Recordings

Much of Howard Blake's music has been recorded, but may not be currently available. The links page contains a list of online shops which may stock certain works, but if a recording cannot be traced it is worth making a direct enquiry to this site.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM op.487 (November 1995)
Songs and score for a film
EDENWOOD CD JAPAN CINEMA ASSOCIATES
A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY op.374 (November 1986)
Score for feature film BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE ANTHONY ASQUITH AWARD FOR MUSICAL EXCELLENCE 1988

Howard Blake's composed score is available as 'Suite:A Month in the Country' conducted by Paul Daniel with the strings of the English Northern Philharmonia in a recording issued by ASV, CD DCA 905 principally featuring Violin Concerto (''The Leeds'').  Video AND DVD of the complete film also available.

A Twisted Nerve op.47 (July 1968)
An arrangement of a theme for composer Bernard Hermann for a feature film
LP of 'Twisted Nerve' and 'Les Bicyclettes de Belsize' (1969)
ALL GOD'S CREATURES op.468 (August 1994)
Song-cycle for children's voices and orchestra
CD of a live performance available on request
AMITYVILLE 3-D op.324 (July 1983) Audio sample available
Score for a feature film
Complete score coupled with 'Flash Gordon' www.supercollector.com (promotion purposes only)
AN ELEPHANT CALLED SLOWLY op.70 (1969) Audio sample available
Score for a feature film

Complete album of score issued by Bell Records NY, Bell 1202 a division of CBS Pictures Industries Inc. 1970. CD issued 2003 Amazon. DVD issued 2005 Amazon


ARCHANGELS' LULLABY (for cello and piano) op.436A (December 1991) Audio sample available
A suite of three pieces for children
Recording of the title piece 'Archangel's Lullaby' by Steven Isserlis (cello) and Stephen Hough (piano) on CD 'Children's Cello' c & p 2006 BIS-CD-1562 
AS YOU LIKE IT op.347 (April 1985)
Songs and incidental music
'Sweet Swan of Avon' English Serenata, Meridian CDE 84301
BENEDICTUS op.282 (February 1979) Audio sample available
Dramatic oratorio for tenor, speaker, chorus, solo viola and orchestra

Recorded by Robert Tear (tenor),The Bach Choir, Boy Choristers of St Paul`s Cathedral, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Williams,solo viola, Sir David Willcocks,conductor, Abbey Road Studios, 1988. SONY CDHB2

Available from Highbridge

Blue Sea and Evening Sky op.5C (May 1960)
Seascape
Available from JW Media Music
CHARTER FOR PEACE (for chorus and orchestra) op.480 (May 1995)
A cantata for choir and orchestra to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The United Nations Organization
A video was made of the ceremony by BCA (Bonham Carter Associate)
CHRISTMAS LULLABY op.413 (April 1990) Audio sample available
Duet for soprano, mezzo-soprano and orchestra
Recording available by request
CLARINET CONCERTO op.329 (February 1984) Audio sample available
Concerto for clarinet and chamber orchestra

 

CD THEA KING /ECO/BLAKE/HYPERION A66215 85

 

CD Thea King/ECO/'My England' compilation Resonance CDRSB 505 

DANCES FOR TWO PIANOS op.217 (March 1976) Audio sample available
A concert suite in 9 movements

Twelve Piano Pieces and Dances for Two Pianos, WML 2001 Watermill Records, Howard Blake and Janet Canetty-Clarke

MCD 65  Masters, Pickwick:Nettle and Markham play Slow Ragtime and Folk Ballad 

Dirge For Fidele (For Clarinet and String Quartet) op.458 (August 1993)
Arrangement created for Jack Brymer and The Medici
George Martin Presents The Medici Quartet CFMCD 5 Classic FM
Diversions (Ballet) op.167a (November 1973)
A ballet based on the original 'Diversions' score for cello and piano
LP Watermill wml 2002
DIVERSIONS FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA op.337 (September 1984) Audio sample available
A concerto for cello in the form of a suite in 8 movements
Recording by Robert Cohen (solo cello), conducted by Howard Blake, with The Philharmonia Orchestra, 1990. Sony CD HB3 23
Diversions For Cello And Orchestra (arr. for piano) op.337A (1985)
A piano arrangement of the work for cello and orchestra, op.337
see op.337
Diversions For Marimba And Orchestra op.439 (September 1991)
A concerto for marimba, an arrangement of 'Diversions for cello and orchestra'
Heather Corbett (marimba), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, cond. by Julian Clayton, BBC Glasgow 26.06.2003 BBC copyright recording
Eight Character Pieces op.338 (1984) Audio sample available
Piano pieces later included in 'Lifecycle'

The eight pieces which comprise this work can be heard on the CD 'Lifecycle' recorded by William Chen, ABC Classics 476 118-4.

