the matter.