Loitering Without Intent: Music to Charlie Chaplin's The Mut

The Freshman

The 2010-2012 revival of the iconic 1970s drama Upstairs Downstairs on BBC called for new music to match the new drama. Enter contemporary British composer Carl Davis, who composed incidental music for the period drama utilizing the original themes from the 1970s run and made the stories of 165 Eaton Place come to life for a new generation.

This incredible release is a newly recorded selection from the classic masterpiece Napoleon (1927) by Abel Gance. Carl has composed and recorded the complete soundtrack to the five and a half hours of film which will be released by the British Film Institute on DVD and BlueRay. For this release, the highlights of the soundtrack are included, recorded by one of London’s foremost orchestra, the Philharmonia, under the baton of Carl Davis, himself. American-born composer Carl Davis has made his home in the United Kingdom since 1961. He has written the music for over 100 television programs, but is best known for creating music to accompany modern day silent films. He is also known for his collaboration with Paul McCartney in the creation of the Liverpool Oratorio.

The album originally entitled 'Liverpool Pops at Home' grew out of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra's desire to put on a concert called Sounds of the City, a concert to show the richness of the musical legacy from the great musicians and composers of Liverpool.

Davis, C.: Cyrano

Davis, C.: Alice in Wonderland

Give Me A Smile: Songs and Music of World War II

Davis: Napoleon

Narration by Timothy West.

Davis, C.: Cranford

Carl Davis writes of this release: "How exciting to revisit this recording made in Luxembourg in 1986 as a soundtrack for what was then the 'Thames Silents.' The team of directors and producers, Kevin Brownlow and David Gill and myself were delivering up to three restorations of full length feature films a year and I was about to embark on the 1925 'Ben Hur' score as soon as I had finished 'Intolerance.' The recording of the score followed two live performances of the film with the RTL Orchestra so they were more than ready. The main 'Intolerance' theme which spanned the entire 2 hours 40 minutes score had already passed into the orchestra's history- it was hummable and quoted at times of stress. Since the initial burst of performances in Leeds (it's premiere), London (The Dominium) and Luxembourg, there have been performances in France and Germany as well as in New York of it's recent reissuing on DVD with remastered sound and new material from the Library of Congress. Performing the score to this extraordinary film is always challenging but deeply rewarding. The film's theme has never dated and the international crises of 1917 are as relevant today... When will we learn?"

The Royal Liverpool Orchestra became identified with Carl Davis's score for the 1925 Ben-Hur after several performances in Liverpool and Cardiff in 1988. So well received were the shows that this recording was made in 1989. In the Olympic year of 2012 the Philharmonia decided to screen the film, on the 9th June at the Royal Festival Hall, prompting this re-release, which has been re-mastered by K&A Productions. The album was previously available on the Silva Screen label. The score written by Carl Davis is based on a Straussian 'Natur Tema' and he also wanted to quote a well-known part of the liturgy choosing the simple phrase which is well known as the Dresden Amen. The booklet comes with a short history on the making of the film, with stills from the film and Carl Davis explains how the music paints a picture showing how the story unfolds bringing the silent film to life.

It was decided to make this CD an instrumental one since nowadays the originals are a press button away on You Tube. It was also decided that a new interpretation would also be exciting, especially played by a world class orchestra like the Philharmonia and London's hottest rhythm section, inspired by the brilliant arrangements and production of Chris Egan. Let's also add to the mix a classical violin virtuoso, Pavel Sporcl from Prague who moonlights with his own Gypsy band and England's most stunning jazz trumpeter, now a successful composer and conductor, Guy Barker. John Barry in his orchestration defined the Bond sound: rich, full and brassy. Until Dave Arnold picked up the mantle in 1997 with Tomorrow Never Dies, the exceptions to Barry were one offs, but wonderful ones. Burt Bacharach in the much derided Casino Royale mark1 produced a torch song standard with 'The Look of Love'. The total oeuvre comprises a history of music and trends from 1962 until today, a span of exactly 50 years. But Monty Norman's Dr No theme resembles no pop music before or since. John Barry's songs are full of the oddest twists and turns. The McCartney's' "Live and Let Die" is unique in their output. The Bond composers tended to do their most individual work inspired by Ian Fleming's creation. Long may he be reincarnated to thrill and amuse US with his glamour and wit, his strength and ingenuity.

ABBA for Orchestra