However, the 30 second samples below are taken from a recording made by the composer.

Elegy For Flute (and piano) op.444 (July 1992)
An arrangement of the slow movement of the clarinet concerto
Rec. on ASV CD DCA 862 THE REED OF PAN by Kenneth Smith and Paul Rhodes 1993
Ernest And Celestine (for violin and piano) op.327 (December 1983)
Score for a children's film
demo on demand
Farewell My Gentle Harp op.517 (March 2000) Audio sample available
A song for Tenor and Harp, see also op.218
Meridian CD 2006
Farewell, My Gentle Harp op.218 (January 1976)
A song for soprano and harp
First recording released 2006
Faster Than That op.7B (1962)
Activity
Available from JW Media Music
FESTIVAL MASS (for a cappella double choir) op.377 (April 1987) Audio sample available
An eight-part unaccompanied setting of the mass in Latin for SSAATTBB
WORCESTER CATHEDRAL CHOIR, ALPHA AC 579 ABBEY RECORDS 'IN QUIRES AND PLACES' SERIES II No.1
FLASH GORDON op.293 (September 1980) Audio sample available
Feature film score BRITISH ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION

Flash Gordon complete orchestral score on www.Supercollector.com

DVD,VIDEO of film

CD of 'Queen' music

FLUTE QUINTET (for flute and string quartet) op.493 (September 1996) Audio sample available
Concert work in 4 movements
English Serenata Meridian Records Howard Blake Chamber Music released 2006
FOUR MINIATURES op.7 (1962)
A concert suite in 4 movements for small orchestra.
Recording by RTV Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra,Samo Hubad, Ljubjana, Slovenia, October 1973. (LP Apollo Sound 1974 AS 1018).
GRANPA (an animated film) op.360 (February 1986) Audio sample available
Songs, script and music for an animated children's opera

GRANPA CD CBS HB1 1988

VIDEO RELEASE

GRANPA(a concert opera) op.393 (January 1988)
A performance work based on the score of the animated film

Originally released by CBS/Sony GRANPA CD CBS/SONY HB1 1988  Re-released by Highbridge HM6002 April 2006 under license from SBE Subsidiary BV

HAIKU op.567 (April 2006)
Piano piece
Track on CD by William Chen 2006  www.Matsuishi.co.jp Japan
Hammond In Percussion op.16 (1965)
Arrangements and compositions created for an EMI instrumental solo album
LP album EMI Studio 2 192  1966
Happy Occasion op.10 (1963)
Cheerful piece
Available from JW Media Music
Heartbeat op.404 (December 1989)
Concerto for tenor saxophone
BBC recording of the FP
Heartbeat op.319 (May 1982)
A concert piece for tenor saxophone
BBC recording of the first performance
IF op.506 (March 1999)
A setting of the famous poem for children's chorus and orchestra
Video made by Thomas' Schools
JUBILATE DEO op.406 (January 1990) Audio sample available
A psalm setting for choir and organ
CD Recording by Abington Church Choir
Julie op.11 (1963)
Romantic Piece (Waltz)
Available from JW Media Music
Latin Moon op.13 (1964)
A mysterious South American-style piece
Available from JW Media Music
LE BONHOMME DE NEIGE (for narrator , treble and orchestra) op.342 (January 1985)
A French version of 'The Snowman'
Orchestra Symphonique de la Monnaie conducted by Dirk Boiy, narrator Olivier Gourmet, for release November 2006
Let Music Live! (2) op.491 (September 1996)
A short concert piece for chorus and even more enormous orchestra
A recording was made by Classic FM
LIFECYCLE op.489 (1996) Audio sample available
A sequence of 24 pieces for the piano

Recorded by William Chen in the Eugene Goossens Hall, Sydney, January 2003 and released with the sub-title 'Piano Music of Imagination and Reflection'

ABC Classics 476 118-4

Make Believe op.358 (December 1985)
The song for the animated film 'Granpa'

GRANPA CD CBS HB1 1988

VIDEO RELEASE

Meeting and Parting op.192a (March 1977)
A ballet created from the 12 Piano Pieces by Robert North for LCDT
CD ABC Classics 476 1184 Lifecycle, William Chen
Mme de Leon's Salon op.583 (March 2007)
Piano solo from the film 'The Duellists'

DVD The Duellists/Paramount

CD of soundtrack Airstrip One Company 

MOVEMENT FOR ORCHESTRA op.42 (January 1967)
A Symphonic Concert Work in One Movement

LP released by Apollo Sound 1973 N/A.

