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
Email: howard@howardblake.com
Featured Recordings
*THE SNOWMAN RHAPSODY FOR SOLO PIANO op.663 (August 2014)
A 43-minute virtuoso concert arrangement of material from the animated film and the stage show
Instrumentation: Solo piano[Key to Abbreviations]
Duration: 43 mins
First Performance: St James's Piccadilly, Talent Unlimited, Julian Trevelyan, November 17th 2016
Sheet Music Available
Instrumental / piano score for saleInstrumental / piano score for hire
All sheet music for "The Snowman" and "Walking In The Air" since 2010 is published and available from Chester Music Ltd, part of The Music Sales Group, www.chesternovello.com It can be purchased online from MusicRoom.com, or from music retailers.
"Walking In The Air" is also available in a concert piano-only version arranged by the composer direct from Highbridge Music as part of the collection of piano pieces called "Lifecycle", available form Amazon or from Highbridge Music.
Howard Blake describes 25 years of The Snowman animated film and 10 years of The Snowman Stage Show at Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre in London's West End and plays "Walking in the Air". View the recording here.
The classic original Columbia album conducted by Howard Blake with treble soloist Peter Auty and narration by Bernard Cribbins is available from Sony Music Entertainment CDX71116CD, Amazon and retailers.
The 2010 DVD film of The Snowman Live Stage Show narrated by Joanna Lumley is available from Sony Music Entertainment, CDR 81267; also from Amazon and retailers.
Movements
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1:
WAKING TO A WORLD OF SNOW
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2:
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW
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3:
BUILDING THE SNOWMAN
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4:
BEDTIME FROLICS
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5:
THE SNOWMAN COMES TO LIFE
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6:
THE CAT
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7:
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
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8:
THE KITCHEN
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9:
THE LIGHTSWITCH
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10:
TROPICAL FRUIT CAYPSO
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11:
THE MUSIC BOX
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12:
THE MOTOR BIKE
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13:
THE RABBIT AND THE FOX
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14:
THE BADGER
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15:
THE SQUIRREL
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16:
THE SNOWMAN IS DRIPPING
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17:
THE SNOWMAN RECOVERS
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18:
DREAMS OF FLYING
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19:
WALKING IN THE AIR
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20:
THE FROZEN NORTH
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21:
FATHER CHRISTMAS
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22:
THE DANCE OF THE SNOWMEN
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23:
THE ICE-PRINCESS AND THE SNOWMAN (PAS DE DEUX)
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24:
JACK FROST'S STORM DANCE
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25:
FAREWELLS
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26:
FLYING HOME
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27:
BOY SLEEPING
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28:
NEXT MORNING
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29:
THE SNOWMAN IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN
Notes
Programme-note for 'Snowman Rhapsody'
In 2006 Robert Matthew Walker, music critic and editor of Musical Opinion attended a performance of the 2-act stage show 'The Snowman' at The Peacock Theatre and wrote: 'Howard Blake's ballet "The Snowman" is now such a part of the Christmas Season in London that it deserves to be produced again and again well into the 22nd century. It is one of those rare theatrical pieces that appeals and impresses theatregoers of all ages. Musically, the score is a masterpiece. I do not use the word lightly. Howard Blake's world famous song 'Walking in the Air', with which Aled Jones had such a success, is used as a basis for a virtually continuous set of symphonic variations; a subtle and fully-wrought score which entrances the ears of all who are brought into the magical world it conjures up'. Both the original animated film and the later-created ballet were of course originally scored for orchestra, but the composer is also a pianist and over the years has often played excerpts on piano, the most notable being that of the song 'Walking in the Air' which in 2013 was recorded by no less a colleague than Vladimir Ashkenazy. The success of this prompted Blake to pursue the concept further, assembling all those sections of the Snowman music which he felt might lend themselves to piano transcription and gradually creating an immense concert work for solo piano lasting about 43 minutes. Although continuous the work contains many different sections the names of which are printed in the programme. It is thought that perhaps an addition to the work's entertainment may well be derived from the guesswork of trying to identify the sections by the different styles and emotions conveyed by their music.
[Howard Blake]
Copyright HOWARD BLAKE obe fram
Director of Highbridge Music Ltd. - The Music of Howard Blake
Studio 6, 18 Kensington Court Place, London W8 5BJ.
