
Tracking down a director for an interview isn’t easy, especially one the stature of Sir Kenneth Branagh. Thankfully, due to a combination of our persistence and his kindness, Branagh granted us some time for a chat about his lengthy collaboration with Patrick Doyle.
From their early days in the Renaissance Theatre Company through a film partnership that has spanned 25 years and nearly a dozen films, “Ken and Pat” have forged a creative relationship that rivals those of other legendary director/ composer teams. But first, a look back at some of their musical highlights:
A Branagh & Doyle Musical Montage (3:58)
Henry V / Love’s Labour’s Lost / Thor / Jack Ryan / Henry V / Dead Again
Branagh Interview (23:56)
00:00 - Introduction
00:56 - Henry V (concert rehearsal clip)
01:20 - Discussing the music
02:40 - Recording a film score in 1989
03:24 - “A special experience”
04:20 - Getting Patrick his first film gig (featuring “Battle of Agincourt” concert rehearsal clip)
05:15 - “It was an amazing sight to see Sir Simon Rattle and the CBSO at work.”
06:00 - “St. Crispin’s Day” (Henry V OST)
06:45 - Henry V live and Celtic sensibilities
07:48 - “Non Nobis Domine” (Henry V concert rehearsal clip)
08:50 - Patrick on-set and in front of the camera
10:00 - Talking Disney’s Cinderella
11:30 - First meeting
12:48 - “Your Sister’s Drown’d” (Hamlet)
16:37 - Revisiting a masterpiece of text, film and music
19:00 - Responding to demos (featuring “Bid the Soldier’s Shoot,” Hamlet)
20:12 - Talking Dead Again
23:41 - Outtake

The Early Years: Patrick Doyle (left), conductor Simon Rattle, and Kenneth Branagh.
The Film Music of Patrick Doyle From the Films of Kenneth Branagh
The Branagh/Doyle partnership was recently celebrated in a concert in Belfast with the Ulster Orchestra. Sir Kenneth recorded a special introductory message for the Belfast concert audience. (You’ll never watch or listen to Frankenstein the same way again!)
Sir Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast Introduction (4:02)
As a bonus for subscribers, here are some audio clips from the Belfast concert rehearsals that feature the only version of “Thor Kills the Destroyer” with male choir (as originally conceived, but later dropped from the final recording at Marvel’s request).
Henry V (14:27)
Frankenstein, Part 1 (24:00)
Frankenstein, Part 2 (6:26)
Hamlet (4:00)
Thor (5:42)
All concert rehearsal clips are performed by the Ulster Orchestra and Belfast Philharmonic Choir. Used with kind permission.
Thanks to Sir Kenneth Branagh, Tamar Thomas, Maggie Rodford, Laura Nakhla, Patrick Doyle and the staff and players of the Belfast Film Festival, Ulster Orchestra and Belfast Philharmonic Choir.
—FSMO |