Recording available from Highbridge Music on demand.

MY LIFE SO FAR op.508 (June 1999)
Score for a feature film
DVD Video Buena Vista Home Entertainment
My Wildest Dream (The Avengers) op.49 (May 1968)
Film score for "The Avengers" TV Series
DVD
NURSERY RHYME OVERTURE op.335 (September 1984) Audio sample available
A concert work and guessing game for orchestra

GRANPA CD first released on CBS/SONY HB1 1988 (deleted 1993)

To be re-released April 2006. Highbridge Music CD 6002 (under license from SME Subsidiary BV) as item on CD titled 'Granpa'

OBOE QUINTET (for oboe and string quartet) op.131 (July 1971) Audio sample available
Concert work in 3 movements
Study recording available on demand
Pas de Deux (Andante) op.287A (1979)
A dance created to the Andante of the Piano Quartet by Robert North
Piano Quartet, Watermill 2002
PENNILLION (For Flute And Harp) op.448 (March 1993) Audio sample available
Theme and variations arranged from the original for violin and harp
CD Meridian Records 2006, Gabrielle Byam-Grounds (flute). Rowena Bass (harp), as part of a CD of chamber music by Howard Blake, production in progress.
PENNILLION (for violin & harp) op.202 (April 1975)
A Welsh-inspired theme and variations
First recording released Spring 2006
PIANO CONCERTO op.412 (April 1991) Audio sample available
Concerto for piano and orchestra to celebrate the 30th birthday of HRH The Princess of Wales
CD COLOMBIA/SONY CD HBS HOWARD BLAKE (PIANO) THE PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY SIR DAVID WILLCOCKS
PIANO QUARTET op.179 (January 1974) Audio sample available
Concert work in four movements
CD of the original performers available from Highbridge Music
PRELUDE FOR SOLO VIOLA op.402 (1989)
The Prelude from "Benedictus" as a concert piece.
Benedictus CBS/Sony CD CBS HB2
PRELUDE, SARABANDE AND GIGUE op.477 (January 1995) Audio sample available
A concert work for solo guitar
'SARABANDE'/RICHARD DURRANT/CD LONGMAN 001
Reflections op.290A (1979)
A ballet by Robert North
CD Watermill 2002
Reflections (Ballet) op.178a (1976)
A ballet created from the Piano Quartet by Robert North for Ballet Rambert
LP Watermill wml 2002
Remembrance March op.5B (1960)
Ceremonial March
Available from JW Media Music
S.O.S.TITANIC op.284 (August 1979)
Score for the feature film

DVD IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT 2002

SCORPIO op.17A (May 1966)
organ instrumental
That Hammond Sound, Studio 2 192 EMI Records 1966
SHAKESPEARE SONGS (for tenor and string quartet) op.378 (July 1987) Audio sample available
A song-cycle
CD Martyn Hill 2006 Meridian
SHARK op.16B (August 1965)
organ instrumental
SX 9040 EMI Records 1965
SINFONIETTA op.300 (May 1981) Audio sample available
A concert work for 10 brass

Recorded by the brass section of The English Northern Philharmonia conducted by Paul Daniel 1994. ASV CD DCA 90

SNOWMAN SUITE (for string quartet) op.457 (August 1993) Audio sample available
Concert suite in one movement

George Martin Presents The Medici Quartet CFMCD 5 Classic FM

Pavao String Quartet, A Christmas Collection 2007 

Somewhere A Star Shines For Everyone op.509 (April 1999)
A song for girl soprano, tenor, baritone and orchestra from 'The Bear'

Video, DVD of 'The Bear', Charlotte Church, Martyn Hill,

CD demo disk of The Bear for narrator and orchestra on request

SONATA FOR TWO PIANOS op.130 (June 1971) Audio sample available
Concert work in four movements
Live concert recording for study purposes
STABAT MATER (for soloists, chorus and orchestra) op.521 (May 2001)
A dramatic oratorio, later revised and retitled 'The Passion of Mary' (see op. 577)
CD of first performance for study reference only
Suite: Flash Gordon op.453 (June 1993)
Orchestral concert suite adapted from the film score
Nic Raine, Silver Screen collection, Prague
Suite: The Duellists op.492 (September 1996)
Orchestral suite adapted from the film score

Paul Bateman, Swashbucklers, City of Prague Philharmonic.

