Novelbond - The Music of Joseph James

Recording with the English Chamber Orchestra

On 20 December 2007 a recording of Joseph James’s most recent works was completed at Air Studios, London, with the strings and soloists of the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Orlando Jopling.

Concerto after Rachmaninov (based on the composer’s 2nd Piano Concerto) and 5 Morceaux de Fantaisie after Rachmaninov pursue the reinterpretation of keyboard music that began with the Requiem after J.S. Bach and the Fantasies after Schumann and Schubert.

The recording will be available from Summer 2008 (check this website for further information).

Baroque instruments in The Scarlet Letter

Cornett and serpent being played in the recording of The Scarlet Letter

The music of Joseph James is notable for the extraordinary range of sonorities that are encountered. The opera The Scarlet Letter (1991) is scored for a very large orchestra, unusual not only for the inclusion of a huge percussion session, but also for the use of several instruments characteristic of the Baroque period, including Kit Fiddle, Viola d’Amore, 2 Viole da Gamba, Cornett, Serpent, 2 Chitarroni, Hurdy-Gurdy, 2 Harpsichords and Regals, as well as a Contrabass Banjo, Irish Harp and Musical Glasses. The individual sounds of several of these instruments can be heard in the music examples to be accessed through the Scarlet Letter webpage.

Priest of Love DVD

Although the Priest of Love film was originally theatrically released over 20 years ago, a great deal of research and work has gone into the production of a DVD which was released in the UK and Ireland in 2002. For a film of that vintage, there are an extraordinary number of extras including photo gallery, deleted scenes, recent interviews with Penelope Keith and Sir Ian McKellen, director's commentary etc.

Priest of Love DVD
Directed by Christopher Miles
Starring Ian McKellen as D H Lawrence with Janette Suzman,
Ava Gardner and Penelope Keith
Music by Joseph James