Tel: 020 7937 1966 Mob. 07966 387 637
sheet music available from howard@howardblake.com
Requests for use of copyrights should be addressed to james.rushton@musicsales.co.uk
Performances
| 7th July 2018 | Gasteig Munich 8.00 pm
Beethoven sonata op.27 no. 1 (15 mins) Beethoven sonata op.27 no. 2 Moonlight (15 mins) Chopin - Etudes op.25 nos. 1, 2 and 3 (6 mins) Blake Prelude for Vova (3 mins) - interval - Schubert Adagio in E major D612 (5 mins) Blake Snowman Rhapsody (43 mins) THE SNOWMAN RHAPSODY FOR SOLO PIANO op.663 (August 2014)A concert arrangement of material from the animated film and the stage show Published by: Chester Music/Highbridge Music - to rent or buy music contact Chester Music or anna@annamenzies.comInstrumentation: Solo piano [Key to Abbreviations] Duration: 43 mins First Performance: St James's Piccadilly, Talent Unlimited, Julian Trevelyan, November 17th 2016 Sheet Music Available Instrumental / piano score for saleInstrumental / piano score for hire All sheet music for "The Snowman" and "Walking In The Air" since 2010 is published and available from Chester Music Ltd, part of The Music Sales Group, www.chesternovello.com It can be purchased online from MusicRoom.com, or from music retailers. "Walking In The Air" is also available in a concert piano-only version arranged by the composer direct from Highbridge Music as part of the collection of piano pieces called "Lifecycle", available form Amazon or from Highbridge Music; enquiries to anna@annamenzies.com Howard Blake describes 25 years of The Snowman animated film and 10 years of The Snowman Stage Show at Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre in London's West End and plays "Walking in the Air". View the recording here. The classic original Columbia album conducted by Howard Blake with treble soloist Peter Auty and narration by Bernard Cribbins is available from Sony Music Entertainment CDX71116CD, Amazon and retailers. The 2010 DVD film of The Snowman Live Stage Show narrated by Joanna Lumley is available from Sony Music Entertainment, CDR 81267; also from Amazon and retailers. Movements
NotesProgramme-note for 'Snowman Rhapsody' In 2006 Robert Matthew Walker, music critic and editor of Musical Opinion attended a performance of the 2-act stage show 'The Snowman' at The Peacock Theatre and wrote: 'Howard Blake's ballet "The Snowman" is now such a part of the Christmas Season in London that it deserves to be produced again and again well into the 22nd century. It is one of those rare theatrical pieces that appeals and impresses theatregoers of all ages. Musically, the score is a masterpiece. I do not use the word lightly. Howard Blake's world famous song 'Walking in the Air', with which Aled Jones had such a success, is used as a basis for a virtually continuous set of symphonic variations; a subtle and fully-wrought score which entrances the ears of all who are brought into the magical world it conjures up'. Both the original animated film and the later-created ballet were of course originally scored for orchestra, but the composer is also a pianist and over the years has often played excerpts on piano, the most notable being that of the song 'Walking in the Air' which in 2013 was recorded by no less a colleague than Vladimir Ashkenazy. The success of this prompted Blake to pursue the concept further, assembling all those sections of the Snowman music which he felt might lend themselves to piano transcription and gradually creating an immense concert work for solo piano lasting about 43 minutes. Although continuous the work contains many different sections the names of which are printed in the programme. It is thought that perhaps an addition to the work's entertainment may well be derived from the guesswork of trying to identify the sections by the different styles and emotions conveyed by their music. [Howard Blake)
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| 17th November 2016 | Julian Trevelyan (piano), Concert presented by 'Talent Unlimited' at St. James's Church, Piccadilly, London, 7.00pm
Astounding performance last night at St James Piccadilly of ‘Snowman Rhapsody’ by Howard Blake, by 18-year-old Julian Trevelyan. Haven’t heard him before – and was very impressed indeed. Certainly a major new British talent on the piano scene. Remember the name, and watch this space ! 'The Snowman Rhapsody is a solo piano concert arrangement of the music from the film and stage show' and is a new arrangement specially created by the composer. First performance to be given by Julian Trevelyan, the English piano prodigy who won the prestigious Marguerite Long piamo prize at the age of 16. It is circa 43 minutes in length and will fill the first half of the programme, The second half will consist of Music for Christmas. Snowman Rhapsody op.663 (2016)A concert arrangement for solo piano. Duration c.43 minutes Published by: Chester Music/Music Sales/Highbridge MusicInstrumentation: Solo piano Duration: 43 mins First Performance: St James's Piccadilly, Talent Unlimited, Julian Trevelyan, November 17th 2016 . Movements
