Information by Baz the Great!
Information
by Baz the Great!
"Craig's
original compositions evoke stories and are like soundtracks to films not made
yet. You only need
to hear a few bars of music and you know instantly it’s a Craig Armstrong
composition." Baz Luhrmann
Introduction
Craig Armstrong is a pioneering composer whose works are truly inspiring. His compositions blend classical music with a modern style that presents a unique blend of wonderful sound and rhythm. His works are diverse, and include film scores, collaborations with other artists, and his own compositions on solo albums.
I
first came to recognise the name Craig Armstrong through his work on the
Moulin Rouge
soundtracks. After some further research, I quickly realised that over the years
I had already become familiar with several of his works without knowing it, most
notably the Romeo + Juliet soundtracks, another of Luhrmann's films. Other areas of
my Baz the Great! website show how much influence these
two movies have
had on me, and I fully believe that music plays an extremely important role in
conveying the story and indeed the very emotions of the characters in any film. Indeed, it was
after learning about Armstrong's work on these films that I was prompted to learn
more about his other works.
I soon went
out and bought both
of Armstrong's solo albums that had been released to date, The Space Between Us and As If To Nothing, and
let myself
get swept away in his remarkable compositions. It is very difficult to choose favourite
songs, as each is powerful in its own way, but I am particularly fond
of Weather Storm and Balcony Scene (from Romeo + Juliet), from The Space Between
Us. I am also thoroughly enchanted by This Love, a breathtaking song that was also
featured on the Cruel Intentions soundtrack. From As If To Nothing, I am
particularly fond of Inhaler, Amber and the hauntingly beautiful Wake
Up in New York.
I would urge anyone who was moved by the music of Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge, and indeed anyone who enjoys innovative music, to check out Armstrong's solo albums. As well as his solo albums and film scores, over the years Armstrong has also collaborated with other successful artists such as Madonna and Massive Attack.
In
August 2004,
Craig Armstrong released another much-anticipated solo album, Piano
Works. This was yet another extraordinary release, and it received excellent
reviews. In October 2005,
Armstrong released his much anticipated Film Works, an album which
features the highlights from his film scores to date. This CD received brilliant
reviews and has proved to be yet another hit compilation for the versatile and
much applauded artist who is Craig Armstrong.
'Australia'
Although an official announcement has not yet been made, it has been my understanding for over a year now that Craig Armstrong will do the music for Baz Luhrmann's next film, Australia. In November 2005, Craig was asked in an interview, "Now that you have worked with Baz on two of his movies do you two have any future projects lined up?" And Craig replied, "Yeah he has asked me to work on a movie with him in the future. I'm not sure what it's about yet. But Baz's projects take about two years to generate. I did meet him recently in London, which was nice. He's an incredibly talented guy."
Click here for the interview
Click here for movie information
Music Menu
Click on the image above for
information about
Craig Armstrong's major
compositions.
Works featured include solo albums, film scores and collaborations with other
artists.
Official Website
Craig Armstrong's official website was revamped in February 2006, and features news updates, as well as microsites for Film Works and Piano Works.
For more on Craig Armstrong and his works, visit the excellent fansite, Craig Armstrong Online