Favourites on Friday - Music of The Cinematic Orchestra

I’d never heard of The Cinematic Orchestra until the film, ‘The Theory of Everything’, was released.  I’ve not seen the film, but, while watching the trailer, was captivated by the music.  Didn’t know the name of the piece, or the artist, but good old youtube – typed in ‘Theory of Everything’, and voila!  There it was.

A British group, they're not an orchestra in the classical sense of the term but a nu-jazz and electronic music group.  Again, I’d never heard of ‘nu-jazz’; it’s a genre of electronic music, and blends jazz elements with other musical styles. 

“Nu Jazz is to (traditional) Jazz what punk or grunge was to Rock … The songs are the focus, not the individual prowess of the musicians.  Nu Jazz instrumentation ranges from the traditional to the experimental, the melodies are fresh, and the rhythms new and alive.  It makes Jazz fun again.” ~ Tony Brewer

I’ve listened to some of their other pieces, but the one that was used for the film – ‘Arrival of the Birds’ – is my favourite.  Incidentally, it was also used for a perfume ad, Giorgio Armani’s ‘Acqua di Gioia’.  And it’s from the soundtrack they did for another film, ‘The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos’.  

I listen to it most days, it’s so soothing yet uplifting at the same time.  The one I listen to on youtube, put together by ThinkPinkR, features 2 pieces – ‘Arrival of the Birds’ and ‘Transformation’ … I’ve gotten so used to listening to them together, they’ve merged into one piece for me.

Hope you like it too.