MUSIC AND FILM - CRAIG ARMSTRONG

For ten years now Craig Armstrong is one of the most requested film music composers of his generation. He has enriched songs by U2 or Madonna with his string music and wrote the world-wide hit "I Don't Want A Lover" for Texas. In co-operation with Massive Attack he created the album "Protection".

Born in Glasgow in 1959, Armstrong studied composition and piano at the renowned Royal Academy of Music in London. In 1981 he received the Harvey Lohr scholarship for composition and in 1982 he won the "GLAA" young jazz musician of the year. After his studies he made his living as a bar pianist and then worked for the famous Tron Theatre.

After working with Peter Mullan on the prize-winning short film trilogy "Close"/"A good day for the bad guys"/"Fridge", Craig Armstrong finally made his international breakthrough as a film music composer in 1996. "Romeo and Juliet" by Baz Luhrmann was set to music with a mixture of genres, music such as only a man can write who has been influenced by such diverse composers as Gustav Mahler, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Gavin Bryars, Photek and Stevie Wonder.

Films (Excerpt):

1993		Close
1996		Romeo and Juliet
1997		Orphans
1999		One Day in September
2001		Moulin Rouge!
2002		The Magdalene Sisters
2002		The Quiet American
2004		The Clearing
2004		Ray
2004		Piano Works

Romeo and Juliet
Director: Baz Luhrmann, USA 1996, 120 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
We, November 9 2:45 pm CinemaxX 2
Fr, November 11 10:00 pm CinemaxX 3 Guest: Craig Armstrong



The greatest love story of all time, filmed in the fictional town of Verona Beach, which is composed of the insignia of the pop culture of the last fifty years and which is beset with fear and crime. An MTV sort of image storm is combined with Shakespeare's timeless language. In co-operation with Nellee Hooper Craig Armstrong has composed fitting music dominated by dance beats and pop songs.




Orphans
Director: Peter Mullan, GB 1997, 102 min, 35 mm, colour, GS
We, November 9 5:15 pm Universum 2
Fr, November 11 12:30 pm CinemaxX 4



A meeting between four brothers and sisters after the death of their mother in Glasgow changes their lives forever. About his film in the style of Ken Loach Mullan says, "The moments in 'Orphans' when you do not know whether to laugh or to cry are the ones I love." Craig Armstrong's music underlines the scenes to great effect.




Moulin Rouge!
Director: Baz Luhrmann, USA 2001, 128 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
Fr, November 11 5:15 pm CinemaxX 1 Guest: Craig Armstrong
Sa, November 12 10:15 pm Universum 2



1900. All Paris has its eyes on the most popular night club in town - the Moulin Rouge. With this first post-modern musical in film history Luhrmann completed his "Red Curtain trilogy". Craig Armstrong's award-winning cocktail out of 100 years of popular music goes straight to the heart and to the legs. Amongst others it won the Golden Globe for best Original Score.




The Magdalene Sisters
Director: Peter Mullan, GB 2002, 119 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
Th, November 10 5:15 pm CinemaxX 3
Su, November 13 3:30 pm CinemaxX 2



Ireland in 1964. Margaret is raped by her cousin; Rose gives birth to an illegitimate child; Bernadette flirts with the boys in the school-yard. They are sent as "fallen women" to Magdalene House. In unforgettable images Mullan depicts the unworthy conditions there; he is supported by Craig Armstrong with sensitive music.




The Quiet American
Director: Phillip Noyce, USA/GB/D 2002, 101 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
Th, November 10 11:00 pm CinemaxX 4 Guest: Craig Armstrong
Sa, November 12 3:00 pm Universum 1



Saigon in 1952. Disillusioned Times reporter Fowler loves opium and his Vietnamese girl-friend. One day the American doctor Pyle enters the scene. He believes that only a third power can bring freedom and democracy to the land. For his score for this film Craig Armstrong way awarded the Ivor Novello Award.




The Clearing
Director: Pieter Jan Brugge, USA/D 2004, 95 min, 35 mm, colour, GS
We, November 9 10:15 pm CinemaxX 2
Su, November 13 5:45 pm Universum 2



A wealthy businessman is kidnapped by an unsuccessful former employee who wants ransom money. A psychological test of strength results between the two men. In subtle contrast we see the victim's wife watch her safe little world slowly crumble during police investigations. A subtle picture of a society which has lost its social balance with music by Craig Armstrong.




Ray
Director: Taylor Hackford, USA 2004, 152 min, 35 mm, colour, GS
Sa, November 12 11:30 am CinemaxX 3 Guest: Craig Armstrong
Su, November 13 11:30 am CinemaxX 3



Ray Charles radically changed American music. He breaks taboos and struggles for his own creative vision to make something new with gospel music, the blues and country and western. Underscored by the BAFTA nominated music of Craig Armstrong, the film continually departs from linear narration in order to portray in dreamlike flashbacks formative scenes from Ray's childhood.




"Music Master Class" Craig Armstrong / Piano Works
Director: David Barnard, GB 2004, 53 min, Beta SP, colour & b/w, without dialogue
Th, November 10 8:30 pm CinemaxX 4 Guests: Craig Armstrong, Dietmar Kanthak



The poetical documentary "Piano Works" associatively finds images for Craig Armstrong's third solo album "Piano Works" which contains interpretations of his best-known film music as well as new compositions. Playing live on the grand piano, Craig Armstrong will show in a "Music Master Class" how he develops his musical themes.




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