Airstrip One Company complete film score for promotional purposes. Supertracks Music Group International

SUITE:A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY op.446 (June 1992) Audio sample available
A concert work for string orchestra adapted from the film score
ASV digital CD/PAUL DANIEL CD DCA 905 with Violin Concerto (The Leeds)
Symphonic Extract op.9 (1963)
Serious Piece
Available from JW Media Music
That Hammond Sound op.17 (1966)
Arrangements and compositions for an EMI solo instrumental album
LP album EMI Studio 2 192 1966
THE BEAR (an animated film) op.496 (March 1998)
Songs and score for another Raymond Briggs story
Channel 4/Miramax animated film released on DVD 1999
THE BEAR for narrator (or film), girl soprano, tenor, baritone and orchestra op.510 (April 1999) Audio sample available
A concert work based on the score created for the animated film

Channel 4/Miramax animated film released on DVD 1999

CD available for performance reference, narrator Howard Blake, tenor Martyn Hill, girl soprano Charlotte Church (1999)

Documentary film of the making of the animated film titled 'The Bear's Tale' released Channel 4 TV 1999

THE CANTERVILLE GHOST op.365 (June 1986)
Score for a TV feature film
VIDEO RELEASED
The Changeling - Music Box Lullaby op.274 (January 1979)
A piano piece composed as theme for the feature film

'Lifecycle', William Chen ABC Classics (Australia) 476 118-4

Original motion picture soundtrack 'The Changeling' CD Percepto Records 2001

THE CONQUEST OF SPACE op.381 (February 1988) Audio sample available
Concert Overture for Ondes Martenot and Large Orchestra

The Sinfonia of London conducted by Howard Blake, Abbey Road Studios 23.7.1988

First released on CBS/Sony 1988 

To be re-released April 2006. Highbridge Music CD 6002 (under license from SME Subsidiary BV) as item on CD titled 'Granpa'

THE DUELLISTS op.247 (March 1977) Audio sample available
Score for feature film. SPECIAL JURY PRIZE CANNES FESTIVAL 1977: IVOR NOVELLO BEST SCORE NOMINATION 1977.

DVD Paramount Home Video 2004, with commentary on the score by HB

CD Airstrip One Company, Complete Score (for promotional purposes only)

The Duellists (Special Collectors Edition) op.530B (May 2002)
DVD of the feature film, with commentary by Director Ridley Scott and commentary and isolated score by Howard Blake
DVD AND Video CC08975 TM and Copyright Paramont Pictures
THE ENCHANTMENT OF VENUS (for basset clarinet and piano) op.566 (March 2006)
Concert Work
Recording in preparation
THE HUNGER op.314 (October 1982) Audio sample available
Music supervised and arranged for the feature film

The Hunger, Varese Sarabande VSD 47261. (However this CD omits much of the music used in the film -see Movements section)

Film available on DVD and video

THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE op.451 (May 1993) Audio sample available
A song-cycle to poems by Robert Louis Stevenson for speakers, choir and orchestra
CD 2007 made by The Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the choir of The Mary Erskine School Edinburgh with David Rintoul (as Robert Louis Stevenson as a man) and Niall Rice (as Robert Louis Stevenson as a boy)Available from Highbridge Music
THE LORDS OF DISCIPLINE (USA version) op.320A (January 1983)
Score for a feature film
DVD,Video of 'Lords of Discipline'
The Lost Continent op.36 (April 1968)
Four cues composed and performed for a feature film
LOST CONTINENT CD GDI RECORDS www.gdirecords.com
THE MOON STALLION op.272 (October 1978)
Score for a TV Series
Video,DVD
THE NEW NATIONAL SONGBOOK op.190 (November 1974) Audio sample available
An entertainment for vocal group and ensemble based on the book 'The English Difference' by Paul Jennings and others

LP on Firecrest FEU 1002, cover design by Hugh Casson. performed by The Scholars 1975, available from Highbridge

(also issued by DECCA, 1979-1984)


THE RAINBOW BOYS op.163 (February 1973)
Score for a feature film
Much Records Quebec, EP
THE REMARKABLE ROCKET op.189 (August 1974)
The score for an animated film narrated by David Niven

Video: 'The Selfish Giant' and 'The Remarkable Rocket'- RDV 87-009

The Remarkable Rocket op.354 (October 1985)
A concert work for narrator and orchestra
Video: 'The Selfish Giant' and 'The Remarkable Rocket'- Readers Digest RDV 87-009
THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS op.271 (December 1978) Audio sample available
The score for the feature film of Erskine Childers' novel

Complete score CD AIRSTRIP ONE (for promotion purposes)

THE SNOWMAN CONCERT VERSION For Narrator (or Film), Treble and Orchestra op.323 (1983) Audio sample available
A concert work based on the score for the animated film with added narration

'THE SNOWMAN' NARRATED BY BERNARD CRIBBINS BOY SINGER: PETER AUTY
COLUMBIA CDX 71116, 'SIDE A' WITH NARRATOR, 'SIDE B' MUSIC ONLY. ON RELEASE
EVERY CHRISTMAS, BMG/SONY, AMAZON

Parts 01/01 to 03/03 of the recordings below are the Story of The Snowman with narration by Bernard Cribbins, and correspond to tracks 1-3 of the CD.