Programme note for 'Snowman Rhapsody'In 2006 Robert Matthew Walker, music critic and editor of Musical Opinion attended a performance of the 2-act stage show 'The Snowman' at The Peacock Theatre and wrote: 'Howard Blake's ballet "The Snowman" is now such a part of the Christmas Season in London that it deserves to be produced again and again well into the 22nd century. It is one of those rare theatrical pieces that appeals and impresses theatregoers of all ages. Musically, the score is a masterpiece. I do not use the word lightly. Howard Blake's world famous song 'Walking in the Air', with which Aled Jones had such a success, is used as a basis for a virtually continuous set of symphonic variations; a subtle and fully-wrought score which entrances the ears of all who are brought into the magical world it conjures up'. Both the original animated film and the later-created ballet were of course originally scored for orchestra, but the composer is also a pianist and over the years has often played excerpts on piano, the most notable being that of the song 'Walking in the Air' which in 2013 was recorded by no less a colleague than Vladimir Ashkenazy. The success of this prompted Blake to pursue the concept further, assembling all those sections of the Snowman music which he felt might lend themselves to piano transcription and gradually creating an immense concert work for solo piano lasting about 43 minutes. Although continuous the work contains many different sections the names of which are printed in the programme. It is thought that perhaps an addition to the work's entertainment may well be derived from the guesswork of trying to identify the sections by the different styles and emotions conveyed by their music.[Howard Blake]
Performances
|
Reviews
Astounding performance last night at St James Piccadilly of ‘Snowman Rhapsody’ by Howard Blake, by 18-year-old Julian Trevelyan. Haven’t heard him before – and was very impressed indeed. Certainly a major new British talent on the piano scene. Remember the name, and watch this space !
Hugh Mather - Facebook, 18/11/2016
Related Works
'*THE SNOWMAN CONCERT VERSION (to be performed with optional projected film, or narration, or both), for boy soprano and orchestra'
op.323
(October 1983)
(Audio Sample Available)
A concert version of the score for the animated film
A concert version of the score for the animated film
'THE SNOWMAN PIANO SCORE'
op.323a
(November 1983)
The complete concert work based on the animated film, arranged for narrator, boy soprano and piano by the composer
The complete concert work based on the animated film, arranged for narrator, boy soprano and piano by the composer
'The Snowman Easy Piano Picture Book'
op.364a
(April 1986)
Highlights of 'The Snowman' arranged for young players
Highlights of 'The Snowman' arranged for young players
'*THE SNOWMAN (ANIMATED CHILDREN'S FILM)'
op.310
(September 1982)
Channel 4 animated film directed by Diane Jackson, wordless except for the featured song, 'Walking in the Air', music and lyrics by Howard Blake who also composed, orchestrated and conducted the score. Oscar nomination, best short film; BAFTA best children's programme; Bafta TV nomination - best graphics; Grand Prix Tampere International Short Film Festival etc
Channel 4 animated film directed by Diane Jackson, wordless except for the featured song, 'Walking in the Air', music and lyrics by Howard Blake who also composed, orchestrated and conducted the score. Oscar nomination, best short film; BAFTA best children's programme; Bafta TV nomination - best graphics; Grand Prix Tampere International Short Film Festival etc
'WALKING IN THE AIR - EASY PIANO VERSION'
op.335b
(January 1984)
Easy piano version of the Snowman song with lyrics and guitar chords (Publisher's arrangement)
Easy piano version of the Snowman song with lyrics and guitar chords (Publisher's arrangement)
'The Snowman Easy Piano Suite'
op.371b
(January 1986)
One of a series of Snowman Instrumental Suites
One of a series of Snowman Instrumental Suites
'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
A new version of the song from The Snowman composed for Aled Jones