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 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
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
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
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)
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
Diversions (Ballet)
op.167a (November 1973)
A ballet based on the original 'Diversions' score for cello and piano
LP Watermill wml 2002
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
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
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(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
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
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
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'
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.
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
PRELUDE FOR SOLO VIOLA
op.402 (1989)
The Prelude from "Benedictus" as a concert piece.
Benedictus CBS/Sony CD CBS HB2
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
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
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
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
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
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 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 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 Lost Continent
op.36 (April 1968)
Four cues composed and performed for a feature film
LOST CONTINENT CD GDI RECORDS www.gdirecords.com
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 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 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
THEME FROM H
op.16A (August 1965)
Organ instrumental
SX 6040 EMI Records 1965
VICTOR/VICTORIA
op.298 (February 1981)
Production orchestrations for the film musical
Blake Edwards' Victor Victoria CD Polygram
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
Weinberger Library LP
op.27 (May 1967)
A library album composed and played by Howard Blake and ensemble
Available from JW Media Music
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