Library Music
Over the last decade I have composed and produced more than six hundred pieces of music for Chappell Recorded Music Library (now Sony/BMG) presented on five CDs. I have been amazed how successful these have been. There is not a territory on earth where something hasn't been broadcast!
Travelogue 1, 2 and 3 (Chap 138, 139 and 147) are pieces of music designed to illustrate the ethnicity and flavour of sounds from different countries around the word while still being accessible to the Western World. They were co-written with Nicky James (a fine singer and writer who was well known the London "scene" in the Sixties — working with The Moody Blues, a young Elton John and more). Although computers were used we insisted each piece had at least one live instrument on it. The result is astonishingly varied and fresh: I am still amazed when ABC (the Australian Broadcasting Company) use a digeridoo recorded in Wiltshire UK!
Jingles 1 (Chap AV035) is a compilation of varied compositions designed for advertising/television links. This has, surprisingly, had a very long shelf life in library terms (over ten years). The diversity of outlets where these jingles have been used is astounding; in particular they have been used extensively in Japan and the USA. Strangely, "Brainbox" (a jingle I composed and recorded in half an hour) was at one point the most lucrative single piece in the entire Chappell catalogue — earning more than The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra!
Organ/Mechanical Instruments (Chap161) was an interesting diversion for me when I travelled the UK searching out and recording mechanical music boxes, antique grandfather clocks and the Polyphon (the world's first jukebox). The entire soundtrack on a BBC documentary about the restoration of Windsor Castle after the dreadful fire used my recordings from this CD. I find it very interesting as it documents the history of pre-recorded music from the 17th Century to the graphaphone in 1918.
If you're interested in learning more, or want to discuss anything here, please do get in touch with me. My email address is nigelacomposer@yahoo.co.uk.