Description: I found a few ancient postcards at a yard sale. They were scenes from the American West in the early 20th century. These are the musical stories I fashioned around four of them. (I have also arranged this piece for symphonic wind ensemble.)
Instrumentation: Full orchestra
Postcards from the West – Movement 1 – Devil’s Tower, Wyoming
Postcards from the West – Movement 2 – Aurora Borealis
Postcards from the West – Movement 3 – The Hot Air Balloon
Postcards from the West – Movement 4 – A View of the Mississippi
Description: This is something of an experimental piece of music for cello, oboe, and piano. The title comes from Carl Sagan’s description of Earth as seen from outer space.
Part of the The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe box-set, deluxe edition is an amazing documentary about CS Lewis. It is called The World of Narnia. M. David Melvin directed this gem. The story is compelling and structured to mirror The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis’ masterpiece.
We went for a chamber orchestra sound for the most part, recording with a 40 piece orchestra. The result is very “British,” I think. Jon Baumgarten played the solo flute parts and Terri Lazar played all the violin solos. Tim White brought his round, perfect trumpet tone to this score. As always, the musicians are the best part of the gig.
The small team that worked on this film was one of the best I have ever worked with. Dave Melvin, of course, and John Laux, the editor, were the key ingredients to making a really great film out of what might have been nothing more than a DVD extra. I am truly proud of this piece. I hope it gets some airtime and some sort of life of its own.
Listen to excerpts of the soundtrack:
[audio:https://s3.amazonaws.com/charlesbarnett/wp-media-folder-charlie-barnett-film-music-composer/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/narnia.mp3|titles=The World of Narnia, Disney][audio:https://s3.amazonaws.com/charlesbarnett/wp-media-folder-charlie-barnett-film-music-composer/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/narnia-oxford.mp3|titles=The World of Narnia, Oxford Scenes, Disney]
In this film about US cemeteries in Europe, director Robert Uth manages to deliver a message about the heroism and the ageless futility of war all at the same time. It was a pleasure working with him on this difficult film. He brought things out of me I didn’t know were there. This aired on Memorial Day 2009.
A film by the redoubtable Phylis Geller about… coal. It concentrates on the mining proctice of “mountaintop removal.” The film also features music by Kathy Mattea and Justin Towns Earle.
Listen to excerpts of the soundtrack:
[audio:https://s3.amazonaws.com/charlesbarnett/wp-media-folder-charlie-barnett-film-music-composer/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/canaryfull.mp3|titles=Coal Country – The Canary][audio:https://s3.amazonaws.com/charlesbarnett/wp-media-folder-charlie-barnett-film-music-composer/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/hard-black-rockfull.mp3|titles=Coal Country – Hard Black Rock]
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