Parts 04/01 to 06/03 of the recordings below are soundtrack to The Snowman without narration, and correspond to tracks 4-6 on the CD. 

The Snowman Concert Version For Piano, Treble and Narrator op.323A (September 1983)
The complete concert work based on the animated film, arranged for piano by the composer (see op.323)
see op.323 for recording details and audio excerpts.
THE SNOWMAN FILM (with the original version of 'Walking in the Air') op.317 (July 1982)
Score, song and lyrics for an animated film

DVD Universal 902 030 2 11

DVD Columbia Tristar Home Video

THE SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW (12-player version) op.459 (September 1993) Audio sample available
VERSION WITHDRAWN A full-evening theatre show in two acts, based on the book by Raymond Briggs, the film by TVC and incorporating the music of the ballet

DVD of complete show made in 1998 beautifully shot with Kasper Cornish, Monica Zamoura (by permission of The Birmingham Royal Ballet), Drew McConie, treble Thomas Gubbins (by permission of Winchester Cathedral), produced by Neil Mundy, directed by Thomas Grimm. 'The Snowman Stage Show', Reiner Moritz Associates, 1998 Contender-RGN2 Europe CTD 10125. Also CD RMA001

THE SNOWMAN STAGE SHOW (A BALLET IN TWO ACTS) op.522 (December 2000)
The definitive stage version of The Snowman as produced at The Peacock Theatre, London 2000-2008 by Sadler's Wells/Birmingham Rep, based on the book by Raymond Briggs and the Channel 4 animated film
Complete study DVD available from Birmingham Rep
THE SONG OF SAINT FRANCIS op.248 (May 1977) Audio sample available
A cantata setting of 'Il Cantico del Sole' for SATB chorus and orchestra
Recording of live performance available
THE STATION (a one-act opera) op.427 (June 1991) Audio sample available
A one-act comic opera for 7 singers, piano and string quartet

CD of a live performance available


The Up And Down Man op.156 (1972)
13 episodes of a mime series for tv
video
THEME FROM H op.16A (August 1965)
Organ instrumental
SX 6040 EMI Records 1965
THREE SUSSEX SONGS op.164 (May 1973)
A song-cycle for mezzo soprano and piano
On demand
TOCCATA-A CELEBRATION OF THE ORCHESTRA op.386 (May 1988) Audio sample available
Concerto for orchestra, revised version of 'Toccata'
CBS/Sony CD HB3 The Philharmonia conducted by the composer
Trio For Flute, Cello and Harp op.559 (September 2005) Audio sample available
Arrangement of the trio originally for flute, clarinet and piano
English Serenata Meridian 2006
VICTOR/VICTORIA op.298 (February 1981)
Production orchestrations for the film musical
Blake Edwards' Victor Victoria CD Polygram
VIOLIN CONCERTO (THE LEEDS) op.441 (July 1992) Audio sample available
Concerto for violin and orchestra

Christiane Edinger (solo violin), The Northern Philharmonia conducted by Paul Daniel. ASV CD DCA905 1994

Revelations ASV compilation CD 1997

Walking In The Air op.364B (1986)
An arrangement for organ by Robert Gower
CD recording by Robert Gower 1986
WALKING IN THE AIR op.317A (September 1981)
The original song from 'The Snowman' for treble and orchestra (or piano)

Sony BMG (Columbia) CDX 71116 (complete CD of The Snowman, first with narration, second without narration).

Available from music shops or online from Amazon and other retailers. 

The 1985 Aled Jones version of "Walking In The Air" is available from EMI. 

Many other cover versions- see Snowman site  

WALKING IN THE AIR (a duet version for treble, tenor & orchestra) op.576 (August 2006)
A new version of the song from The Snowman composed for Aled Jones
Track 4 of 'YOU RAISE ME UP' by Aled Jones UCJ (Universal Classics and Jazz) also featuring Hayley Westenra and Bryn Terfel
We're Walking In The Air op.343 (January 1985)
A version for a cappella voices
CD THE KING' SINGERS
Weinberger Library LP op.27 (May 1967)
A library album composed and played by Howard Blake and ensemble
Available from JW Media Music
Whoever Shot Poor George (Title Music Only) op.50 (May 1968)
Film score section for "The Avengers" TV Series
DVD
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