This is a bobbengan friendly thread. In other words, if you love this kind of stuff, you're in for a treat. If your user name begins with "Fi", probably not..... ;-)
Highlights include:
The lush strings of the opening title, as well as a female vocal in the second half of the cue.
Some lower key stuff at about 14:00 in.
Strings, woodwinds, harp at about 15:30 in.
17:57 in: some lovely string work, with some mournful cello work around the end.
About 20:00 in.
25:04 in: a more whimsical rendition of the main theme.
26:21 in: a lush montage cue. The haunting female vocal returns briefly, switching to some light woodwind work thereabout.
31:21 in: a short melancholy rendition of the main theme.
38:03 in. There's a brief lull.
42:37 in.
47:04 in.
53:46 in.
5940 in.
1:12:49 in: more in line with the opening credits.
About 1:15:00 in.
About 1:22:00 in.
1:25:51 in.
About 1:29:40 in: the closest thing to action material in the score.
1:37:33 in.
Immediately followed by the end credits.
Sadly, not only is there no official release (at least according to SoundtrackCollector.com), but there's not even a promo I can find. some label needs to rectify this.
The production companies according to IMDb: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Craig Anderson Productions Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions RHI Entertainment Signboard Hill Productions
Wow, that main title! I'm already a fan. I love how someone in the Youtube comments said "The music score in this film is to die for." A rare intelligent remark from the YT comment section!
Thank you Justin!
Davis is so underrated, as many around these parts know. It's just absurd to me that CHAMPIONS isn't out on CD yet, ideally in complete form. A sensational theme for that one, as well as his HOLLYWOOD series, which was my first exposure to his music. To say nothing of those silent film scores of his, or his FIRE & ICE ballet... Just remarkable music all around.
If you like this another gorgeous, lush unreleased BBC score from a few years later that I'd love to see released is Colin Towns' NICHOLAS NICKELBY from 2001, which is really achingly tender and rich in his distinct orchestral style that, frustratingly, it seems he's only been allowed to use a few times over the course of his career. You can hear a brief snippet of the main theme here: http://colintowns.com/audio/
Now the more important question though is who the hell this "Robert Bengan" chap is and why his taste in music is so old hat...
I agree that Davis is underrated. I listened to The French Lieutenant's Woman recently and would love to see Champions get the full, legal treatment as well.
I'll add my thanks for posting this. I've grown very fond of Davis in recent years, especially his recently released score Frankenstein Unbound (which says more about my predilections than about the quality of his other scores). I'm astonished at how many obscure scores do keep coming out, even though there are many more we wish would appear. And I'm delighted so much of his music is available digitally as well.
Not to change the subject, but this music reminds me of another tv score from the period ... Geoffrey Burgon's score for the Dickens adaptation of Martin Chuzzlewit. You can hear a bit of an echo of his earlier Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy in this gorgeous clip.
The BBC album is still findable, I picked up a reasonably priced copy from Amazon UK.
This is a bobbengan friendly thread. In other words, if you love this kind of stuff, you're in for a treat. If your user name begins with "Fi", probably not..... ;-)
Highlights include:
The lush strings of the opening title, as well as a female vocal in the second half of the cue.
Some lower key stuff at about 14:00 in.
Strings, woodwinds, harp at about 15:30 in.
17:57 in: some lovely string work, with some mournful cello work around the end.
About 20:00 in.
25:04 in: a more whimsical rendition of the main theme.
26:21 in: a lush montage cue. The haunting female vocal returns briefly, switching to some light woodwind work thereabout.
31:21 in: a short melancholy rendition of the main theme.
38:03 in. There's a brief lull.
42:37 in.
47:04 in.
53:46 in.
5940 in.
1:12:49 in: more in line with the opening credits.
About 1:15:00 in.
About 1:22:00 in.
1:25:51 in.
About 1:29:40 in: the closest thing to action material in the score.
1:37:33 in.
Immediately followed by the end credits.
Sadly, not only is there no official release (at least according to SoundtrackCollector.com), but there's not even a promo I can find. some label needs to rectify this.
The production companies according to IMDb: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Craig Anderson Productions Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions RHI Entertainment Signboard Hill Productions
And end credits also name Artisan Entertainment.
Thanks for posting the link. Looking forward to watching and listening to this production tomorrow night.
